💐🌼🥧💕 “Her Amish Springtime Miracle” (Hope’s Haven #2) (2022) 💕🥧🌼💐 – Blog + Review Tour
Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Her Amish Springtime Miracle by Winnie Griggs, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
ABOUT THE BOOK
ALSO IN THIS SERIES
MY REVIEW
Thank you in advance to the publisher, Forever (Grand Central Publishing), for providing a complimentary review copy through JustRead Publicity Tours. A positive review was not required nor requested, and all words are my own.
I first of all should thank Carrie at JustRead for introducing me to Amish fiction – both romance and suspense.
While I’m no stranger to Amish fiction, this is the first book I’ve read by Winnie Griggs. It is also the second book in her HOPE’S HAVEN series. The first book, Her Amish Wedding Quilt, is Hannah’s sister Greta’s story.
This is definitely solid as a standalone read. Most of the main plot centers around Hannah and Mike. I do have book #1 on the TBR list as I prefer reading series books in order if they are connected by characters.
That said …
The cover drew me right in – how adorable, right? A sweet little boppli (baby) and her mamm (mom). But, all isn’t how it seems.
This has a very interesting premise – an Englisch baby left with a single Amish woman who likely won’t be able to have kinder/kinner of her own due to a medical condition.
Hannah Eicher, baby Grace, and Englisch paramedic Mike Colder are a sweet “family” as soon as they are put together in this book.
Along with Hannah, Grace, and Mike – there are other support characters as well:
🌼 Leah Burkholder (neighbor and close friend of the Eicher family)
🌼 Isaac Eicher (widower;
father of Greta, Hannah, and Martha)
🌼 Greta and Noah Stoll
(Hannah’s sister and brother-in-law)
🌼 Martha Eicher (Greta and Hannah’s sister)
There are numerous other characters either at the bakery or those that Hannah meets throughout the first half of the book. At one point there are a lot of others to keep up with that could potentially overwhelm some readers. There was background on quite a few “one-time” characters that tended to clog the pacing a bit. Thankfully I was able to move past that as I really wanted to enjoy this book.
The plot is absolutely adorable, and I was wondering just how it was going to work out.
A year after Hannah finds Grace the adoption is about to be finalized.
Mike finds out his younger half-sister, who was killed in a car accident some months earlier, had a baby and that leads him to Hope’s Haven. He’s looking for his nephew – though he doesn’t know he’s slightly on the wrong track.
He then meets Hannah after he performs the Heimlich Maneuver on a choking Amish man. Immediately there is an attraction between the two. But, there is a problem – Hannah is rooted to her Amish ways, and Mike has embraced the Englisch life after thinking he and his father were shunned 22 years ago by that same community. He keeps his identity a secret from a childhood friend who has close ties to Hannah.
Hannah wants to know if he can teach her and some of the Amish what he knows with regards to basic medical training. He tells them to check with the fire department and helps to arrange something for Hannah, her sister, and Noah.
After checking with the fire department about the baby in addition to the training, Mike checks in with family services hoping to find his nephew.
Meanwhile, Hannah laments on missing Grace’s firsts, but needs to be at the bakery to earn an income. She comes up with a creative solution that is going to connect to Mike.
The part of the plot, where Mike is lead to Grace, occurs about 55% of the way in, but it wasn’t the first shock for him either. One had to do with his mother, which I just had a feeling about as soon as I read the woman’s name. It’s one of those “I saw it coming, but what an interesting way to go” types of plot reveals.
Mike and Hannah then have to work around what is best for Grace with regard to custody. Obviously, as her uncle, Mike has more of a claim on Grace than Hannah does. Yet, Hannah is the only mother Grace has known so far. The author keeps the decision hanging until almost the very end of the book – and I mean ALMOST the very end.
For the remaining 45% after the baby reveal, it was clear the two actually loved each other, but it became more of a debate in the Amish vs. Englisch way of life and raising with regards to raising Grace. Each one had valid points which made it more difficult to choose sides. Griggs did a great job creating that indecisiveness.
I had to admire Mike for his dedication to Hannah despite the situation – not just her medical, but the cultural differences. He brought up a good question – was her faith more important than Grace. That was a question with a lot of depth to it.
Hannah had a point about the Amish/Englisch relationship. We love their goods and ways, but not enough to follow.
When it came to raising Grace, Hannah points out that Amish converting to Englisch as opposed to the other way around is a bit easier due to the fact Amish have lived without certain conveniences that we Englisch have grown up with and call essential. Easier to get used to something rather than give it up. That point is VERY well taken and seen.
Mike’s point about the emergency services, particularly medical is perhaps one of the strongest arguments in his favor. He’s right about fast access to medical care.
In the early 1970’s hundreds of thousands of Americans died due to the lack of “first responders” or paramedic services either from car accidents, or like the Eshels, medical ailments. Mike cites his own experience as a reason why he chose his profession.
In an interesting note, the TV show Emergency (1972-1977) brought EMS services to the mainstream. The show inspired federal legislation, and by the end of the 1970’s – half of Americans lived within 10 minutes of a paramedic unit. Many of today’s firefighters and paramedics cite the show as an inspiration for their choice. A paramedic is essential in ensuring survival, especially when called as soon as practical. And, calling requires a phone, something the Amish shun.
Knowing that, it is easy to see why Mike thinks Grace’s safety is in question being raised Amish. However, Mike also sees the pitfalls of technology when responding to texting related accidents.
Griggs has a wonderful way of balancing the story with the different “worlds”. As a result, Her Amish Springtime Miracle falls into the “really can’t stop reading it” category. It definitely held my attention as I was reading it which I attribute to not just the story, but the short chapters and fast pacing.
For the most part, the pacing didn’t seem to affect the story until the end. There were a few things I had an issue with that wrapped up a bit too quickly and as a result it felt incomplete. I wanted more of Mike coming to the decision he made, as well as more of his background and why his father did what he did. There was no mention of Mike’s father’s reasons as to the lies that were told.
Overall, I did enjoy the book and am looking forward to the author’s third book which will be Martha’s story. Those who’ve read Her Amish Wedding Quilt and fans of Amish romance will likely enjoy this read. It was a sweet, emotional, beautiful, and inspiring story.
Forever is a division of Grand Central Publishing, which is also connected to Hachette Books; since they are more mainstream, they are not a Christian/faith-themed publisher. There is no real expectation of religious preaching in this book. There are only slight references represented by mentions of gotte (God) and the faith of the Amish.RATING:
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Goodreads
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Bookbub
4 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
– Personal Rating (see rating explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Winnie Griggs is the multi-published, award-winning author of romances that focus on small towns, big hearts, and amazing grace. Her work has won a number of regional and national awards, including the Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award. Winnie grew up in southeast Louisiana in an undeveloped area her friends thought of as the back of beyond. Eventually, she found her own Prince Charming, and together they built a storybook happily-ever-after, one that includes four now-grown children who are all happily pursuing adventures of their own. When not busy writing, she enjoys cooking, browsing estate sales, and solving puzzles. She is also a list maker, a lover of exotic teas, and holds an advanced degree in the art of procrastination.
CONNECT WITH WINNIE: Website | Facebook | TwitterTOUR GIVEAWAY
(2) winners will receive a print copy of Her Amish Wedding Quilt (Hope's Haven #1), an insulated book lover mug, a dragonfly bookmark, a home-sweet-home figurine, and a pocket nail file!
Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight May 17, 2022 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on May 24, 2022. US/CAN only. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize (*winner may select an alternative title from the author's backlist if necessary). Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
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