Book Review: “Autumn Winds” by Charlotte Hubbard

By Ruth on September 5, 2012 in book, Christian fiction, review, romance
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ABOUT AUTUMN WINDS
The leaves are falling and there’s a chill in the air in Willow Ridge, Missouri, the quaint, quiet Amish town where love, loyalty, and faith in the Old Ways are about to be put to the test …
AUTUMN WINDS
Winds of change are blowing through Willow Ridge, and they’re bringing a stranger to the Sweet Seasons Bakery. At first, widowed Miriam Lantz has misgivings about Ben Hooley, a handsome but rootless traveling blacksmith. But as she gets to know the kind-hearted newcomer, she wonders if his arrival was providential. Perhaps she could find love again—if only there weren’t so many obstacles in the way. With Bishop Knepp relentlessly pursuing her hand in marriage and the fate of her beloved café at stake, Miriam must listen to God and her heart to find the happiness she longs for and the love she deserves.

Autumn WindsAutumn Winds by Charlotte Hubbard
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I will admit that when I read the first book in this series, I liked it, but I probably was not enthralled.  At that point, I was fairly new to Amish fiction, and some of it just didn’t resonate with me.  It was good, but not the best.  And you know how first books in the series can be.

This second book in the series is an absolute masterpiece!  I was so glad I read the first in the series because as I began to read this book, it was like visiting with old friends.  I knew the characters, and I absolutely loved them!  This was one of the easiest reads for me in a while, and it spoke to me on so many levels.

First of all, I was intrigued by the information on the Amish.  I spent a lot of time looking up information on the Amish because I found I knew little about them.  It was neat to see that what Charlotte Hubbard was writing about was true!  I knew it was–it was clear she knew what she was talking about.  But I am one of those people who likes to verify things even so.  I always check and double-check things on a regular basis.

Secondly, the romance was absolutely breathtaking!  There was no “sappiness” in this book at all.  That is often my complaint with “romances.”  This book’s romance will send chills through your spine and almost have you in tears as you whisper, “How sweet!”  (Okay, maybe you won’t react exactly like I did, but I like to think you would!)  I love the fact that the author dealt with love and romance at ages other than teenagers and 20-somethings.  The fact that Miriam could seek for love at the age of 40 actually gives me hope (since I’m only two years away from that myself).

The humor in the book was absolutely fantastic!  Lately, it seems that the books I read have very sorry attempts at humor or none at all.  This book has some fantastic scenes that will surprise and delight you.  Many of the moments of humor are unforeseen which makes them even funnier!

And finally, the wonderful message of God’s love and salvation are strong and real in this book.  So often, Christian books are either nominally Christian or beat you over the head with the gospel.  This book is real in the way it presents God.  I could never be an Amish girl, and I don’t agree with everything that they believe about the world and the right way to live, but we don’t disagree on the important points.  Many times, God spoke to me through the faith of Miriam, Ben, and Rhoda.  I was reminded that somehow God would work everything out for me just like He was for the characters in the book.  And the bonus was that Bishop Hiram got what was coming to him.  God takes care of those kinds of issues, too.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough to everyone.  It is a clean romance in every sense of the word, and it will uplift your spirits (and don’t we all need that during this season?).

I was sent a copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.  I was not financially compensated, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.

View all my reviews

I’ve called Missouri home for most of my life, and most folks don’t realize that several Old Older Amish and Mennonite communities make their home here, as well. The rolling pastureland, woods, and small towns along county highways make a wonderful setting for Plain populations—and for stories about them, too! While Jamesport, Missouri is the largest Old Order Amish settlement west of the Mississippi River, other communities have also found the affordable farm land ideal for raising crops, livestock, and running the small family-owned businesses that support their families.
Like my heroine, Miriam Lantz, of my new Seasons of the Heart series, I love to feed people—to share my hearth and home. I bake bread and goodies and I love to try new recipes. I put up jars and jars of green beans, tomatoes, beets and other veggies every summer. All my adult life, I’ve been a deacon, a dedicated church musician and choir member, and we hosted a potluck group in our home for more than twenty years.
Like Abby Lambright, heroine of my new Home at Cedar Creek series, I consider it a personal mission to be a listener and a peacemaker—to heal broken hearts and wounded souls. Faith and family, farming and frugality matter to me: like Abby, I sew and enjoy fabric arts—I made my wedding dress and the one Mom wore, too, when I married into an Iowa farm family more than thirty-five years ago! When I’m not writing, I crochet and sew, and I love to travel.
I recently moved to Minnesota when my husband got a wonderful new job, so now he and I and our border collie, Ramona, are exploring our new state and making new friends.

To find out more about Charlotte, please visit her at www.CharlotteHubbard.com.

Visit her on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/charlotte.hubbard1

On Goodreads at:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/53342.Charlotte_Hubbard

 

 

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About the Author

RuthView all posts by Ruth
“Don’t bend; don’t water it down; don’t try to make it logical; don’t edit your own soul according to the fashion. Rather, follow your most intense obsessions mercilessly.” — Franz Kafka Ruth is an inspirational entertainment journalist who instinctively sees the best in all and seeks to share universal beauty, love and positivity. She is an artist who leads with her heart and gives readers a glimpse of the best of this world through the masterful use of the written word. Ruth was born in Tacoma, Washington but now calls Yelm, Washington her home. She lives on five acres with her parents, a dog, two miniature goats, cats and a teenage daughter who is a dynamic visual artist herself. Ruth interviews fellow artists both inside and outside of the film/television industry. At the core of all she does is the strength of her faith.

5 Comments

  1. Brittany Boardley Renaldi September 10, 2012 Reply

    I have never read an Amish fiction! Great review!

  2. Amanda September 5, 2012 Reply

    I have been looking for a good book to read… I love when authors include humor it helps make the characters feel like real people. =)

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