Review & Giveaway: The Christmas Cradle by Charlotte Hubbard

The Christmas Cradle

by Charlotte Hubbard

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GENRE: Amish/Inspirational Romance

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

For the peaceful town of Willow Ridge, November presents an early holiday surprise. Stranded in the snow, 18-year-old Lena Esh and her boyfriend Josiah Witmer need more than a place to stay for the night. Lena defied her strict family and their judgmental beliefs to run away with Josiah and have his baby. But she’s starting to wonder if he can prove as responsible as he is passionate. And she isn’t sure how—or if—they can ever find a place to truly call home.

Expecting their own miracle baby, Miriam and Ben Hooley rally the town to help the young couple, and Lena draws strength from their unexpected support. Though trouble may come calling, in this season of joyous rebirth, a little child will lead them. And two couples will see their dreams of forever family come true…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My Review

It 's a story easy, clean, heartwarming. I love  Amish culture and every time I read their stories with great pleasure. I admire their generosity, are always ready to help each other.

For Lena and Josiah is a really difficult moment: are going to have a baby but are thwarted by their families. Lena is willing to do anything for her love and to have a peaceful and loving family. They flee home, they are alone, have nowhere to go and there's a snowstorm in progress. Fortunately knock on the right door and Miriam and Ben welcome them into their home. But all the inhabitants of Willow Ridge welcome with love and without judgment these guys and try to integrate them into their communities. Ben and Miriam are expecting a child too. Ben is building a beautiful cradle, it will be a wonderful surprise for Miriam. Will Lena and Josiah  find their way and be able to build a solid family and future?

It's the sixth book in the series "Seasons of the Heart", I have read only the fifth unfortunately. It can be read as a stand alone but for a greater understanding and enjoyment of the story is best to read the series in order. I'm sorry that this is the final book in the series, fortunately I still have to read the first four ones.

I love the style of this author, it is so addictive that you seem to be part of this community too. She has been able to create realistic, warm and completely lovable characters and an imaginary village, really welcoming, where I would move without any doubt. I can not wait to read another of her novels.

It was a great, lovable, well written book, a pleasure to read from start to finish! A wonderful story about forgiveness, solidarity, faith, friendship and love.

I'd recommend The Christmas Cradle to those who enjoy  Christian historical romance.

I received an advance reader edition of this book from Publisher via NetGalley for the purpose of providing an honest review.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT (Exclusive Excerpt)

“Have you heard any word about Miriam?” Josiah asked beneath the voices around them that were raised in song.

Tom shook his head. “All we can believe is that she’s gettin’ the best of care, and that she’s in God’s hands. I figure to head to the hospital after the crowd’s cleared out.”

Josiah nodded. “Give her and Ben our best. Emory and I are going over to take Christmas dinner out of the cookers now, so—”

A loud ka-boom! made everyone in the crowd suck in their breath and stop singing. Across the road, a huge fireball flared up behind the Sweet Seasons, so bright that Josiah couldn’t look directly at it. Folks in the crowd cried out and parents grabbed their children.

“What in the—fire!” Josiah cried out. “One of the grill’s propane tanks must’ve exploded, or—”

He started to run toward the road, but Bishop Tom and Officer McClatchey both grabbed him. “You don’t want to go anywhere near there, son,” the lawman insisted as he pulled out his cell phone. “If the gas appliances in the café’s kitchen catch fire, you’ll be blown to Kingdom Come. Yeah—” he said into his phone. “We’ve got an explosion and fire in Willow Ridge, at the Sweet Seasons Café—natural gas and propane involved,” he added urgently. “Send the fire crew and an ambulance and some deputies for back-up.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Drawing upon her experiences in Jamesport, the largest Old Order Amish community in Missouri, longtime Missourian Charlotte Hubbard writes of simpler times and a faith-based lifestyle in her Seasons of the Heart series. Like her heroine, Miriam Lantz Hooley, Charlotte considers it her personal mission to feed people. Faith and family, farming and food preservation are hallmarks of her lifestyle. She’s a deacon, a dedicated church musician and choir member, and when she’s not writing, she loves to try new recipes, crochet, and sew. Charlotte now lives in Minnesota with her husband and their border collie.

Website:  www.CharlotteHubbard.com

Facebook: facebook.com/charlotte.hubbard1

Buy Link:

B&N http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-christmas-cradle-charlotte-hubbard/1120552927?ean=9781420133110

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Cradle-Seasons-Heart/dp/142013311X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1441246480&sr=8-1&keywords=the+christmas+cradle&pebp=1441246483192&perid=07QC4H696FX19A8HG6T7

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

Charlotte will be awarding $20 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway