Spring blossoms with new life and new beginnings for the flourishing Amish community of Promise Lodge. And as a just-opened bakery sweetens the air with fresh-baked goodness, residents will find that change can be a most joyous test . . . Recently widowed after twenty years of marriage, Frances Lehman is only just tasting the freedom and opportunity that her Promise Lodge friends enjoy. So … her Promise Lodge friends enjoy. So she’s not about to be pressured into marriage by her widowed brother-in-law, even if she and her daughter have no real means of support. Much more promising is her new friendship with Preacher Marlin Kurtz, though their respective families don’t see their relationship as proper . . .
When Frances suffers a serious injury, she’s determined to prove she can recover—and remain
independent—without burdening Marlin. Now, with his steadfast belief in real love tested, Marlin’s hope is that Promise Lodge’s irrepressible residents can help him restore Frances’s joy—and that faith will show them a way to turn their fragile second chance into a blessed and abiding future together . . .
Praise for Promise Lodge
“Hubbard firmly grounds the storyline in the principle of Amish grace.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Hubbard writes of healing and brave new beginnings from a refreshingly feminist perspective.”
—Booklist (starred review)
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I have really enjoyed the Promise Lodge series as the characters have built a new town and the new addition is just as good.
This time we get to learn more about Frances and Gloria Lehman as they navigate life after the death of husband and father respectively. Beware, Gloria, is a brat and Frances gets whiney but by the end, you will love them.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, Kensington, through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.
New Beginnings at Promise Lodge by Charlotte Hubbard is the fourth story in the Promise Lodge series. I recommend reading this series in order so you will not be overwhelmed by the characters and their various stories. New Beginnings at Promise Lodge picks up where Weddings at Promise Lodge ended. Truman and Rosetta are getting married which is a union between an Amish and a Mennonite. I just love the ladies of Promise Lodge. They are a lively and caring bunch. The women support each other. While the book focuses on Frances, we also catch up with the other characters. Frances is grieving the loss of her husband, but she is also looking forward to the freedoms offered by their new community. But then her brother-in-law, Lester Lehman begins insisting they marry which is the last thing Frances wants to happen. Her daughter, Gloria is upset at the loss of her father and she is still chasing after Allen Troyer who is not interested in Gloria. Allen has told Gloria how he feels, but she is rather persistent (let’s face it, she is a pest). Preacher Marlin Kurtz, who has been a widower for three years, intervenes when Lester begins making inappropriate assertions. Marlin is interested in Frances and is totally unprepared for the reaction from one of his grown children. I thought New Beginnings at Promise Lodge was well-written with appealing characters. The setting is beautifully described, and the story has a good flow. I like how Charlotte Hubbard has given us this unique Amish community with a variety of characters. I thought the situations realistic and I enjoyed the humor sprinkled throughout this emotional tale. There is a particularly sad section that had me fetching a tissue. New Beginnings at Promise Lodge gives us joy, family, heartache, friendship, love, faith, grief, and confusion. We get to meet Annabelle Beachy at the end who will feature in Light Shines on Promise Lodge. My favorite saying from the book is “Happiness doesn’t just happen—it’s a conscious choice we make dozens a times each day.” New Beginnings at Promise Lodge is a heartwarming story with a wonderful wedding, a bothersome brother-in-law, twin expectations, a plethora of pies, diminutive dwellings, and a terrible tumble.
Was a very enjoyable book
I really liked this story. Different take on Amish stories but very enjoyable.
Promise Lodge is a little different than what I expected. I enjoyed the fact that everyone is there to make better lives. The women of the community are very close knit and unconventional for Amish women. Families have moved here for several different reasons. As a community they learn that everyone has their differences and not to judge. A young couple trying to figure out their relationship. A widow and a gentleman testing their chance a love again. A young lady to trying to fit in the community. A set of twins give birth and one of the twins experience a great loss. 2 women open a business and experience success. The community all comes together and gives support and love for all of them. I was provided this book by the publisher for my honest review.
Oh, how I loved being back at Promise Lodge, would love to live here and be a part of their community.
We pick up where we left off in the last book [and I see there is another to follow this one, and I’m not patiently waiting], and Frances is now trying to move on after the loss of her husband. Our Grace is still fumbling, and I keep hoping there will be someone for her, but keep reading, there may be light at the end of the tunnel.
A book full of emotions, lots of love, smiles, tears and some heart ache, and a read I could not put down until the end, and then I wanted more.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Kensington, and was not required to give a positive review.
MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK
Another sweet trip to the Ladies of Promise Lodge. It’s exciting to see many others who have joined this special group,all having their own unique thing to bring to the community. There is a lot going on in this beautiful story. I love the beautiful book cover, and yes there is a pie story, even a pie business run by two Promise Lodge ladies. This is one of the many businesses in the unique community. I think my favorite is the tiny houses, and you can read all about them in this book.
Much of this book centers around Frances Lehman, her pushy and determined brother in law, and Preacher Marlin Kurtz. Frances lost her Bishop husband just a few short months ago and she is enjoying her freedom. Not that she didnt love her husband, but he was set in his own ways with his strong opinions. Bit now two men seemed to be after her hand in marriage. But Frances doesn’t make it easy for them. There are other budding romances floating around the Lodge and community, but I’ll save then for your reading enjoyment. As well as the other exciting things happening in this Promise Lodge story.
Author Charlotte Hubbard gives her readers another fun and entertaining story from her Promise Lodge Series. It seems each book gets better and better, and I can’t wait for the next book in this series. I love and appreciate Ms. Hubbard’s unique writing and the characters in this story are wonderfully created and develop so well as the story unfolds. This is a beautifully written story that will give readers several hours of entertainment, enjoyment and lots of fun. If you love Amish stories, this book is a must for you. If you haven’t read anything from Charlotte Hubbard, this would be a great book to start with! You just can’t go wrong with this author.
A copy of this book was given to me by the author or publisher. I am not required to write a positive review. The opinions here in this review are totally mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Charlotte Hubbard sets the stage for her readers enjoyment through her unique writing style, descriptive words, and enthusiasm of the Amish in her new installment New Beginnings at Promise Lodge. This is the 4th powerful book in her series Promise Lodge. Readers will be drawn into this story from the first page and will remain enthralled until the conclusion but will still be wanting more. The storyline moves along at a great pace and hardly leaves room to put the book down.
The characters that the author has carefully developed appear very realistic and likeable. The reader gets the opportunity to not only reunite with former characters from previous books but also get to know some a bit more personally. Francis, who was widowed in a previous book, is a main participant in this story as she navigates her new normal for life. Francis is mourning her late husband and worried where her life is headed when Preacher Marlin Kurtz steps in to offer spiritual and life changing advice. When a devastating accident puts Francis’ life on hold it gives her time to consider several life changing ideas. Which path she chooses will surprise you and her community. I enjoyed getting to know Francis and Preacher Kurtz through the authors story. This story just kept on amazing me throughout the entire book.
I was given the opportunity to read this amazing book from the author, Charlotte Hubbard, with an advanced readers copy. I agreed to review this book but never made an agreement to post a favorable review. I have once again given this author a five star rating for delivering another fantastic story for her readers enjoyment. This is a story I can highly recommend to others.
Congratulations Charlotte Hubbard for continuing your series with style and grace. I look forward to seeing where your next story leads us.
I was eagerly awaiting this book and it didn’t disappoint. I really enjoyed going back to Promise Lodge. I was happy to see that all of my old friends were still there.
Frances was a jem. I would love to have her as my mamm. Gloria doesn’t know how lucky she is!! May I call her a brat? I think I will. You know though? I can understand some of her delimma because some changes aren’t as easy as they seem. Even at her age.
Her mom is just trying to make ends meet as best as she can and her daughter doesn’t make it easy. Especially when her brother in law gets her involved.
However; I don’t condone lying to just to get someone in trouble by making yourself look good.
Lying can hurt the person that was lied about if that makes sense. That too will not earn friends because the bext time you do it it will be hard to trust that person again. Fortunately there is forgiveness. But you have to really mean it. The Amish forgive but deep down do they really?
I believe in 2nd chances at love. I know that Amish remarry sometimes after losing the other spouse because depending on the situation they remarry for convienince. But I think in this case there was never a more surer love that between Frances and Marlin. I think they would make a couple!! I actually could feel a ” spark between them”
I also felt the love and support from the community of Promise Lodge after a terrible accident befell Frances. I felt myself wanting to pray for her.
I really didn’t like France’s brother in law. There was too much going on with him in his personal life and it rubbed off onto others.
I do strongly recommend this book especially if you’ve eagerly anticipated it as I have. It won’t disappoint. Charlotte has woven her magical pen once again
and has created a fantastic story one that readers will be sure to enjoy.
My thanks to the publisher for a complementary copy of this book. NO compensations were received and all opinions are my own.