#amishromance – Avonna Loves Genres

Friday Feature Author Interview with Elise Cooper: D is for Daisy by Shelley Shepard Gray

Book Description

Early retirement never sounded so good to Mervin and Ruthie Miller. After a lifetime in Millersburg, where Mervin worked at a furniture and shed factory and Ruthie helped out at a fabric store, they have exciting plans: They’re going to become “Amish Gentlemen Farmers.” That means buying a 30-acre, ramshackle farm, and all that comes with it—no matter what their grown children, friends, and aching muscles think . . .

Aaron Miller is worried about his parents, but there’s little he can do now that he lives in Kentucky and has a baby on the way. Then his childhood best friend, Kyle Burkholder, makes a heaven-sent offer: he’ll move in with Aaron’s parents to teach them about raising cows and chickens, and even give weekly reports to Aaron.

The arrangement is going well—until Kyle stumbles upon Daisy Lapp who’s just been in a bicycle accident. When he visits her in the hospital, he knows there’s something special between them. So does Daisy. But her something special is the fact that Kyle lives on the farm she’d always dreamed of buying one day. She knows it’s wrong, but she’s jealous. She wants nothing to do with Kyle and politely tells him so.

Still, like the Millers, Kyle’s not one to give up easily. Not on himself, not on the farm, and certainly not on Daisy. With dedication and a leap of faith, the lives they envisioned just might come true.

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Elise’s Thoughts

D is for Daisy by Shelley Shepard Gray is once again a book that will put a smile on readers’ faces and make them feel good. There has never been a book she has written that is not engrossing, captivating, and heartwarming.

The story takes place in the rural Amish community of Walden, Ohio. Mervin and Ruthie Miller decide to buy a farm instead of working in a furniture factory and fabric store. The problem is neither know anything about farming. Their son’s childhood best friend, Kyle Hostetler, agrees to help them out and moves in as their hired hand.

While working, he sees a girl crash her electric bike resulting in her broken leg. When he comes to visit her in the hospital, she shows her resentment by being rude. Kyle finds out that that he lives on the farm she’d always dreamed of buying one day. Daisy Lapp feels the farm next to her parent’s farm had been sold out from under her. Now she is reassessing her life, realizing she
has no boyfriend and no job. She was fired because she is unable to work due to the accident.

Ruthie acts as a matchmaker, having Kyle deliver baked goods to Daisy as she recuperates. Slowly they become friends and Daisy realizes she is attracted to him. But he likes her arch enemy, Winter Walker, a selfish girl who enjoys putting Daisy down. Can Kyle realize the true nature of Winter and decide to court Daisy instead?

Like all her other books this story will warm readers’ hearts. It has appealing characters that are realistic, including Velvet the cow. It is a feel-good book.

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Author Interview

Elise Cooper: Is this a new series of sorts or is it a continuation of your ABC series?

Shelley Shepard Gray: When I first thought of doing ABCs, I really did want to do all 26 letters, which would be the dream. I don’t know if that’ll happen. I ended up with a fictional town named Walden in Ohio because I thought, well, I’m just going to have to keep adding things. I came up with the original idea for books, A, B, and C and had that played out. I decided I’m just going to do the different series and trilogies. C ended the first trilogy with the Schrock family. F concludes this trilogy, and I’m contracted for G, with G, H and I, starting a whole a new series. We’ll see, how many letters I end up getting to do. It may just be D through G. Right now, I’ve written 6 of them. I’m contracted for the 7th letter of the alphabet.

EC: Why did you have the setting of the farm?

SSG: A little bit of this series is kind of a tongue in cheek for my husband. He’s a salesman. We’ve lived all over the country. We’ve always lived in the suburbs, but he had a secret dream of living on a farm. This is a little bit of making fun of myself and my husband. Sometimes, maybe achieving your dream is not all a bed of roses, and there is a lot of hard work. Unlike the song, every dream doesn’t always come true the way you hope it will.

EC: Did you ever hear of Sue Grafton’s Kinsey Millhone Mystery books that has in the title the alphabet?

SSG: I’ve read a bunch of her books, and my original editor over at Kensington, she’s retired now, but when we were first talking about this, she noted, Shelly, you could be our Amish Sue Grafton. I was like, well, I couldn’t imagine a better role model. It is an ode to her.

EC: How would you describe Daisy?

SSG: She’s a dreamer, but her dreams go up in smoke. She’s a tomboy and feels different than other Amish girls, thinks she’s a misfit. She is frustrated because she feels she needs to re-examine her life and to be useful. Daisy is determined, stubborn, and can be tight lipped, strong, hopeful, modest, somewhat innovative, and insecure. She doesn’t feel tough and independent like others think of her.

EC: Is she a little different than the other female leads you write?

SSG: I love to write a heroine that readers are rooting for. At first, she kind of drove me crazy, because I kept thinking she’s the type of character or person that just kind of wants to yell to everyone: if you just give me a chance, you’re going to like me. I’m worth the struggle to be a friend, because I do know what I’m doing, and I am a hard worker. She’s just begging for people to believe in her, and, but she needs to believe in herself too.

EC: What role does Ruthie and Mervin play in this new series?

SSG: When I first pitched it to my editor, I called it the “Amish Green Acres,” referring to the TV show. So many people seem to think that all Amish are great at sewing. All Amish are great at farming. It was like somebody who thinks, oh, well, when you’re born to an Amish family they just automatically know how to do everything. But I wanted to have an older couple who lived in an Amish city but they always had a dream of having this big farm. They finally get their dream by buying this farm, and they have no idea what they’re doing. That was the inspiration for the books D, E, and F. Different people come into the Miller’s lives to try to help them out in different ways. They are very caring and have a lot of common sense, except when they bought this farm. And there’s always an animal to deal with.

EC: How would you describe Kyle?

SSG: He is a good older brother, protective, friendly, impulsive, and kind.

EC: His sister, Sarah, is hard of hearing?

SSG: She was not based on anyone specific. I was a 6th grade teacher for a long time and I had students with a lot of different learning disabilities in my classrooms. I always tried to make accommodations. Sarah has a caption phone. Her teacher doesn’t really seem to understand how to deal with her. She is teased a lot and because of that is not confident. Kyle is like a lot of older brothers, sisters, parents, who wants to make things right, to fix things. To put Sarah in a bubble, every time things go wrong or things happen, but sometimes it’s out of our control.

EC: What about the relationship between Kyle and Daisy?

SSG: I thought he was a good counterpart for Daisy. He was kind of the opposite of her. She’s a little awkward, a little tomboyish, kind of a wallflower. She just doesn’t quite fit in and never really has. While Kyle on the other side is kind of a catch. People want to be his friend and they look out for him. He’s good at a lot of things. And so, I thought he would be a fun counterpart to her. When they first met, Daisy was kind of rude to him and was confused and irritated by him. He helps her after she gets in this bike accident. Part of the reason she is so difficult with Kyle is she’s just embarrassed. But then they turned into friends because they had reading and farming in common. He believed in her, and thought of her as special and unique. They eventually fell in love with each other.

EC: There is this quote you wrote about a river that very much describes their relationship. Do you agree?

SSG: You are referring to “A river can be shallow or calm, but oftentimes perilous, deep, a strong current”. Daisy, in a sense, felt that her life was filled with disappointments, including at some point her relationship with Kyle because of his infatuation with another Amish girl, Winter. But she is the one who ends up with Kyle and realizes their strengths. She feels successful, she feels good about herself, and feels good about her relationship with Kyle. He always encouraged her to keep trying, to keep looking, and to not give up.

EC: How would you describe Winter?

SSG: I usually don’t like love triangles one bit. I don’t like reading about them. I don’t like writing about them, but for this book, I used it to have Kyle make a mistake. So, he totally gets sucked in by Winter, who is not a nice girl. She was never nice to Daisy. When Kyle found out about that, it just made her in his mind not to be a very nice person. She twists people’s words, is a liar, pretends to be nice, but is aggressive and dramatic. Winter is someone who seeks attention, spoiled, and I would call her a mean Amish girl.

EC: Do you think the names Daisy and Winter really represent the characters well?

SSG: Winter is very cold so I thought it was fitting. She has a cold personality, for sure. And Winter’s almost so stormy, and so was she. Regarding Daisy, I thought of the actual flower, delicate, warm, and sunny.

EC: What role did Velvet the cow play?

SSG: I had Ruthie in the barn doing some farm work. I wanted her to have a safe person, originally, to kind of talk things over with, and then the next thing I know, I wrote a scene in there, and there was the cow, the bovine therapist, a therapy animal. I had written another book for Kensington, titled, Happily Ever Amish, and there was a donkey, and I wrote it in because the heroine didn’t have a lot of friends, and she had to have a way for her to talk to somebody that wasn’t all internal dialogue. I had her talk to this donkey, and it went over well. I think that’s how I came up with, oh, I’ll just have a cow this time. I was able to get out the people’s feelings and thoughts without it being just inside their head. It’s a slow book if it’s just pages and pages of backstory and description.

EC: Next books?

SSG: E is for Englisher. The heroine’s name is Ella, and she’s lost everybody in her family. She is English, her parents had died in a car accident. Ruthie and Mervin turned into her reluctant parents in a way. She goes to their house to kind of be a caretaker, but really, they are taking care of her. It comes out in November, and it’s a Christmas book.

Another series I am writing, the first book in the “Amish Widow’s Club Series,” The Unexpected Caller comes out July 7th. And then the second book in the Widows Club, The Forbidden Caller comes out in September. The premise for this series is a secret Amish widow’s club in Holmes County. Widowed women after a year or so are offered an invitation to join this club. It’s like a support group. They meet, they get together once a month or every couple of weeks and do stuff together. It’s for women who don’t want to get married again. But of course, my heroines get married again.

THANK YOU!!

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BIO: Elise Cooper has written book reviews and interviewed best-selling authors since 2009. Her reviews have covered several different genres, including thrillers, mysteries, women’s fiction, romance and cozy mysteries. An avid reader, she engages authors to discuss their works, and to focus on the descriptions of their characters and the plot. While not writing reviews, Elise loves to watch baseball and visit the ocean in Southern California, with her dog and husband.

Friday Feature Author Interview with Elise Cooper: An Amish Marriage Agreement and The Amish Baker’s Redemption by Patrice Lewis

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Book Description and Elise’s Thoughts – An Amish Marriage Agreement

An Amish Marriage Agreement has Amish basket-maker Olivia Bontrager moving to Montana looking for a fresh start after her father dies. Unexpectedly, she finds her sister has abandoned her baby on Olivia’s doorstep. Wanting to give her niece a stable life, she accepts help from handyman Andrew Eicher, who offers a shocking proposal: a marriage of convenience because he wants to pull their finances to buy a farm. Now, after long resigning herself to spinsterhood, Olivia says yes knowing she will have the home and family she’s always yearned for. As they get closer Andrew realizes Olivia is everything he wanted in a wife, and she realizes she is falling in love with him. Everything seems to be going great until Olivia’s sister, Adele, reappears and jeopardizes the happiness they’ve found.

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Book Description and Elise’s Thoughts – The Amish Baker’s Redemption

The Amish Baker’s Redemption is Adele’s redemption story. After spending years in the English world, Adele Bontrager returns to her Amish community, desperate to redeem herself and reclaim her faith. Working in an Amish bakery, she feels like her life is finally moving in the right direction until Isaiah King arrives as the new head baker. Single father Isaiah has his hands full trying to raise his rebellious teenage daughter, Phoebe, and is grateful when Adele strikes up a friendship with his sullen child, despite her obvious reluctance toward him. But when he learns of her troubled history, he’ll need to decide if her past is worth risking their future and does he want her around Phoebe.

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Author Interview

Elise Cooper: How did you get the idea for An Amish Marriage Agreement?

Patrice Lewis: I liked the idea of a beautiful sister and a plain sister. The main character, Olivia, had a wonderful personality and a skill set, but lacks beauty.

EC: How would you describe Olivia?

PL: She is grief-filled after losing her dad. She considers herself a spinster. Olivia is stubborn, determined, responsible, self-deprecating, believes she is gangly looking, a risk-taker, kind, generous, hard-working, and clever.

EC: How would you describe the male lead, Andrew?

PL: He is bitter and angry about Sarah, his former girlfriend, who dumped him. He is orderly, level-headed, enthusiastic, and generous.

EC: What is the difference between Sarah and Olivia?

PL: They are opposites. Sarah has a shallow personality, while Olivia is a truly wonderful person inside and out. The only thing Sarah has going for her is beauty.

EC: What about the relationship between Olivia and Andrew?

PL: First, they were business partners, then friends who teased good-naturedly, shared chores, could make small talk, and both feel like outsiders. Andrew now believes he wants someone with beauty inside, not on the outside. He starts to recognize the value of Olivia.

EC: Why a marriage of convenience?

PL: They both wanted something very badly. The only way to get it was to join forces. Olivia had a baby placed on her doorstep, abandoned by her sister, so she felt the baby needed a father figure. Andrew knew he needed a financial partner in the farm. They decided to team up, both thinking they would not marry for love.

EC: What is the role of the baby, Helen?

PL: Olivia has no clue on how to raise the baby. I put in the scene on how they meet, and hope readers thought it was humorous. She literally yanked open the door and had a baby there. She panicked and motherhood did not come naturally for her. Andrew was on the doorstep because he was sent to repair the house. He knew what to do on how to handle a baby.

EC: Why did she keep Helen?

PL: She was Olivia’s father’s only grandchild and was named after her mother, both parents had died. She was motivation for Olivia to buy a farm with Andrew because he promised to be a father to Helen.

EC: What was the role of Adele?

PL: Flighty, selfish, self-centered, criticized Olivia’s looks, made her feel inferior, and yet was jealous of her. She was also shallow, insecure, and beautiful.

EC: Has Adele changed in The Amish Baker’s Redemption, the next book in the series?

PL: In the last story at the ending Adele had hit bottom. Before that she sought after wealthy, powerful men who were attracted to her because of her looks, but not her personality. She was rebellious, restless, and callous. In this book she changes because of the guilt she gave up her baby, men started dumping her, jealous of her sister’s life, and being financially destitute. Adele had to get redemption. She decided to now make the right choices. She became responsible, modest, has a good work ethic, devout, has humility,

and is avoiding men. Adele saw herself as a fallen women who wanted to redeem herself in the eyes of God, the community, Andrew, and Olivia.

EC: Idea for the story?

PL: I wanted to show how Olivia had to develop her personality because she did not have beauty, while Adele used her beauty to get what she wanted. Many beautiful women are as kind, loving, and caring as anybody else, but not Adele. She never developed her personality.

EC: How would you describe the male lead, Isiah?

PL: Stable, moralistic, hard-working, and scared his daughter is making the wrong choices.

EC: What about the relationship between Adele and Isiah?

PL: He admires her and he wants to court her. She feels she is not worthy of his affection, especially after he finds out about her past.

EC: What is the role of Isiah’s daughter, Phoebe?

PL: Adele realizes if Phoebe takes her path she will get into trouble because she does not have Adele’s good looks. Phoebe wants to travel the world, does not want to be baptized, and wants adventures. She is thinking of leaving the faith and at first does not realize she will lose the support of the Church and community, Adele is motivated to save Phoebe from herself. Phoebe hero worships Adele, while Adele sees herself as Phoebe’s mentor, to save Phoebe from herself so she will not make the same mistakes as Adele.

EC: How would you describe Phoebe?

PL: She is candid, rebellious, restless, impatient, and vulnerable. She is good hearted.

EC: Next book?

PL: The Amish Nanny’s Marriage Offer which will be released in May. The hero and heroine are widowed. He has a daughter and she has a son. During Church services since men and women are separated, they watch each other’s child. He gave her a job to babysit his daughter. The heroine left for Montana because she was being pressured by her family to marry a psychopath.

THANK YOU!!

Friday Feature Author Interview with Elise Cooper: Still Waters and An Amish Baby in Her Arms by Patricia Johns

Still Waters and An Amish Baby in Her Arms by Patricia Johns have gripping plots. The characters in the stories must navigate their Amish life with their desires and wishes.

The characters of both books make for wonderful stories. Anyone who enjoys an intense plot, with riveting characters, should read these books.

Book Description

Unsure of her future within the Amish community, Beth Peachy arrives in Lancaster County for the summer to care for her ailing grandmother. Yet with dementia threatening to steal away Mammi’s memories, Beth’s visit quickly evolves into an urgent search for answers to questions that her relatives seem determined to avoid. How can Beth possibly make a lifelong vow to the Amish church when her own family is concealing so much of the past from her?

Beth’s childhood friend Danny Lapp faces his own dilemma as his ex-Amish older brother turns his back on their family upbringing, dishonoring his Plain heritage. Struggling to find some sort of connection with his brother despite their deep difference of opinion, Danny is determined to find a solution before church leadership becomes involved. As Beth and Danny reconnect and seek to help each other in their search for answers, they find themselves stirring up not only surprising revelations about the past, but questions about a possible future–together.

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Elise’s Thoughts

Still Waters has two of the female characters trying to navigate the Amish world versus the English world. Tabitha Schrock left the Amish faith because she wanted to become a veterinarian. Although she has no regrets about that choice, she decided to come back to the Amish community after divorcing her husband who cheated on her. She is getting closer to a friend, Jonas who is willing to help her. Unfortunately, they are attracted to each other but because of Amish rules they can never be married. Tabitha is not the only Amish character who is struggling with her life choices. There is also Beth Peachy who came to Lancaster County to help her ailing grandmother. She wants answers about her dad’s history since he just died. She is also struggling with her Amish faith since she wants to pursue things she enjoys. Danny Lapp is hoping Beth will stay in the Amish faith because he is in love with her.

A powerful subject matter is how Beth’s grandmother, Mammi, has the first signs of dementia. This presents anguish, grief, and peace with the characters since it is hard for Beth to get answers.

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Book Description

A widow reeling from loss…

Can the storm deliver her a family?

Miriam Yoder thought she’d never feel happy again after the loss of her husband and unborn child—until a baby is abandoned outside her workplace. Seeing this as an opportunity for her heart to heal, she cares for the helpless infant during a fierce storm with her late husband’s brother. But Amish farmer Isaac Yoder has been keeping secrets. Hiding them from Miriam as he temporarily works alongside her at his aunt’s chocolate shop is one thing…but caring for a baby together presents a new challenge. Can their growing connection withstand the weight of the truth and open Miriam’s heart again?

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Elise’s Thoughts

An Amish Baby in Her Arms is also a powerful book. The female lead, Miriam also questions parts of the Amish faith. She married her true love, Elijah, but he was a bad husband who drank, gambled, had infidelities, and abused her emotionally. She had a hard life after losing Elijah in an accident and the baby she was pregnant with. Now a feminist of sorts she has decided to never remarry and to be responsible for herself, never depending on a man again. Elijah’s brother Zach also has secrets since he was in love with Miriam and did not think she should marry Elijah.

They were thrown together in a storm after finding an abandoned baby. They navigated the dangerous weather to travel to her grandfather, but the storm got even worse and Zach had to stay there. Working alongside each other, caring for the baby, and being in such close contact, they both started having feelings for one another.

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Author Interview

Elise Cooper: How did you get the idea for Still Waters? Was it comparing life as an Amish person versus an English person?

Patricia Johns: I wanted to write about the well intentions of family and how different generations react to the traditions. The characters are struggling to find their place in life, and it is not all perfect.

EC: How would you describe Tabitha?

PJ: Tabitha has given up a lot since she has come back to the Amish life. She feels different and unique. She wants to fit in but also wants more from her life. She is impressive, confident, hopeful, lonely, and is compassionate. Right now, she feels like an outsider.

EC: How would you describe Jonas?

PJ: Jonas does not want to be under his father’s wing and to do something different, like raising sheep. He is loyal, trustworthy, and lonely.

EC: What about the relationship between Tabitha and Jonas?

PJ: He has only eyes for her and is frustrated because of their situation. They both have feelings for each other but realize there is no future.

EC: How would you describe Beth?

PJ: Beth’s family wants to believe that retaining an Amish faith will be an idyllic life. Yet, her family have many secrets they have not revealed. She is considerate, she questions if the Amish life can give her everything she wants. Because of this she is vulnerable, frustrated, and searches to find her place. She has a healthy rebellious streak because she constantly asks questions to get to the whole truth.

EC: What about the relationship between Danny and Beth?

PJ: She sees him at times unreasonable and feels he is not willing to bend or compromise. He wants to have the pure Amish experience. He does not want to acknowledge that times people do not have a great Amish life.

EC: What about the Beth’s dad experience?

PJ: He is the broken rule. He is the walking, talking exception. He is the key to the mystery.

EC: There is a lot in the book about the Amish traditions and rules. Please explain.

PJ: They only have education through the 8^th grade. Marriage is not allowed if divorced. Living in sin is absolutely forbidden. Women in the Amish community lead in the home but nowhere else. The problem comes up when the husband is no good then the women are very vulnerable.

EC: How did you get the idea for the book An Amish Baby in Her Arms?

PJ: I had this image in my head of a baby on a doorstep during a crushing storm.

EC: How would you describe Zach, the male lead?

PJ: Protective, feels guilty, has secrets, and is reserved. He questions why the Amish keeps the English at arm’s length. He has guilt surrounding his brother’s death, guilt about his feelings for his late brother’s wife, and guilt for not agreeing with the fact that the Amish separate themselves from everybody else.

EC: How would you describe Miriam?

PJ: She has grief over losing her baby and husband. She does not want to be reliant on any man again. Miriam is hardworking, stressed, kind, considerate, tough, and determined. She is an Amish feminist even though she herself would not describe herself in that way since she wants to support herself and not be reliant on a man again. She is not looking for a man to rescue her.

EC: What did Miriam go through while married to Elijah, who is now dead?

PJ: She has gone through a miserable heartbreaking experience and never wants to experience it again. She is determined not to put herself in that vulnerable position again. Her late husband, Elijah, broke her spirit, did not respect her, was irresponsible, uncaring, not devoted to her, caused her pain, disorder, unhappiness, and made her lose her self-esteem and sense of purpose.

EC: How would you compare Zach to Elijah?

PJ: Zach is the direct opposite of Elijah. He builds her up, is kind, and supportive. He makes her life easier, respects her, and sees her value.

EC: What is the role of the baby, Ivy?

PJ: She is most vulnerable who needs care and love. She is the catalyst that has Zach and Miriam opening their hearts to this baby, so their own hearts are more open to each other. They must work together to take care of this baby.

EC: What about the role of the storm?

PJ: It isolates Zach and Miriam together. It keeps the rest of the world out and forces them to deal with their personal problems.

EC: Next book?

PJ: It is titled Through the Valley and wraps up this series, “The Amish of Shepherd’s Hill.” The plot will have Tabitha’s long deserved, long awaited happily ever after. Although you could read this last book as a stand-alone you will appreciate it even more if the previous two books in the series are read first.

THANK YOU!!

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Friday Feature Author Interview with Elise Cooper: A Hidden Hope by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Book Description

Supervising two newly minted medical residents might be the toughest challenge Ruth “Dok” Stoltzfus has ever faced. Wren Baker, sharp and ambitious, graduated at the top of medical school with a hidden agenda in tow. Charlie King, at the bottom of the class, is determined to succeed–though Dok isn’t convinced he’s got what it takes. Then there’s traveling nurse Evie Miller, whose quiet love for Charlie doesn’t go unnoticed, especially by Wren.

Boarding at Windmill Farm, the trio struggles to balance modern medicine with Plain living. Between medical emergencies, cultural misunderstandings, and brewing romantic tensions, Dok finds herself juggling far more than she bargained for. Soon the stage is set in the small Amish community of Stoney Ridge for plenty of professional and personal complications.

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Elise’s Thoughts

A Hidden Hope by Suzanne Woods Fisher is a fantastic read blending romance, hope, faith, intriguing medical facts, and doctors/nurses learning their craft under the supervision of a very wise doctor. Readers can revisit characters from the previous book and get to know some interesting new ones.

The plot has Ruth “Dok” Stoltzfus deciding to lessen her medical workload by taking into the practice two newly minted medical residents, Wren Baker and Charlie King, as well as traveling nurse Evie Miller. Wren is sharp, ambitious, and graduated at the top of her medical school, while Charlie King is at the bottom of the class and determined to succeed. The trio struggles to balance modern medicine with Plain living. Between medical emergencies, cultural misunderstandings, and brewing romantic tensions, Dok finds herself juggling far more than she bargained for. A second main thread continued from the last book is about Annie, Dok’s Amish receptionist, who desperately wants to join her love interest, Gus, in the EMT field. But medical issues complicate the matter and makes her wonder if her dreams and future will blow up in smoke.

What makes these books stand out is how the author highlights some medical issues such as postpartum depression, reading disabilities, family dysfunction, drug trials with pharmaceutical companies, and severe motion sickness. Readers will take the journey with the characters as they struggle with these issues and try to overcome them. In addition, there is subtle commentary on the attitude of doctors. A great quote that exemplifies this is by Dok, ““You have all the tools to be a good doctor, but to be a great one, you need to treat the person, not just the illness.”

This book was very hard to put down. Readers will become entwined with the characters. There are tender moments, heart wrenching scenes, and humorous dialogue.

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Author Interview

Elise Cooper: Why did “Dok” decide to have doctoral residents?

Suzanne Woods Fisher: I was not setting out to do a series but have written a third book. It picks up where the last book, A Healing Touch, left off. Dok had a local TV station do a feature on her and her practice blew up with a waiting list out the door. She ends up with two brand new medical doctors. They decided to go to this rural local community to get their medical school bills paid off. It is a story where the outsiders are looking in, about observation and noticing.

EC: How did you find out about the medical practice to write about?

SWF: I have several friends who have children that became doctors. My own daughter- in-law has a residency in clinical psychology. I interviewed two of my friends’ children who did not match to where they went. I have written into the story medical issues that either I know about personally or knew of people that experienced it. Most of “Doks” work is not specialty but common, basic, and true anecdotal medical issues.

EC: Why did you write this powerful book quote about looking at the individual or animal by doctors and vets?

SWF: My experience with the medical community is that it is all about statistics. Doctors and vets today do not individualize. They need to look at the person or dogs care, commitment, devotion, and budget. Dok said to the resident that she must see the whole person. Her quote, “What truly matters to me is that you start seeing your patients as a whole people not just a collection of symptoms…You need to treat the person, not just the illness. Your patients aren’t mere tasks on a to-do-list. You need to be attentive to them as human beings.” Dok is the doctor we all wish we had.

EC: Did Dok practice differently than other doctors?

SWF: Rural doctors like Dok practice differently than those in an urban setting. They are much more on the front line of a family practice. Dok has this philosophy that she can learn more about a person in a home than in an office call. Dok is now so connected to the people’s well-being and whole health. She believes in alternative options, and is a quick thinker, and adapts to the moment. At first, she thinks how much Wren is like her when she was a young doctor, but Charlie is like Doc now as an experienced doctor.

EC: How would you describe the resident Wren?

SWF: Wren Baker graduated at the top of her class, brilliant, quick, decisive, gutsy, bold, audacious, competitive, and ambitious. She is also territorial, snobbish, impatient, used to luxuries, not culturally sensitive, cunning, determined, and tenacious. Wren had life a little too easy including in school that applauded her high successful IQ but that does not necessarily make a successful person with relationships, especially working with others.

EC: How about the other resident, Charlie?

SWF: He was at the bottom of his medical class. He is curious, steady, can connect with the patients. Wren was the reason he got through medical school. He had an appreciation and tolerance for her that others did not see. He is also kindhearted, patient, goofy, likes to fix things, and is all heart. He thinks outside the box and comes at things from a different angle.

EC: What about the nicknames given to Charlie by Evie, the nurse practitioner studying under Dok?

SWF: Clueless Charlie, Charitable Charlie, Correctable Charlie, Coachable Charlie, and Conniving Charlie. Evie was crazy in love with him. She feels neglected by him. These represent her emotions. Her feelings zig zag. Evie felt it was unrequited love all the time.

EC: How would you describe Evie?

SWF: She had a Mennonite upbringing. She does not have self-confidence and does not stand up for herself. She underestimates herself. She feels displaced and does not belong until her grandparents raised her during her high school years as her parents ran off on different missions. She never understood the gift she had with a sense of calmness and confidence.

EC: How would you describe Clara who has postpartum depression?

SWF: She suffered alone, is struggling, broken, withdrawn, and became disoriented. She slipped through the cracks with a lot of people to blame. Motherhood is highly revered in the Amish community. Clara was not thriving and feels judged for struggling. She has a husband who is super patriarchal. She finds it hard to except help and has painted herself into a corner of loneliness and isolation.

EC: How about Dok’s office assistant, Annie?

SWF: She is shy, not confident, and considers EMT Gus like a soul mate. She is a quick thinker but panics when she thinks she cannot achieve her professional dreams. Annie is the youngest in a big family with all brothers. Her mother is a flaming hypochondriac. At the end of the book, she has become her own person where she makes her own decisions.

EC: Next books?

SWF: There will be a book 3, a wonderful conclusion. It picks up a bit where this leaves off. It will be published next October 2026 but no title yet.

In May another book comes out, the second in the National Park Series titled Chasing the Light. This will have the ocean and buried treasure, with a lot of history of New England.

THANK YOU!!

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Friday Feature Author Interview with Elise Cooper: Green Pastures by Patricia Johns

Book Description

Tabitha Schrock’s return to Lancaster County shakes the foundations of her family and community. After her departure during rumspringa and a recent divorce, Tabitha faces the challenge of reintegrating into Amish society while pursuing her dream of working as a veterinarian. Meanwhile, her sister Amanda, whose own prospects were dimmed by Tabitha’s leaving Shepherd’s Hill, decides to seize her chance at love by pursuing a man with a shadowed past. And their youngest sister, Rose, despite her beauty and romantic hopes, faces the harsh realities of matrimony, grappling with the weight of vows made before Gott and her community.

As the sisters navigate the intricacies of love, faith, and tradition, they are bound by their commitment to uphold their Amish way of life. But as they strive to keep their promises, how much are they willing to sacrifice to remain true to themselves and their community?

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Elise’s Thoughts

Green Pastures by Patricia Johns focuses on the relationship and bond between three Amish sisters: Tabitha, Amanda, and Rose. They are compelled to uphold the commitment they made to the Amish traditions but realize life can get in the way. Each sister must navigate through different aspects of being Amish yet rely on each other, their father, and their community to help them through.

Tabitha, the oldest, left the community during rumspringa, but has now returned after a ten-year absence. During that time, she became a veterinarian, married an Englisher, and got a divorce. Because of her circumstances the bishop allows her to continue her work as a vet. She now faces the challenge of being accepted back into the community and reintegrating into Amish society.

Amanda, the middle sister, is considered a spinster, and has become an outcast of sorts since she defended Tabitha. She now wishes for a husband and a home. She is a rebel of sorts, deciding to go against the Amish custom of waiting for a man to pursue her. She does just that with Menno Weaver after she hears he is looking for a wife even though he has a checkered and troubled past.

Rose, the youngest sister, seems to have it all, beauty and romance. Yet, her marriage to Aaron becomes complicated and they struggle to stay together.

This story is about resilience as the three sisters join forces to support each other. It is obvious the author writes character-based stories that allow readers into their hearts and minds. As the plot unfolds readers fall in love with each sister.

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Author Interview

Elise Cooper: Idea for the story?

Patricia Johns: I submitted a WWII historical to the publisher. They wanted me to do something completely different. They wanted a straight Amish romance that has some women’s fiction. I suggested the featured female character would be a veterinarian, and they loved it.

EC: What about community?

PJ: In this story there is a close-knit community. The good part is that during hard times someone is never alone. The bad side is that everyone has an opinion that they are willing to share. One of the female leads is Tabitha and she is having a hard time getting back into the community. The middle sister, Amanda, wants to marry, ignoring all the expectations from the community that says the man needs to be the pursuer. The youngest sister, Rose, is trying to hide her marriage situation from the nosy community because she wants to keep up appearances.

EC: Does a lot about the community and relationships center around marriage?

PJ: I have this quote from the sisters’ father about marriage. “You both must bend. And both are better for it… When leaving is not an option, the only other choice is to grow. Marriage is like that. It forces two people to mature in ways they never would if they were apart.” He emphasizes that when married or in a relationship problems need to be talked out with truth. They must be more practical, making the best of it and making it better. It is always going to be perfect, no. Spouses can grow together in the marriage if there is faithfulness and no abuse.

EC: But the quote above does not apply in Tabitha’s situation?

PJ: Correct. I hope I made it clear in the book that Tabitha could not save her marriage. She was in a situation where her husband was blatantly cheating on her and not giving up the other woman. There was no scenario where she could remain in the marriage. It is not just a one size fits all for marriage. She is bitter toward her ex-husband Michael. He was very negative about her and her former Amish community.

EC: How would you describe Tabitha?

PJ: She was in the “English” world for ten years but now wants to come back to the Amish community. She does not have a lot in common with the other women since she has a career, an education, has been divorced, and not a housewife. She is naïve in some ways, calm, humble, a rebel, determined, resilient, direct, bold, trustworthy, and honest. She feels like an outcast, is scared, but with a very good heart.

EC: How would you describe Amanda?

PJ: She feels, because of Tabitha, no one courted her and feels hopeless about marriage. She is hardworking, prickly, sensitive, levelheaded, and loyal. She was also outcasted because she defended Tabitha within the Amish community. She is not meek like most Amish girls, very brave. She does not fit into the stereotype of what an Amish woman is supposed to be. Amanda is more like Tabitha than she likes to think.

EC: How would you describe Rose?

PJ: She is the opposite of Amanda and Tabitha. She is meek and pretty where the system works for her.

EC: What about the father, Abram?

PJ: A worrier who raised the three daughters basically on his own. He can be stubborn, stoic, goodhearted, a family man, responsible, and protective. He is a frustration to his daughters because of his personality. He is determined to protect his girls even when they don’t want his interference. I had a big soft spot for him because his intentions are so pure, to keep his girls safe.

EC: How would you describe Menno?

PJ: A former alcoholic. Cordial, a loner, antisocial, not trusting, kind, and standoffish. His dad and brothers are not very nice. They are horrible people. He desperately wants to make a better life for himself but does not know how to go about doing it. The Amish community tried to be his family, showing him how things are done and help him.

EC: What about the relationship between Amanda and Menno?

PJ: Amanda understands him. As children he stood up for her and stopped others from teasing her. Both want to look past their families and are wary of their family history. They must contend with the community. They must prove themselves as individuals and then as a couple. At first, they are coming together without the community support.

EC: Next books?

PJ: Throughout this miniseries readers will follow Tabitha’s story including her relationship with Jonas. Book 2 of the series is titled Still Waters and comes out in November. The story has new characters. Beth comes back to the community to help her grandmother who had dementia. Beth wants to understand her late father more, but the grandmother is keeping secrets. It is about family secrets and making peace with them.

An Amish Baby in Her Arms will be released soon. Miriam Yoder thought she’d never feel happy again after the loss of her husband and unborn child until a baby is abandoned outside her workplace during a huge storm. Seeing this as an opportunity for her heart to heal, she cares for the helpless infant during a fierce storm with her late husband’s brother. He has always cared for her and is trying to keep his emotions under control.

THANK YOU!!

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Friday Feature Author Interview with Elise Cooper: The Amish Bride’s Secret and Uncovering Her Amish Past by Patrice Lewis

Book Descriptions and Elise’s Thoughts

The Amish Bride’s Secret and Uncovering Her Amish Past by Patrice Lewis both have female leads that appear to have deceived the male lead.

The Amish Bride’s Secret plot has Cara Lengacher needing to start over after a broken engagement and an out of wedlock pregnancy. She decides to accept Matthew Miller’s advertisement for a mail order bride and move to Montana. But she must navigate her pregnancy and hope it will not affect their relationship.

Uncovering Her Amish Past has Penelope Moore traveling to Pierce Montana to convince the B&B owner, Simon Troyer, to be a part of a franchise opportunity. She does not tell anyone in the community her real profession and passes for a traveling artist. Simon insists she meets his sister-in-law, Sarah, who appears to be the spitting image of her. They both start to investigate and realize they are twin sisters, separated at birth. Stunned by the similarities between herself and bed-and-breakfast owner Simon Troyer’s sister-in-law, the truth comes to light: she and Sarah were separated at birth. Soon Penelope is welcomed into the Amish community with open arms. And the more time she spends with the Amish bachelor Simon, the more she rethinks her life in the Englisch world. She feels pulled to this community, not just because Sarah is her sister, and the community welcomes her but also realizes she and Simon have feelings for each other. The problem is that they are from different worlds where Simon is baptized, and she is not. Readers will enjoy seeing how they will navigate their relationship.

Both books are touching stories of self-reflection, faith, family, and love. They are heartwarming stories that readers will not want to put down.

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Author Interview

Elise Cooper: What was your starting point for the story of The Amish Bride’s Secret?

Patrice Lewis: I wanted to give the male character, Matthew, a wife. The way I did it is to have a mail order bride, Cara.

EC: How would you describe Matthew?

PL: He is based on my husband. He is nice, kind, transparent, a good listener, extremely handy, always courteous, trustworthy, dependable, and helpful.

EC: How would you describe Cara?

PL: She has made some bad decisions, including getting pregnant out of wedlock. She has a harsh father who blames her. She is desperate to get out of her childhood home, so she accepted the offer. She feels trapped in a corner.

EC: What about the relationship?

PL: It is based on secrets. She deceived Matthew but did not betray him because she had every intention of fessing up to him before the wedding. They eventually fall in love with each other. She is grateful to him and wants to be a good wife to him but is hoping he will be the white knight to her. I put in this quote to explain his feelings, “He wanted to fall in love with her, but also to fall in like with her.” I thought this is the basis for a happy couple. My husband and I after 35 years of marriage are still each other’s best friends.

EC: What about your other book, Uncovering Her Amish Past?

PL: I have three brothers, no sisters. I have always been fascinated by twins. When I was 7 years old, I tried to convince my friends I was a twin. It was a flop. I did this because I longed for a sister. This was the genesis of the story.

EC: How would you describe Penelope?

PL: She is an introvert. She was desperate to pay off her bills and had no idea that the company she worked for was immoral. She is exuberant and envies Sarah.

EC: What about Sarah, the twin?

PL: She is Simon’s sister-in-law. She is quiet, sedate, calm, and has confidence. Penelope envies her because she feels a lack of belonging.

EC: How would you describe Simon?

PL: Introverted, independent, determined, lonely, and has baggage from his childhood. He is motivated to not fail and get his business going.

EC: How about the relationship?

PL: She was ethical and had no intention of deceiving Simon. Penelope realizes she and Simon can be a formidable team because his business weaknesses are her strength. Being from different worlds is a huge barrier. I did research into what it takes to convert to being Amish. She changes her mindset realizing to be successful she needs the approval of family members and community. She realizes she must put aside the worldly aspects that define success.

EC: You allowed readers to understand how Amish could use technology. Please explain.

PL: If it does not impact their daily life, they are OK with it, depending on the sects. The very strict have no modern conveniences ever and the liberal communities are more flexible. The idea is that they are competing in a modern world and to overcome the problem they must compromise to have a website and a telephone. However, if they are allowed to have a business phone, they cannot have it in their pocket all the time. The same with a website, to put out the product to a wider world, but not to have it daily.

EC: What was the role of the bishop in both books?

PL: He is the perpetual source of wisdom for the community. He is an older man. He and his wife are wise, discreet, trustworthy, helpful, and examples of the community. They do not breach people’s confidence. They have Amish people coming in from all over the US. The bishop’s job is to smooth over conflicting habits and traditions. His job is to blend everyone into the community and for it to be cohesive.

EC: Next book?

PL: The next book is titled An Amish Marriage Agreement, released in Fall 2025. The plot has a baby dumped on a single woman’s doorstep. She and a construction worker have a marriage of convenience. The woman’s sister comes back to the Amish community. The two sisters are very different and have led very different lives.

THANK YOU!!

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