As far as Edith Riehl is concerned, the baby twins thrust suddenly into her arms are a heaven-sent gift. Unable to conceive, she longs to be a mother with a home of her own. She’s going to abide by her promise to handsome Asa Detweiler to take care of them while he looks for their real father. And even if her domineering dat Cornelius refuses to countenance Asa’s suit, she can only pray the bachelor’s honesty and persistence will uncover the truth—even as he’s kindled an impossible hope for a love of her own…
Asa can’t understand why anyone would think he would be so dishonorable as to father babies and then abandon them. He’s determined to clear his name—but Edith’s caring ways also inspire him to help heal her wounded spirit and earn her trust. In the face of heartbreaking deception, he and Edith must find the strength to understand, forgive…and claim their own hearts’ joy.
“We live in that two-story white house just down the road. The one with the dogwoods on either side of the porch,” Edith said, nodding in that direction.
“Hop in. I’ll give you a ride.”
Before Edith could reply, Will jogged around the buggy and stepped up into the rig. As she followed him, she realized just how scattered his thoughts must be, because there was no hopping in when she was holding a baby in each arm. Gazing into the back seat, Edith was about to ask for Will’s help when a strong arm curled around hers.
“Let me hold them. I’ll hand them up after you get in.”
Edith looked up into the stranger’s face. He had the deepest blue eyes she’d ever seen—as dark as the navy blue reeds she wove into her baskets. When she realized her arm was tingling as she gawked at him, Edith looked away. “Sorry,” she murmured.
“I’m not,” he whispered. He released her and stepped back to allow a more proper distance between them.
Edith had known Will Gingerich for most of her life, so she felt a bit traitorous appreciating help from the man who’d supposedly had relations with Molly before she’d married Will. He calmly took one baby and then the other, however, smiling at her as she climbed into the buggy. As Edith situated each of the twins in a basket, she felt his gaze on her—and she felt sorry that the babies had to ride in such ugly, unsuitable carriers.
The rig lurched and Will drove them down the road without closing the door. “I’m sorry to spring this on you girls,” he said with a sigh. “Sorry about—well, I just never saw any of this coming.”
“I can’t imagine,” Edith murmured.
“I hope you’ll understand if I’d rather not see Loretta—or your dat,” he added quickly.
Edith smiled sadly. Her sister and Will had been sweethearts all through school, and their broken engagement was still a sore subject. “It’s probably best that way, jah.”
“Hop in. I’ll give you a ride.”
Before Edith could reply, Will jogged around the buggy and stepped up into the rig. As she followed him, she realized just how scattered his thoughts must be, because there was no hopping in when she was holding a baby in each arm. Gazing into the back seat, Edith was about to ask for Will’s help when a strong arm curled around hers.
“Let me hold them. I’ll hand them up after you get in.”
Edith looked up into the stranger’s face. He had the deepest blue eyes she’d ever seen—as dark as the navy blue reeds she wove into her baskets. When she realized her arm was tingling as she gawked at him, Edith looked away. “Sorry,” she murmured.
“I’m not,” he whispered. He released her and stepped back to allow a more proper distance between them.
Edith had known Will Gingerich for most of her life, so she felt a bit traitorous appreciating help from the man who’d supposedly had relations with Molly before she’d married Will. He calmly took one baby and then the other, however, smiling at her as she climbed into the buggy. As Edith situated each of the twins in a basket, she felt his gaze on her—and she felt sorry that the babies had to ride in such ugly, unsuitable carriers.
The rig lurched and Will drove them down the road without closing the door. “I’m sorry to spring this on you girls,” he said with a sigh. “Sorry about—well, I just never saw any of this coming.”
“I can’t imagine,” Edith murmured.
“I hope you’ll understand if I’d rather not see Loretta—or your dat,” he added quickly.
Edith smiled sadly. Her sister and Will had been sweethearts all through school, and their broken engagement was still a sore subject. “It’s probably best that way, jah.”
Charlotte lived in Missouri for most of her life, so her Amish stories are set in imaginary Missouri towns. These days she lives in St. Paul, MN with her husband of 40+ years and their Border collie, Ramona.
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Thank you for the excerpt, I enjoyed reading it and the book looks great :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by, Lisa!
DeleteWhen did you first consider yourself a writer?
ReplyDeleteGood question,Mai--but it was so long ago I don't recall! I will say that being a writer is much different now from when I sold my first book or wrote my first stories for True Confessions, True Love, and other confession magazines. It's a much busier life now, with much more promotion to do. Back in the day I worked on an electric typewriter. Now, instead of bundling bulky manuscripts to the post office, I hit the Send button on my Mac. No doubt I'll have more tech advances to keep up with in the future, too. You can't stop learning!
DeleteThanks for hosting!
ReplyDeleteThanks for featuring my book on your blog today! I will be on the road, going to a signing, so I won't be able to interact much—but thank you all for coming to spend some time with my book! Good luck in the drawing!
ReplyDeleteWho are some of your favorite authors; what strikes you about their work?
ReplyDeleteThanks for following my tour, Peggy. I think I answered that one for you already!
DeleteThis book sounds amazing! added to my must reads.
ReplyDeleteYou are very talented in writing Amish Books
Thanks for a chance to win.
Kristina Kohler
Thanks, Kristina! Good luck in the drawing!
DeleteHow do you stay currant with all the tech that is out there right now ? Do you have relatives that help or do you call a techie or do you go to a electronics store every month?
ReplyDeleteI have a wonderful web mistress who handles everything on my website, and I have a Mac which never crashes--and otherwise, I get tips from writer friends about what FB might be messing with/changing, etc.
DeleteI LOVE, LOVE the sound of this story.
ReplyDeleteThanks, MomJane! Good to see you here on my tour!
DeleteReally great excerpt, sounds like a fantastic book! Thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteGood luck in the drawing, Victoria!
DeleteWhere do you get your inspiration? Rosanne rosans4@comcast.net
ReplyDeleteOne interesting source is The Budget, a newspaper Plain people all over the country subscribe to--and each settlement has a scribe who writes a weekly letter about what has happened in his/her community. Gives me a great source for authentic names as well as ways families and neighbors spend their time. Thanks for asking!
DeleteWhich writers inspire you?
ReplyDeleteI read a lot of different genres and a lot of various writers—nobody in particular stands out for me. I do NOT read Amish fiction, however, because I don't want to inadvertantly pick up on their ideas and plots. Thanks for asking!
DeleteIt sounds lovely.Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThanks for spending time with us today, Judy!
DeleteI'll never look at a buggy ride the same way again.
ReplyDeleteYes, Richard, who really knows what-all goes on in a buggy?!
DeleteThanks for the excerpt and giveaway
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by, James! Good luck in the drawing!
DeleteThis book sounds so good I can't wait to read it
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jean! Hope you enjoy every word!
DeleteThis book sounds so good I can't wait to read it
ReplyDeleteGreat excerpt!
ReplyDeleteThanks for coming by today, Rita!
DeleteThank you for the excerpt! Love Charlotte Hubbard books!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing with us the excerpt.
ReplyDeleteI have not read any Amish fiction, however, I will pick up a book or two of yours and give it a whirl!
ReplyDeleteHappy Independence Day!
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed the excerpt. Thanks for hosting.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for the giveaway-have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteI know I will enjoy this book!
ReplyDeleteI have never read a story featuring the Amish lifestyle before. Sounds interesting.
ReplyDeleteStopped by to share and say hi!
ReplyDeleteHello to you today!
ReplyDeleteThis looks interesting! I have never thought about reading Amish fiction but it certainly seems intriguing!
ReplyDeleteaddictedtorodeo at gmail dot com
Ashley C
Thx for sharing & the giveaway too!😊
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great read.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great read.
ReplyDeleteShared post. Hope you have a great week. Finally getting the much needed rain here.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to read Edith's story.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to read more, it sounds great!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds great-thank you!
ReplyDeleteWho is your favorite author and book ? and also Why ? Thanks
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for the giveaway!
ReplyDeletei just finished reading this book and I really enjoyed it!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a great book!
ReplyDeleteaddictedtorodeo at gmail dot com
Ashley C
I love books which feature the Amish
ReplyDeleteLaurie Emerson
lauraemerson17 at yahoo dot com
I've always looked on twins with awe. Have there been twins in your family? Did your research involve trying to take on the care of two infants?
ReplyDelete