Winter of Wishes

Seasons of the Heart #3

by Charlotte Hubbard

Snow is falling, cookies are baking, and Christmas is just around the corner in Willow Ridge, Missouri, where a new season marks fresh beginnings for the residents of the tranquil Amish town.As another year draws to a close in Willow Ridge, life seems to be changing for everyone but Rhoda Lantz. Her widowed mother is about to remarry, her sister is a busy newlywed, and soon Rhoda will be alone in her cozy apartment above the blacksmith's shop. An ad posted by an Englisher looking for someone to help with his mother and children may offer just the companionship she's looking for--but if she falls for the caring single father, she may risk being shunned by her community. Certain she can only wish for things she cannot have, Rhoda must remember that all things are possible with God, and nothing is stronger than the power of love.

Genres: Amish, Romance, Fiction, Amish Fiction, Christian, Audiobook, Christian Fiction

352 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

Drawing upon her experiences in Jamesport, the largest Old Order Amish community west of the Mississippi, longtime Missourian Charlotte Hubbard (a.k.a. Naomi King) writes of simpler times and a faith-based lifestyle in her new Seasons of the Heart series. Like her heroine, Miriam Lantz, Charlotte considers it her personal mission to feed people—to share hearth and home. Faith and family, farming and food preservation are hallmarks of her lifestyle, and the foundation of her earlier Angels of Mercy series. 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.

Reviews

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been intrigued by Rhoda as a character since the first book of the series. Her feelings of discontent, and that life had passed her by made me feel sad for her. But, in this book, she chooses to put those feelings aside and concentrate on being a blessing where she's needed.
I also enjoyed Andy and his family, as well as the way they eventually started to interact with the Amish community at Willow Ridge.
This book was a sweet reminder that sometimes, and in unexpected ways, God gives us the things we wish for.

[Arlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

To me, this series gets better with each book. Have loved them all.

[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This would have been more enjoyable if I had read the other books in this series. There is some humor, some frustration, and a lot of romance. I enjoyed the food. I think that was the best part of this story. I liked the romance between the main characters. I didn't like many of the other relationships, though, but that may be from not reading the previous books.

[Book Him Danno · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and I really love this series…I always want to know what new adventure the Lantz family is getting themselves into. On top of the fact that you learn so many interesting things about the Amish people also. That said I have never wanted to be Amish…too many things I think I would miss in the modern day world I live in….but many wonderful things could be said about living a simple life for sure! I do love the fact that they seem happy living without all the thing we thing are absolutely necessary. I do not like the fact that the men rule the roost and the women need to cater to them…no that is not my thing at all, if my husband is wrong I will let him know and I do not do what he says because he said it…I like the Lantz women they are strong and independent and yet the men seem to rule them at times and the bothers me…I could not sit still and be OK with all the problems what Hiram bring s into their lives.

This is a nice continuation of the lives of the Lantz women. Miriam is getting married to Ben, Rachel is married and collecting wedding gifts and Ronda needs a change. She gets her wish and things are definitely changing around her life and the lives of many others she touches.

If you like to read about the Amish then this is a great series…lots of information and romance making this a hard to put down series.

[Jasmyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a really different Amish romance and nothing like what I expected. Rhoda is discontent with her life. She feels like the odd one out as both her sister and mother are getting married and moving on with a new life with new families. She feels a change in the air and jumps into a new job without looking back. I have to say, I admire her bravery for taking that leap.

That leap leads to more than just a great job that she loves. It leads to a family that deparately needs her - and even if she doesn't realize it just yet - that she desparately needs as well. But there's one really big problem. This family isn't Amish - so they are strictly off limits in the romantic sort of way.

Rhoda tackles this problem by trusting God, her Englischer friend tackles the problem in a way that I thought was postively brilliant. If I hadn't loved him already - I definitely would have fallen right then and there. The romance was amazing, the people in the story were amazing. I loved this part soooo much.

Again, and I've mentioned this before in other books by Charolotte Hubbard, the accent was just a bit too much for me. It was toned down in this one since a good portion of the book takes place outside of the Amish community. I understand the concept of drawing the reader in with accents and realistic language, but it just doesn't do it for me in this case

[Janice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this on the Kindle

This was the 3rd book in the series & it certainly not like a lot of Amish books i have read

You have characters you love then 1 you really dislike & your wanting him (The Bishop) to get what due to him
While he showing the Amish in a bad light the rest of the people show how loving they are

You have Women who show they are not afraid to stand up for themselves against the Bishop you feel sorry for his family

You have Andy who is a Englischer (Non Amish) & needs help to look after his mother & 2 children Rhonda one of the Triplets goes to help after seeing his advertisement he a male nurse

I won't say too much on the book as i don't wish to spoil it for anyone but you do need to read the series in order this was the 3rd one i wanted so much to finish this book i was up to one in the morning so i could finish it & now i have to wait for the next book which comes out on 1st October 2013 i have already pre-ordered it

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Romance Is In The Air!

I have read all the books in this series so far. The author did not disappoint me with this book either. She brings the characters in this book to life and dares you to fall in love with them. I did! I loved how the community comes to the aid of someone who isn't one of them.

To add adventure to this story author Charlotte Hubbard continues with a character from previous books that you'd love to strangle! Such a troublemaker and a Bishop to boot!

The main character in this book Rhoda Lantz is searching for her place in life. She is restless and feels the need to reach out and help a family in need. Little did she know how things would turn out.

Is Rhoda's search over or must she continue searching? Has she found what she has longed for? Guess you will have to read this book to find out!

[Tammy Bernadt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Takes place in Willow Ridge. If I met the character Rhoda Lantz. She would be awesome to know has a friend. Rhoda thought she be living in a apartment above the blacksmith shop. Well she found something better. She took a job in a English home. The changes in her life starts has soon has she steps inside their home. Love how she changed their life's too.. The bishop in this book got under my skin. How this commuty stuck together is wonderful. I was shock to read the part where the English took her home. Ok wow what was going to happen to her in this book. Great book. Was great to the beginning to the end. Great characters in this book.

[LINDA BOURG · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is book 3 in the Seasons of the Heart Series. I enjoyed this one too. Rhoda thought love had passed her by, even her mother had found a beau and was getting married soon. Then she gets a job working for a young man while he is going to med school to watch his 2 kids and his mother. And of course love does eventually bloom. And Bishop Knepp well lets just say he is still a miserable old man and he is still causing chaos. I have 2 more in this series to get too and i do plan on reading them all

[Tina at Mommynificent · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I really am enjoying this series, I didn't like this book as much as the first two. Some of the things that happened were a little too hard for me to believe. I still love the characters and am looking forward to the next book, which it appears is actually An Amish Country Christmas instead of Breath of Spring which is labelled as book 4. I'm glad I noticed that now because I hate reading books out of order!

[Simara · Rating 1 out of 5]

I know Amish Romances are very popular so I decided to try it but this is not for me. I know it’s a cultural difference and I tried to be understanding but I felt like the treatment of women is awful. A kiss should not be such a big deal ever. Just not for me. Some situation felt too perfect, other too awful. No more Amish romance for me. The narration was pretty good and had believable accents and different voices for the characters so that was a plus.

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although this 3rd book in the series was my favorite as far as the storyline went, I gave this book only 3 stars for several reasons. I am so tired of the overused phrases the author uses in this series - "get hitched", "kitty cat grin", and "she rasped". After awhile those phrases lose their effectiveness and start to grate on me. Another reason I gave 3 stars was because I do not like Amish fiction where a character chooses to leave the English world and become Amish - that just doesn't happen in the real world. I realize it's fiction, but there has to be some believability to the story. It would have been more likely for Rhoda to leave her world and together she and Andy join the Mennonite faith. Also, there was no mention of how his being divorced would have caused problems in the church. Amish do not believe in divorce and the church leaders would not have given their blessing for Rhoda to consider marrying a divorced man.
I did like the continuing theme of the bishop's shunning and stretching his authority.

[Tatyana · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this story flat and without any challenge or intrigue. Story went from them meeting to her deciding he is marrying her in days. There weren't any dialogues about a possible marriage, no proposal, no decision processes described. It was just her assuming then deciding then saying that he will marry her. There also wasn't any consideration for his side of choices, his life. I hated that he had to give up everything he is, everything he worked for, everything his kids know, just for a chance to be with her, while she gave up nothing. Sounded unfair to him and his children that it's them who had to earn a life with her in her world, while there wasn't even a line in the book on her considering what she'd give up for them.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great book by Charlotte Hubbard. This is the 3rd book in the Seasons of the Heart series. It's not to hard to figure out the story line if you haven't read the 1st 2 books, but from the ending you will want book 4 to see where the story goes next.

In this book you learn the beginning of Rhoda and Andy's love story. How they met and how their lives start coming together.

You also get more of Bishop Hirams shunning. You get to go to Mariam and Ben's wedding. There's a terrible slay wreck involving children.

Just a great story to listen to.

[Mayda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life is changing for Rhoda’s family. Her sister is a newlywed and her widowed mom is remarrying soon. But for Rhoda, life has become routine. When she happens upon an ad placed by an Englisher looking for someone to watch his kids and elderly mom while he is working, she jumps at the chance. It may be her road to happiness, but it won’t be without its perils. A well written story, it is so much more than just another romance. It has an intriguing plot, as well as thought-provoking secondary plots, and well developed interesting characters.

[Kitty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think so far this one's probably my favourite of the series. I really felt for Rhoda, it had to be hard seeing others moving on and getting to that next stage of life and being left behind. I'm so glad she found someone special, and I'm very curious to see how this will play out in the next book too.

Also, I keep saying I'm gonna get struck by lightning for this, but DANG I want to punch that bishop so hard it's not funny. What a sleaze ball.

[Anna Ertl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rhoda Lantz finally finds her dream job, and a person to love and that loves her. Unfortunately Andy is not Amish. After much thought and prayer Andy decides to become Amish and tells Rhoda. They will have to jump though hoops, but I think they will make it.

Miriam, Rhoda's Mam, and Ben Hooley get married.

Pastor Knepp makes trouble for everyone. The only trouble that happens is when he gets excommunicated, good riddance I say.

[Heather Crumpton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! The author has done it again! As soon as I started the book, I couldn’t put it down! Charlotte is by far, one of the best writers I have come across. I love her stories of the Amish and how their lives are told within this series. I loved how Rhoda has started her life in this book. I can’t wait to move on to the next book in this series.

[Chanover55 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rachel is now married, Miriam and Ben are about to be married and Rhoda feels as if her life is on hold. She applies tone a housekeeper, nanny & companion for an Englisher,
Andy, a divorced father with two children and a mother recovering from a stroke. See how thing play out for the residence of Willow Ridge as well as their backsliding bishop.

[Stephanie Kabler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Looking for a book that pulls you in, and makes you feel like you are in the story? Winter of Wishes by Charlotte Hubbard is it. You can feel the love Rhoda has for a family that she thinks can never be hers. This story shows that love at first sight is real and that nothing can stand between true love.

[Filomena Levecchia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read!

Always enjoy reading a real life story! Love the real story of the Amish experience! Have visited their community several times and I am in ask if their resourcefulness!

[LiMa · Rating 4 out of 5]

The second one of this series that I have read. I like the characters in the story and how each book is from a different characters's perspective and yet throughout each book you learn what the other characters have been up to also. Fun read.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this was a super fast-paced book 3. It kept me on the edge of my seat all the way through. It's probably my favorite of the 3 so far, and I grabbed the 4th one before I even finished the last page. I am loving this series.

[Ann Green · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed this series! Characters are interesting and so are the delicious recipes included at the back of the book!

[Vikki Vaught · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I loved the characters and the plot, it too far from what I believe could ever happen, so I don’t buy the story. The narrator is fantastic though. Happy reading/listening!

[Laurel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd forgotten just how delightful a story this is. If you've read any of the other books in this series, you've gotta read this one!

[Deann Doolittle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoying this series!

[M · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked this one a bit better than Harvest of Blessings. Good recipes as well.

[Chrissy Hale · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very good series. I enjoyed this book BUT the one thing I didn’t like was how everyone was cut off in mid sentence. Nobody could finish a sentence. Otherwise great story

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A villain to despise and a happy ending.