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Pinecraft Pie Shop #1
Made with Love
A Dash of Love, a Pinch of Hope, and a Whole Lot of Good Cooking Lovina Miller should be thrilled. Pinecraft, Florida, has everything a young Amish woman could ask sun, sand, volleyball games, and evening singings in the park. But Pinecraft lacks the one thing Lovina desperately wants--a pie shop of her own. She longs for a place to gather with the community and serve the treat she loves.
A young carpenter named Noah Yoder strolls into her life and offers a way to make her dream come true. But before Noah and Lovina can build a shop--and a life--together, they must each face heartaches from the past. Is their new love stronger than their regrets? Find inspiration, romance, and authentic Amish recipes for everyone's favorite food--pie!
A young carpenter named Noah Yoder strolls into her life and offers a way to make her dream come true. But before Noah and Lovina can build a shop--and a life--together, they must each face heartaches from the past. Is their new love stronger than their regrets? Find inspiration, romance, and authentic Amish recipes for everyone's favorite food--pie!
354 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 2015
63 people are currently reading
591 people want to read
About the author
Tricia Goyer
163 books1,675 followersTricia Goyer is a busy mom of ten, grandmother of two, and wife to John. Somewhere around the hustle and bustle of family life, she manages to find the time to write fictional tales delighting and entertaining readers and non-fiction titles offering encouragement and hope. A bestselling author, Tricia has published thirty-three books to date and has written more than 500 articles. She is a two time Carol Award winner, as well as a Christy and ECPA Award Nominee. In 2010, she was selected as one of the Top 20 Moms to Follow on Twitter by SheKnows.com. Tricia is also on the blogging team at MomLifeToday.com, TheBetterMom.com and other homeschooling and Christian sites.In addition to her roles as mom, wife and author, Tricia volunteers around her community and mentors teen moms. She is the founder of Hope Pregnancy Ministries in Northwestern Montana, and she currently leads a Teen MOPS Group in Little Rock, AR. Learn more about Tricia at www.triciagoyer.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
November 4, 2015
Not knowing a lot about the Pinecraft Amish community, I wasn’t entirely sure what I was getting myself in for with Made with Love. I’ve read a lot of Amish novels over the past few years, and after a while I do find that some of the standard romances feel a bit too similar. If you’re going to write a typical romance set in an Amish community (without chucking in an extreme element like murder or vampires), it still needs to have something fresh or new to make it stand out. Made with Love definitely had some original aspects to it, the setting being one of them.
For those readers who don’t know a lot about Pinecraft, it’s primarily a holiday community, which means it’s missing a lot of the elements commonly found in Amish fiction. Lovina’s family feels a bit lost in this new location, with no farm to look after or buggies to drive. The town is filled with retirees and holiday makers (mostly Amish), which means that most of the local businesses cater to tourists. While back home Lovina and her sisters might stay close to the family farm, they’ve all found jobs in Pinecraft—and travel to these jobs by bike! If you’re more familiar with the Pinecraft setting this information might not be all that interesting, but I enjoyed learning about a different community, especially one that’s more liberal and accepting of modern conveniences. Lovina’s family has air conditioning and electric lighting, and her sister uses social media to advertise the pie shop. It felt a little strange to begin with, but it was interesting to learn that not all Amish communities have the same restrictions.
Lovina’s mother doesn’t adjust to these changes as easily as her daughters, and she’s uneasy about Lovina’s desire to open a pie shop. I enjoyed reading the letters between her and her close friend back home, detailing her struggle to accept some of the more liberal aspects of their new district, and her worry that her daughters wouldn’t find husbands because they were too busy working. I’m sure there are a lot of parents—Amish or not—who find it difficult to see their children embracing things that just weren’t a possibility when they were children. Lovina’s mother is by no means the villain of the story, and while I rarely agreed with her decisions, I understood the motivations behind them. I’m sure a lot of parents of adult children will be able to relate to her dilemmas.
While I’m not a big fan of decorating or cleaning, I enjoyed the details about Lovina and Noah setting up the pie shop, particularly seeing how Lovina’s dream transferred from the pages of her scrapbook to real life. There was something satisfying about seeing her live out something she’d longed for for so long. Likewise, it was intriguing to learn about Noah’s salvage work, a career path I’d never really thought about before.
As much as I enjoyed learning about Pinecraft and the work it takes to get a business off the ground, the aspect of the story that I really found lacking was actually the romance between Lovina and Noah. In between disagreements with Lovina’s parents and decorating the pie shop, our hero and heroine don’t actually spend that much time together. They go on a couple of dates, but most of their time is spent working on the pie shop. In all honesty, I think their relationship is pretty normal—they get to know each other while working on a project and eventually fall in love. But normal romances aren’t actually the most interesting to read about, and since there weren’t any real stumbling blocks in the way of Lovina and Noah’s relationship, there wasn’t any real suspense or worry that they wouldn’t make things work out.
The main “conflict” between Lovina and Noah is that he has a secret from his past that he’s not told her about. Lovina knows this because her parents have heard rumours and warned her about Noah. She doesn’t prod him, and eventually he opens up and tells her the truth. As realistic and healthy as this is...it wasn’t all that dramatic or interesting to read about. Isn’t it kind of funny that I hate drama in real life relationships, but I want more in my romance novels? The romance isn’t bad, I just never had any doubt that Lovina and Noah would get together! Give me conflict, please!
While the romance in this novel isn’t amazing, I did really enjoy Lovina’s character development. Even when reading an Amish novel, I like my female characters to be strong and assertive—but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t have any flaws. All throughout the novel, Lovina is determined to strive towards her goal of opening a pie shop, and her confidence in this endeavour never seems to waver. She’s pretty headstrong and stubborn for an Amish woman. It’s not until towards the end of the novel that we see the flaws she’s been hiding. I don’t want to spoil anything for potential readers, but there’s a really beautiful scene towards the end of the novel where Lovina realises that she’s been clinging to lies that were said over her as a young girl, and that she’s been allowing these lies to motivate her actions, rather than relying on God. Since I know that I’ve been guilty of exactly the same mistakes, this scene really spoke to me.
Made with Love isn’t the strongest Amish novel I’ve read this year, but it has some really original elements, and a very relatable heroine. I think I’m probably intrigued enough to pick up the next volume in the series in March 2016 in order to find out what happens to the rest of Lovina’s sisters.
Review title provided by Harvest House.
For those readers who don’t know a lot about Pinecraft, it’s primarily a holiday community, which means it’s missing a lot of the elements commonly found in Amish fiction. Lovina’s family feels a bit lost in this new location, with no farm to look after or buggies to drive. The town is filled with retirees and holiday makers (mostly Amish), which means that most of the local businesses cater to tourists. While back home Lovina and her sisters might stay close to the family farm, they’ve all found jobs in Pinecraft—and travel to these jobs by bike! If you’re more familiar with the Pinecraft setting this information might not be all that interesting, but I enjoyed learning about a different community, especially one that’s more liberal and accepting of modern conveniences. Lovina’s family has air conditioning and electric lighting, and her sister uses social media to advertise the pie shop. It felt a little strange to begin with, but it was interesting to learn that not all Amish communities have the same restrictions.
Lovina’s mother doesn’t adjust to these changes as easily as her daughters, and she’s uneasy about Lovina’s desire to open a pie shop. I enjoyed reading the letters between her and her close friend back home, detailing her struggle to accept some of the more liberal aspects of their new district, and her worry that her daughters wouldn’t find husbands because they were too busy working. I’m sure there are a lot of parents—Amish or not—who find it difficult to see their children embracing things that just weren’t a possibility when they were children. Lovina’s mother is by no means the villain of the story, and while I rarely agreed with her decisions, I understood the motivations behind them. I’m sure a lot of parents of adult children will be able to relate to her dilemmas.
While I’m not a big fan of decorating or cleaning, I enjoyed the details about Lovina and Noah setting up the pie shop, particularly seeing how Lovina’s dream transferred from the pages of her scrapbook to real life. There was something satisfying about seeing her live out something she’d longed for for so long. Likewise, it was intriguing to learn about Noah’s salvage work, a career path I’d never really thought about before.
As much as I enjoyed learning about Pinecraft and the work it takes to get a business off the ground, the aspect of the story that I really found lacking was actually the romance between Lovina and Noah. In between disagreements with Lovina’s parents and decorating the pie shop, our hero and heroine don’t actually spend that much time together. They go on a couple of dates, but most of their time is spent working on the pie shop. In all honesty, I think their relationship is pretty normal—they get to know each other while working on a project and eventually fall in love. But normal romances aren’t actually the most interesting to read about, and since there weren’t any real stumbling blocks in the way of Lovina and Noah’s relationship, there wasn’t any real suspense or worry that they wouldn’t make things work out.
The main “conflict” between Lovina and Noah is that he has a secret from his past that he’s not told her about. Lovina knows this because her parents have heard rumours and warned her about Noah. She doesn’t prod him, and eventually he opens up and tells her the truth. As realistic and healthy as this is...it wasn’t all that dramatic or interesting to read about. Isn’t it kind of funny that I hate drama in real life relationships, but I want more in my romance novels? The romance isn’t bad, I just never had any doubt that Lovina and Noah would get together! Give me conflict, please!
While the romance in this novel isn’t amazing, I did really enjoy Lovina’s character development. Even when reading an Amish novel, I like my female characters to be strong and assertive—but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t have any flaws. All throughout the novel, Lovina is determined to strive towards her goal of opening a pie shop, and her confidence in this endeavour never seems to waver. She’s pretty headstrong and stubborn for an Amish woman. It’s not until towards the end of the novel that we see the flaws she’s been hiding. I don’t want to spoil anything for potential readers, but there’s a really beautiful scene towards the end of the novel where Lovina realises that she’s been clinging to lies that were said over her as a young girl, and that she’s been allowing these lies to motivate her actions, rather than relying on God. Since I know that I’ve been guilty of exactly the same mistakes, this scene really spoke to me.
Made with Love isn’t the strongest Amish novel I’ve read this year, but it has some really original elements, and a very relatable heroine. I think I’m probably intrigued enough to pick up the next volume in the series in March 2016 in order to find out what happens to the rest of Lovina’s sisters.
Review title provided by Harvest House.
January 23, 2022
Read for #bookclub4m Amish Romance month. I'm glad I got some context on this genre from the Just Plain Wrong podcast; the evangelical bent became really transparent in the last few chapters.
Three stars because I was genuinely touched by the romance a few times (I am a sucker for romance dudes who: 1. unequivocally support and admire an ambitious woman, 2. give apologies that feel sincere, 3. give meaningful gifts that are relevant to the protag's niche interests). Three still might be generous, because there's a lot of critique in here, starting with the fact that the names of the sisters are Faith, Hope, Grace, Joy, and Lovina.
Three stars because I was genuinely touched by the romance a few times (I am a sucker for romance dudes who: 1. unequivocally support and admire an ambitious woman, 2. give apologies that feel sincere, 3. give meaningful gifts that are relevant to the protag's niche interests). Three still might be generous, because there's a lot of critique in here, starting with the fact that the names of the sisters are Faith, Hope, Grace, Joy, and Lovina.
July 17, 2017
About this book:
“A Dash of Love, a Pinch of Hope, and a Whole Lot of Good Cooking Lovina Miller should be thrilled. Pinecraft, Florida, has everything a young Amish woman could ask for: sun, sand, volleyball games, and evening singings in the park. But Pinecraft lacks the one thing Lovina desperately wants--a pie shop of her own. She longs for a place to gather with the community and serve the treat she loves.
A young carpenter named Noah Yoder strolls into her life and offers a way to make her dream come true. But before Noah and Lovina can build a shop--and a life--together, they must each face heartaches from the past. Is their new love stronger than their regrets? Find inspiration, romance, and authentic Amish recipes for everyone's favorite food--pie!”
Series: Book #1 in the “Pinecraft Pie Shop” series.
Spiritual Content- Scriptures are mentioned & quoted; Many Prayers; Many, many Talks about God, His plans, His grace, & faiths; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Many, many mentions of God, His plans, His grace, & faiths; Many mentions of prayers, answered prayers, praying, blessings over food, & thanking God; Mentions of talks about God & His plans; Mentions of having peace; Mentions of witnessing & saving people; Mentions of churches, church going, church activities, bishops/preachers, & sermons; Mentions of Bibles & Bible reading; Mentions of those & events in the Bible; Mentions of Amish & Mennonite beliefs; A few mentions of Heaven & getting there; A few mentions of a hymn; A couple mentions of blessings.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: four forms of ‘stupid’; A bit of sarcasm; Mentions of when Noah got drunk and crashed his car into a building (which he deeply regrets and is still trying to make up for his behavior); Mentions of a fire & smoke (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of a burned schoolhouse, pranks & injuries; Mentions of break-ins, thieves, & thefts; Mentions of troublesome and unruly teens; Mentions of prisons, jails, & sentences; Mentions of drinking, being drunk, drunk driving, accidents, & a death; Mentions of smoking & cigarettes; A few mentions of lies & lying.
Sexual Content- a palm kiss, a finger/hand kiss, a finger-to-lips touch, three forehead kisses, an almost kiss, and a semi-detailed kiss; Wanting to kiss/be kissed; Touches, Hand Holding, Embraces, & Warmth (barely-above-not-detailed); Quite a lot of Noticing, Nearness, & Smelling (barely-above-not-detailed); Remembering noticing (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of kissing & an almost kiss; Mentions of girls eyeing handsome boys; Mentions of dates, dating, courting, & wooing a girl; A few mentions of jealousy; A couple mentions of honeymoons; A couple mentions of blushes; A mention of Amish romance novels; Love, falling in love & the emotions;
*Note: A couple mentions of butting into conversations.
-Lovina Miller, age 25
-Noah Yoder, age 27
P.O.V. switches between them & Anna (5x)
352 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- Two Stars
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Four Stars
One word to describe this book: CUTE! Yes, in all caps, y’all! I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this one as much as I did, but I so enjoyed it! It is so cute! Tons of faith content that was impressive. I loved the message of the dream that God put in Lovina’s heart and her mission to see it happen.
Each chapter starts with an Amish Proverb, but I have to say my favorite one was: “By perseverance the snail reached the ark.” I’m not sure why that tickles my funny bone, but I just love it. :)
I’m very much looking forward to reading the second and third book of this series soon. :)
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
“A Dash of Love, a Pinch of Hope, and a Whole Lot of Good Cooking Lovina Miller should be thrilled. Pinecraft, Florida, has everything a young Amish woman could ask for: sun, sand, volleyball games, and evening singings in the park. But Pinecraft lacks the one thing Lovina desperately wants--a pie shop of her own. She longs for a place to gather with the community and serve the treat she loves.
A young carpenter named Noah Yoder strolls into her life and offers a way to make her dream come true. But before Noah and Lovina can build a shop--and a life--together, they must each face heartaches from the past. Is their new love stronger than their regrets? Find inspiration, romance, and authentic Amish recipes for everyone's favorite food--pie!”
Series: Book #1 in the “Pinecraft Pie Shop” series.
Spiritual Content- Scriptures are mentioned & quoted; Many Prayers; Many, many Talks about God, His plans, His grace, & faiths; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Many, many mentions of God, His plans, His grace, & faiths; Many mentions of prayers, answered prayers, praying, blessings over food, & thanking God; Mentions of talks about God & His plans; Mentions of having peace; Mentions of witnessing & saving people; Mentions of churches, church going, church activities, bishops/preachers, & sermons; Mentions of Bibles & Bible reading; Mentions of those & events in the Bible; Mentions of Amish & Mennonite beliefs; A few mentions of Heaven & getting there; A few mentions of a hymn; A couple mentions of blessings.
Negative Content- Minor cussing including: four forms of ‘stupid’; A bit of sarcasm; Mentions of when Noah got drunk and crashed his car into a building (which he deeply regrets and is still trying to make up for his behavior); Mentions of a fire & smoke (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of a burned schoolhouse, pranks & injuries; Mentions of break-ins, thieves, & thefts; Mentions of troublesome and unruly teens; Mentions of prisons, jails, & sentences; Mentions of drinking, being drunk, drunk driving, accidents, & a death; Mentions of smoking & cigarettes; A few mentions of lies & lying.
Sexual Content- a palm kiss, a finger/hand kiss, a finger-to-lips touch, three forehead kisses, an almost kiss, and a semi-detailed kiss; Wanting to kiss/be kissed; Touches, Hand Holding, Embraces, & Warmth (barely-above-not-detailed); Quite a lot of Noticing, Nearness, & Smelling (barely-above-not-detailed); Remembering noticing (barely-above-not-detailed); Mentions of kissing & an almost kiss; Mentions of girls eyeing handsome boys; Mentions of dates, dating, courting, & wooing a girl; A few mentions of jealousy; A couple mentions of honeymoons; A couple mentions of blushes; A mention of Amish romance novels; Love, falling in love & the emotions;
*Note: A couple mentions of butting into conversations.
-Lovina Miller, age 25
-Noah Yoder, age 27
P.O.V. switches between them & Anna (5x)
352 pages
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- Two Stars
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Four Stars
One word to describe this book: CUTE! Yes, in all caps, y’all! I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this one as much as I did, but I so enjoyed it! It is so cute! Tons of faith content that was impressive. I loved the message of the dream that God put in Lovina’s heart and her mission to see it happen.
Each chapter starts with an Amish Proverb, but I have to say my favorite one was: “By perseverance the snail reached the ark.” I’m not sure why that tickles my funny bone, but I just love it. :)
I’m very much looking forward to reading the second and third book of this series soon. :)
Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...
*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
August 23, 2015
yummy! delicious! pies, pies, and more pies appear in this book and recipes for many delightful dishes that Lovina Miller loves to make. Lovina truly loves making pies for people and serving them with love. She feels that it is a true calling from God that she opens her own pie shop. She plans for it to be a place for folks to gather and enjoy pie and coffee or their favorite beverage as they depart from the buses coming in with Amish and Mennonites for the winter. For Pinecraft, Florida, has warm weather year round and the doctor ordered just that for Lovina's dadd to help with the severe pain from his rheumatoid arthritis. Lovina finds the perfect building for her shop and her dadd is planning to help her make her dream come true but her mem is concerned about the young Amish contractor who wants to help Lovina bring her dream to life. Mem has heard rumors about Noah Yoder. She does not want him with Lovina! She sets Lovina up with the promising young Thomas instead. But God may just have other plans for Lovina's life. Mem is determined to find husbands for each of her five daughters. She is certain that is her duty as a good Amish mother.
This book is filled with surprises, both good and bad ones. I immediately took a liking to Lovina and Noah. I was rooting for them to develop more than the concept of the perfect pie shop. But her mem was equally determined to ruin those chances. Lovina's sweet and talented sisters are all more than willing to help her in achieving her dream. I am excited to find that this is book one in a series so that I can continue to follow the lives of the Miller daughters. Readers will enjoy trying the wonderful recipes included in the book as well. I know that I am dying to make some of them to share with my family and friends.
I rate this book 5 stars and highly recommend it to readers of Amish and Christian fiction.
I received a kindle version of this book from netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
This book is filled with surprises, both good and bad ones. I immediately took a liking to Lovina and Noah. I was rooting for them to develop more than the concept of the perfect pie shop. But her mem was equally determined to ruin those chances. Lovina's sweet and talented sisters are all more than willing to help her in achieving her dream. I am excited to find that this is book one in a series so that I can continue to follow the lives of the Miller daughters. Readers will enjoy trying the wonderful recipes included in the book as well. I know that I am dying to make some of them to share with my family and friends.
I rate this book 5 stars and highly recommend it to readers of Amish and Christian fiction.
I received a kindle version of this book from netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
July 29, 2015
Made with Love is a nice Amish story. Mostly, the story focuses on Lovina Miller and Noah Yoder. Lovina is the eldest of five daughters. The Millers are an Amish family that has been living in Pinecraft, Florida for five months. The Millers lived in Ohio but due to the father’s poor health they decided to move. The doctor said that the warmer weather would due Lovina’s father some good. In the book, Pinecraft is a popular vacation spot for Amish and Mennonite families. Also, Pinecraft is a little more modern than a lot of other Amish communities. They are not as strict with the rules.
Pinecraft proves to be good for Mr. Miller’s health. However, Mrs. Miller fears that there are not many eligible bachelors for her daughters. None of the daughters are married. Lovina is twenty-five. Lovina doesn’t really pay much attention to guys. . Lovina’s mother says that, “Lovina always has her head in the clouds.” Lovina’s lifelong dream has been to open a pie shop so she devotes most of her time to her craft. Lovina gave up on the hope of getting married a long time ago. She doesn’t feel as pretty as her sisters. When Lovina was younger an Aunt made some insensitive remarks that stuck with Lovina and did some damage to her self-esteem. The one thing Lovina feels that she is good at is making pies. It doesn’t help that some of her siblings and her mother put doubts in her head about dream .
One day Lovina is out looking for a location for her pie shop and she finds a warehouse that is the perfect spot. The warehouse happens to be behind Noah Yoder’s Uncle Roy’s house. Noah recently moved to Pinecraft in hopes of a fresh start. Noah moved with his younger wayward relative Mose and his friends. Normally, I am not a stickler for typos but at first it says that Mose is Noah’s younger cousin. Then, later in the story it mentions several times that Mose is Noah’s nephew. Back to the story, when Noah was a teenager he went through a reckless phase. He ended up doing some major damage and paid for it. Noah’s misdeeds spread throughout his Amish community and to other Amish communites. Noah sees his cousin Mose and Mose’s two friends Atlee and Gerald heading down a similar path. Things are not going well for Noah at the start of the story. Noah does carpentry/construction work but no one wants to hire him because of the teen boys. The teen boys are a part of his work crew. I think it’s understandable that people wouldn’t want the young men working for them when they are always pulling ridiculous pranks. I got annoyed with all their pranks. They weren’t funny; some of those pranks were downright dangerous. It said that they were teens but Mose was twenty-one . I don’t consider a twenty-one year old a teenager. I don’t know if it is in the Amish community. The guys didn’t mean any harm but they did some dumb stuff.
Lovina coming upon the warehouse behind Noah’s uncle’s house seems like fate. Lovina has some money saved to by the warehouse. Unfortunately, there is a lot of remodeling to be done and she doesn’t have the money. There are also a lot of old object in the place that to most people would think have no value. The saying goes, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” Noah does do some business with a salvage yard. Also, he repurposes and resells items. The warehouse is a treasure trove for him. Noah proposes an offer to Lovina that is mutually beneficial. Noah and his crew will work for her for free if she will let him have the objects in the warehouse that are not useful to her. Also, Noah sees a kindred spirit in Lovina and is attracted to her. Lovina takes a big risk and accepts Noah’s deal. They do run into problems. Lovina's mother does not approve of her working with Noah. Mrs. Miller heard about his past so Noah is the last man that she would want Lovina to marry.
A lot of the story is them working on the pie shop. Lovina wants the shop to bring people together and building the shop does bring people together. Lovina forms a closer relationship with her family and Noah. Noah has to learn to let the past be and not be so hard on himself. Noah and Lovina do fall in love.The characters learn a lot of lessons in the book.
Overall, I liked the story. I think the book cover is cute. I like that the title could have more than one meaning. Lovina’s nickname is “Love”. I think the name of the pie shop is really cute. Lovina names the shop, “Me, Myself, and Pie.” There were a lot of Amish recipes included in the book which I thought was a nice touch. I feel that a lot of effort was put into the book. I thought it was sweet that Lovina and Noah’s love story was a little more old fashioned. They took things slow (maybe a little too slow at times but that is ok). Noah was a perfect gentleman and it was a nice change that the guy wasn’t a manwhore. However, I wish there would have been a little more of them as a couple in the book.
I didn’t like that there was another suitor in the book. As soon as Thomas Chupp entered the picture, I said here we go with the dreaded “love triangle”. Thankfully, there wasn’t really much of a love triangle in the story. Lovina only goes on one date with Thomas and she didn’t really even want to go on the date in the first place. She just didn’t think he would give up so she said yes. It annoyed me that Lovina’s mom kept trying to play matchmaker with Lovina and Thomas. I hate when people try to shove people onto people. I get that her mom meant well but it still annoyed me. Also, I felt that the story could have been a little bit shorter. The story was slow paced so at times it did seem to drag on a little like with some of the mom’s letters to her friend. I was wondering what happened to Noah’s one aunt. Noah said that his Aunt Karen was an outsider and he identified with her but she wasn’t in the story. I don’t recall it mentioning anything about her dying?
It looks like the book will be a part of a series. I would like to see Lovina’s sisters get books. I think it would be nice if some of Lovina’s sisters end up with the wayward teens, Mose, Atlee, and Gerald. Lovina’s sister Faith seemed interested in Mose (Then again it seemed that Faith was interested in every other young guy she met). It will be nice to revisit Pinecraft and the characters in the next book.
This ARC was courtesy of NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Pinecraft proves to be good for Mr. Miller’s health. However, Mrs. Miller fears that there are not many eligible bachelors for her daughters. None of the daughters are married. Lovina is twenty-five. Lovina doesn’t really pay much attention to guys. . Lovina’s mother says that, “Lovina always has her head in the clouds.” Lovina’s lifelong dream has been to open a pie shop so she devotes most of her time to her craft. Lovina gave up on the hope of getting married a long time ago. She doesn’t feel as pretty as her sisters. When Lovina was younger an Aunt made some insensitive remarks that stuck with Lovina and did some damage to her self-esteem. The one thing Lovina feels that she is good at is making pies. It doesn’t help that some of her siblings and her mother put doubts in her head about dream .
One day Lovina is out looking for a location for her pie shop and she finds a warehouse that is the perfect spot. The warehouse happens to be behind Noah Yoder’s Uncle Roy’s house. Noah recently moved to Pinecraft in hopes of a fresh start. Noah moved with his younger wayward relative Mose and his friends. Normally, I am not a stickler for typos but at first it says that Mose is Noah’s younger cousin. Then, later in the story it mentions several times that Mose is Noah’s nephew. Back to the story, when Noah was a teenager he went through a reckless phase. He ended up doing some major damage and paid for it. Noah’s misdeeds spread throughout his Amish community and to other Amish communites. Noah sees his cousin Mose and Mose’s two friends Atlee and Gerald heading down a similar path. Things are not going well for Noah at the start of the story. Noah does carpentry/construction work but no one wants to hire him because of the teen boys. The teen boys are a part of his work crew. I think it’s understandable that people wouldn’t want the young men working for them when they are always pulling ridiculous pranks. I got annoyed with all their pranks. They weren’t funny; some of those pranks were downright dangerous. It said that they were teens but Mose was twenty-one . I don’t consider a twenty-one year old a teenager. I don’t know if it is in the Amish community. The guys didn’t mean any harm but they did some dumb stuff.
Lovina coming upon the warehouse behind Noah’s uncle’s house seems like fate. Lovina has some money saved to by the warehouse. Unfortunately, there is a lot of remodeling to be done and she doesn’t have the money. There are also a lot of old object in the place that to most people would think have no value. The saying goes, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” Noah does do some business with a salvage yard. Also, he repurposes and resells items. The warehouse is a treasure trove for him. Noah proposes an offer to Lovina that is mutually beneficial. Noah and his crew will work for her for free if she will let him have the objects in the warehouse that are not useful to her. Also, Noah sees a kindred spirit in Lovina and is attracted to her. Lovina takes a big risk and accepts Noah’s deal. They do run into problems. Lovina's mother does not approve of her working with Noah. Mrs. Miller heard about his past so Noah is the last man that she would want Lovina to marry.
A lot of the story is them working on the pie shop. Lovina wants the shop to bring people together and building the shop does bring people together. Lovina forms a closer relationship with her family and Noah. Noah has to learn to let the past be and not be so hard on himself. Noah and Lovina do fall in love.The characters learn a lot of lessons in the book.
Overall, I liked the story. I think the book cover is cute. I like that the title could have more than one meaning. Lovina’s nickname is “Love”. I think the name of the pie shop is really cute. Lovina names the shop, “Me, Myself, and Pie.” There were a lot of Amish recipes included in the book which I thought was a nice touch. I feel that a lot of effort was put into the book. I thought it was sweet that Lovina and Noah’s love story was a little more old fashioned. They took things slow (maybe a little too slow at times but that is ok). Noah was a perfect gentleman and it was a nice change that the guy wasn’t a manwhore. However, I wish there would have been a little more of them as a couple in the book.
I didn’t like that there was another suitor in the book. As soon as Thomas Chupp entered the picture, I said here we go with the dreaded “love triangle”. Thankfully, there wasn’t really much of a love triangle in the story. Lovina only goes on one date with Thomas and she didn’t really even want to go on the date in the first place. She just didn’t think he would give up so she said yes. It annoyed me that Lovina’s mom kept trying to play matchmaker with Lovina and Thomas. I hate when people try to shove people onto people. I get that her mom meant well but it still annoyed me. Also, I felt that the story could have been a little bit shorter. The story was slow paced so at times it did seem to drag on a little like with some of the mom’s letters to her friend. I was wondering what happened to Noah’s one aunt. Noah said that his Aunt Karen was an outsider and he identified with her but she wasn’t in the story. I don’t recall it mentioning anything about her dying?
It looks like the book will be a part of a series. I would like to see Lovina’s sisters get books. I think it would be nice if some of Lovina’s sisters end up with the wayward teens, Mose, Atlee, and Gerald. Lovina’s sister Faith seemed interested in Mose (Then again it seemed that Faith was interested in every other young guy she met). It will be nice to revisit Pinecraft and the characters in the next book.
This ARC was courtesy of NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
April 20, 2019
Een mooi boek dat je mee laat kijken in de Amish gemeenschap.
Mooie verhaallijn, lekkere recepten en ieder hoofdstuk begint met een inspirerende Amishgezegdes.
Ervaring vertelt je wat je moet doen.
Zelfvertrouwen stelt je ertoe in staat.
De beste dingen in het leven zijn geen dingen.
Mooie verhaallijn, lekkere recepten en ieder hoofdstuk begint met een inspirerende Amishgezegdes.
Ervaring vertelt je wat je moet doen.
Zelfvertrouwen stelt je ertoe in staat.
De beste dingen in het leven zijn geen dingen.
September 25, 2015
Just last week I read The Plain Choice, a book by Sherry Gore about her life and how she changed her life and became an Amish-Mennonite. It was a very interesting read, but as I was reading it, I kept thinking I recognized her name and then I realized I had already received a book co-authored by her and it was sitting in my reading queue" to read. Made with Love by Tricia Goyer and Sherry Gore is the first in The Pinecraft Pie Shop Series.
I love the simple romance between the two main characters. This story is told in alternating points of view to tell the story of Lovina and her dream of opening a pie shop. I think the name of the pie shop is really cute. Lovina names the shop, “Me, Myself, and Pie.”
Pinecraft, Florida is an Amish community where many of the northern Amish families vacation and where some Amish call home year round. In the first installment this Pinecraft Pie Shop Series, Lovina Miller and Noah Yoder are the two main characters. She is dreaming of opening a pie shop and he steps forward to help fulfill her dream, she wonders if he might also be the one who ruins it.
I love the simple romance between the two main characters. Both Lovina Miller and Noah Yoder are well developed characters and the authors show many layers to each of their personalities. Lovina seemed to be a very simple and easy to understand woman at the beginning, but later in the book we learn about old memories that hurt and wounded her many years ago that continue to affect her daily life. When Noah is introduced into the story, a glimpse of his past is shown along with the baggage that he carries from it, and then even more details about it are revealed throughout the story.
At the start of each chapter, there was a proverb to ponder. It was a great moment to sit and reflect before moving on with the story. At the end of most chapters there's a recipe - extra bonus there! You can't go wrong getting this book, from the sweet story to the added bonus of delicious recipes this book is a winner!
Authors Tricia Goyer and Sherry Gore made a great team in writing this book and these two gifted authors work so well together. They not only wrote a fiction book, but they gave profound wisdom of how we treat people, forgiveness and taking a leap of faith. I love how the topics of second chances, God's love and acceptance and trusting God were explored in this book as Lovina, Noah and others learned more about God. This story was about Lovina and her talent of baking pies, but each character has their own unique style and God given talent.
Thank you so much NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review and unbiased opinion.
I love the simple romance between the two main characters. This story is told in alternating points of view to tell the story of Lovina and her dream of opening a pie shop. I think the name of the pie shop is really cute. Lovina names the shop, “Me, Myself, and Pie.”
Pinecraft, Florida is an Amish community where many of the northern Amish families vacation and where some Amish call home year round. In the first installment this Pinecraft Pie Shop Series, Lovina Miller and Noah Yoder are the two main characters. She is dreaming of opening a pie shop and he steps forward to help fulfill her dream, she wonders if he might also be the one who ruins it.
I love the simple romance between the two main characters. Both Lovina Miller and Noah Yoder are well developed characters and the authors show many layers to each of their personalities. Lovina seemed to be a very simple and easy to understand woman at the beginning, but later in the book we learn about old memories that hurt and wounded her many years ago that continue to affect her daily life. When Noah is introduced into the story, a glimpse of his past is shown along with the baggage that he carries from it, and then even more details about it are revealed throughout the story.
At the start of each chapter, there was a proverb to ponder. It was a great moment to sit and reflect before moving on with the story. At the end of most chapters there's a recipe - extra bonus there! You can't go wrong getting this book, from the sweet story to the added bonus of delicious recipes this book is a winner!
Authors Tricia Goyer and Sherry Gore made a great team in writing this book and these two gifted authors work so well together. They not only wrote a fiction book, but they gave profound wisdom of how we treat people, forgiveness and taking a leap of faith. I love how the topics of second chances, God's love and acceptance and trusting God were explored in this book as Lovina, Noah and others learned more about God. This story was about Lovina and her talent of baking pies, but each character has their own unique style and God given talent.
Thank you so much NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review and unbiased opinion.
January 19, 2018
Loving wants nothing more than to open her own pie shop. After her family's move to Pinecraft Florida , she searches for the perfect place to become available for her shop.
Noah Yoder is trying desperately to put his past behind him. He moves to Pinecraft hoping for a fresh start, but no one wants to give him the opportunity or chance to prove that he has changed.
John, Lovina's Dad, has serious health issues. His doctor advised him to leave Ohio and move to a warmer climate. Ann, Lovina's mother, would like nothing better than to see her daughters married. Truthfully, there aren't many bachelors in Pinecraft. John decides to help Lovena buy a place that can be turned into a pie shop. She asks Noah to help her fix the shop up and make it ready to open for business in time for the tourist season.
Ann doesn't trust Noah because of his past and is concerned that Lovena might fall in love with him. She constantly tried to pair her daughter up with another Amish man visiting the area. She tried to talk Lovena out of opening her pie shop. Frankly I found myself wanting to turn Ann over my knee. Near the end of the book readers will find a sudden and unexpected twist in the story that will cause them to turn the pages in total disbelief.
I loved that John was willing to invest almost everything he had in order to help his daughter realise her dreams. I loved that Lovena didn't let her mother talk her out of her dreams or cave in to her mother's wishes for her. The authors Tricia Goyer and Sherry Gore have woven recipes throughout the book. I plan to try a few of them myself, especially the Pineapple Pie. All readers of Amish Fiction will love the first book of The Pinecraft Pie Shop series.
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August 2, 2015
Made with love is a very appropriate title for this book, everyone in the family seems to do something or more because they love.
This story focuses on the oldest daughter in the family named Lovenia, or called Love by her family, and sisters Faith, Hope and Joy. Sweet huh? Lovenia’s dream for years now has been to open a pie shop, she has saved her money long before her family moved and resettles in Pinecraft Florida. She has collected recipes and pictures out of magazines, it is her hearts desire, and she feels God pointing her and his placing the right building and people in her life, at the right time. There is even a young carpenter who just happens to be at the building when she is looking at it, he grabs her ideas and begins helping her fulfill her dreams.
Soon you have a feeling that Noah, the carpenter, has his eyes on Lovenia, and you will love how he grasps her dream, in so many ways to help make it happen. He is also holding on to secrets that have haunted him for years. Will these two be able to form a relationship; will past actions spoil things for them? Will the pie shop finally open and become a reality?
I for one wanted to be in the shop and help and live among these people, you won’t regret picking this one up.
PS You will be copying and saving delicious recipes here, can’t wait to try them.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Harvest House, and was not required to give a positive review.
This story focuses on the oldest daughter in the family named Lovenia, or called Love by her family, and sisters Faith, Hope and Joy. Sweet huh? Lovenia’s dream for years now has been to open a pie shop, she has saved her money long before her family moved and resettles in Pinecraft Florida. She has collected recipes and pictures out of magazines, it is her hearts desire, and she feels God pointing her and his placing the right building and people in her life, at the right time. There is even a young carpenter who just happens to be at the building when she is looking at it, he grabs her ideas and begins helping her fulfill her dreams.
Soon you have a feeling that Noah, the carpenter, has his eyes on Lovenia, and you will love how he grasps her dream, in so many ways to help make it happen. He is also holding on to secrets that have haunted him for years. Will these two be able to form a relationship; will past actions spoil things for them? Will the pie shop finally open and become a reality?
I for one wanted to be in the shop and help and live among these people, you won’t regret picking this one up.
PS You will be copying and saving delicious recipes here, can’t wait to try them.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Harvest House, and was not required to give a positive review.
January 16, 2016
Lovely!
I love culinary fiction. Is it even a genre? If it isn't, it should be. Books that are untrue and have recipes. My kind of book. I love to cook and try new things I haven't had before. Plus you get a story, and in this case, a super sweet romance. That's a win-win situation if you ask me.
Sometimes people can have a hard time with trust. That is the major lesson in this story. Sometimes you just need to put your faith and trust in God and know everything will work out.
At the start of each chapter, there was a proverb to ponder. It was a great moment to sit and reflect before moving on with the story. Very moving indeed.
Normally I would have done a recipe or two from the book, and I do have the Morning Glory Muffins, as well as the Carrot Cake, marked for baking, but have not had the time to bake. I can't wait to try the muffins though. They sound heavenly!
Amazing story, great team work from both authors. I hope we get more from them!!
I love culinary fiction. Is it even a genre? If it isn't, it should be. Books that are untrue and have recipes. My kind of book. I love to cook and try new things I haven't had before. Plus you get a story, and in this case, a super sweet romance. That's a win-win situation if you ask me.
Sometimes people can have a hard time with trust. That is the major lesson in this story. Sometimes you just need to put your faith and trust in God and know everything will work out.
At the start of each chapter, there was a proverb to ponder. It was a great moment to sit and reflect before moving on with the story. Very moving indeed.
Normally I would have done a recipe or two from the book, and I do have the Morning Glory Muffins, as well as the Carrot Cake, marked for baking, but have not had the time to bake. I can't wait to try the muffins though. They sound heavenly!
Amazing story, great team work from both authors. I hope we get more from them!!
July 29, 2015
Made with Love is a fantastic book. There's so much more to this book than an Amish fiction romance. I love the Amish Proverbs at the beginning and the recipes at the end of the chapters. Authors Tricia Goyer and Sherry Gore made a great team in writing this book and not only did they write a fiction book, they gave profound wisdom of how we treat people, forgiveness and taking a leap of faith. This story was about Lovina and her talent of baking pies, but each character has their own unique style and talent. Hopefully, there will be a Book Two. I love and enjoyed reading Made with Love by Authors Tricia Goyer and Sherry Gore. I highly recommend reading this book.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. This review is one hundred percent my opinion.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. This review is one hundred percent my opinion.
July 29, 2015
What a book! Actually it was more like 3 books in one. There was a wonderful story told in rich Tricia Goyer style with a lot of Sherry Gore's Pinecraft home thrown in. I felt like I was actually in Pinecraft, FL because of all the descriptions of the area and the people. I was rooting for Lovina the whole way and loved the ending.
Along with the story came an Amish proverb at the beginning of each chapter and the recipes - oh my! I want to make them all. Like I said, this book is like 3 in 1. Well worth the purchase. I cannot wait to read the next one! These two gifted authors work so well together I hope they continue collaborating for a long time.
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Along with the story came an Amish proverb at the beginning of each chapter and the recipes - oh my! I want to make them all. Like I said, this book is like 3 in 1. Well worth the purchase. I cannot wait to read the next one! These two gifted authors work so well together I hope they continue collaborating for a long time.
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 30, 2021
Sweet story of love, faith, and community.
March 5, 2024
Cute story full of dreams, cooking and love. I enjoyed seeing the recipes that went along with and were included in the book!
December 26, 2019
I absolutely enjoyed this sweet story. Above-average writing for this genre, with an interesting setting and characters. I plan to seek out additional books from this series.
August 11, 2017
Made with Love is a fictional Amish story with recipes at the end of each chapter. It is one that you will not want to miss out on this year in reading.
Have you ever had a dream? Have you ever had a passion to do something you truly love?
Was that dream and passion to own your own business?
Well, let's meet Lovina Miller, a twenty-five year old, Amish woman, who's family had to relocate from Walnut Creek, Ohio to Pinecraft, Florida. Cause no matter what state Lovina was living in, she has always had a dream to make, bake, and sale pies! Will she find a location in Pinecraft?
Anna Miller is a mother of five daughters and all of age to marry, but none of them are even courting. It's an Amish mother's dream to see their daughter(s) married in a timely manner and not have them categorized as old maids.
Anna has taken upon herself to know all about the available bachelors that are in Pinecraft and maybe some of their history. There is one bachelor in particular that Anna does not want to see any of daughters socializing with not alone courting period. Can she look passed his history and look at him for who is today?
Noah Yoder got himself in trouble in Arcola, Illinois, five years ago, but paid restitution for what he did. Noah grow-up around an auction yard that his dad ran. Now is into construction while keeping his eyes out for vintage pieces that can be salvaged and re-used.
He is also a mentor of three teenage boys, who like him have gotten themselves into some trouble themselves, with the Judges permission Noah was allowed to take them with him to Pinecraft, Florida. Noah wants to try to turn their lives around, before they really do something that they will regret.
Can he get these boys to understand their actions have consequences? That there is a time to have fun and a time to be serious?
Can Noah get the community to give second chances?
Made with Love is a fictional Amish story with recipes at the end of each chapter. It is one that you will not want to miss out on this year in reading. I look forward to reading more from this series in the future.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley. This is my own words to make up my honest review and no money was exchanged.
Have you ever had a dream? Have you ever had a passion to do something you truly love?
Was that dream and passion to own your own business?
Well, let's meet Lovina Miller, a twenty-five year old, Amish woman, who's family had to relocate from Walnut Creek, Ohio to Pinecraft, Florida. Cause no matter what state Lovina was living in, she has always had a dream to make, bake, and sale pies! Will she find a location in Pinecraft?
Anna Miller is a mother of five daughters and all of age to marry, but none of them are even courting. It's an Amish mother's dream to see their daughter(s) married in a timely manner and not have them categorized as old maids.
Anna has taken upon herself to know all about the available bachelors that are in Pinecraft and maybe some of their history. There is one bachelor in particular that Anna does not want to see any of daughters socializing with not alone courting period. Can she look passed his history and look at him for who is today?
Noah Yoder got himself in trouble in Arcola, Illinois, five years ago, but paid restitution for what he did. Noah grow-up around an auction yard that his dad ran. Now is into construction while keeping his eyes out for vintage pieces that can be salvaged and re-used.
He is also a mentor of three teenage boys, who like him have gotten themselves into some trouble themselves, with the Judges permission Noah was allowed to take them with him to Pinecraft, Florida. Noah wants to try to turn their lives around, before they really do something that they will regret.
Can he get these boys to understand their actions have consequences? That there is a time to have fun and a time to be serious?
Can Noah get the community to give second chances?
Made with Love is a fictional Amish story with recipes at the end of each chapter. It is one that you will not want to miss out on this year in reading. I look forward to reading more from this series in the future.
I received a copy of this book through NetGalley. This is my own words to make up my honest review and no money was exchanged.
September 21, 2015
About the Book:
How many Amish women does it take to open a bakery in Pinecraft, Florida? Four...plus a construction crew made up of troublesome rumspringa teenagers and a handsome Amish bachelor. Serving up traditional Amish food to Florida-sun-kissed tourists provides plenty of surprising situations for the three sisters and their mother--not to mention love and good cooking--in this series from popular Amish writers Tricia Goyer and Sherry Gore.
In the first installment of the The Pinecraft Pie Shop series, Lovina Miller has two things on her mind: to open her own pie shop...and to find husbands for her daughters! As the head of the construction crew steps forward to help fulfill her dream, she wonders if he might also be the one who ruins it.
Readers who enjoy Amish novels will love this authentic series by bestselling novelist Tricia Goyer and Amish-Mennonite author Sherry Gore.
My Review:
Tricia Goyer and Sherry Gore have partnered together to bring us some nicely baked goodness straight from Pinecraft, Florida. Lovina figures that she has finally got it all together, the finishing touches on her pie shop are being added now all she needs to do is find a suitable husband. Her choices seem very limited though in that department. This was her mothers wish for her but she is more concerned with her latest venture to worry about that now.
Lovina meets Noah but will sparks fly automatically or will it take a little while for the two of them to grow on each other?
The authors took a beautiful seeming simple story line and reallly brought it to life with some really rich characters. This book is a winner!
This book is such a treat and perfect for book lovers that also love to bake. The Grape Jelly Bars are to die for. The authors took a perfect sweet romance and added some yummy recipes. I love this book and it makes a really great gift.
**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from Harvest House.
How many Amish women does it take to open a bakery in Pinecraft, Florida? Four...plus a construction crew made up of troublesome rumspringa teenagers and a handsome Amish bachelor. Serving up traditional Amish food to Florida-sun-kissed tourists provides plenty of surprising situations for the three sisters and their mother--not to mention love and good cooking--in this series from popular Amish writers Tricia Goyer and Sherry Gore.
In the first installment of the The Pinecraft Pie Shop series, Lovina Miller has two things on her mind: to open her own pie shop...and to find husbands for her daughters! As the head of the construction crew steps forward to help fulfill her dream, she wonders if he might also be the one who ruins it.
Readers who enjoy Amish novels will love this authentic series by bestselling novelist Tricia Goyer and Amish-Mennonite author Sherry Gore.
My Review:
Tricia Goyer and Sherry Gore have partnered together to bring us some nicely baked goodness straight from Pinecraft, Florida. Lovina figures that she has finally got it all together, the finishing touches on her pie shop are being added now all she needs to do is find a suitable husband. Her choices seem very limited though in that department. This was her mothers wish for her but she is more concerned with her latest venture to worry about that now.
Lovina meets Noah but will sparks fly automatically or will it take a little while for the two of them to grow on each other?
The authors took a beautiful seeming simple story line and reallly brought it to life with some really rich characters. This book is a winner!
This book is such a treat and perfect for book lovers that also love to bake. The Grape Jelly Bars are to die for. The authors took a perfect sweet romance and added some yummy recipes. I love this book and it makes a really great gift.
**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from Harvest House.
August 3, 2016
For some reason, I am utterly captivated by the village of Pinecraft which is in the heart of a bustling city. Made With Love is the first in the promising Pinecraft Pie Shop series. Lovina has four sisters so I'm hoping they each get their very own book! And there's an extra bit of authenticity since one of the authors lives in Pinecraft.
Love the dynamics between Lovina and Noah. She's a misunderstood dreamer and he becomes a surprising ally who is able to transform her dream into reality. An unexpected friendship develops but a deeper relationship is fraught with complications. Noah's trying to leave a difficult past behind, but he's infamous within the larger Amish community thanks to the widely read Amish newspaper, The Budget. And while the Amish are encouraged to forgive, many seem to struggle with the concept of forget.
The authors have created a thought-provoking inspirational thread about the deeper meaning of forgiveness. About walking alongside a person instead of holding back in judgement. I got so frustrated on Noah's behalf -- especially with Lovina's mother. Gah! I do so love becoming righteously indignant on a character's behalf!
And a special bonus -- Made With Love is chockfull of original Amish recipes -- makes for a delicious combination of fact and fiction (pun intended)!
July 8, 2015
Made With Love is delightful yet poignant book. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Tricia Goyer and Sherry Gore's team writing. Lovina has a dream, one that won't leave her alone until it comes to fruition. She wants to sell pies, her pies to tourists and to her own town of Pinecraft. The high season is soon arriving and she needs a building for creating her pie shop. She even has one of the bankers ready to help her as soon as she finds a place to buy. Every day she rides her bike all over town in her search. Her desire envelopes her four sisters and her parents into her plans. Will Lovina see her dream come true? What price will she and her family pay to arrive at her goal? What will she learn about herself, God, and His plans on her way? Noah brings three Amish teens to Pinecraft to mentor them in his salvaging and building business but also to help them sort life out. Will he discover that he may have taken on too much? Will he rely on himself or God in his desire to redeem his past? These questions and more will be answered as you read Made With Love.
Disclosure: I was delighted to receive a free review copy of this book from NetGalley. I’m even more delighted to review and share it with you.I highly recommend this book.
Disclosure: I was delighted to receive a free review copy of this book from NetGalley. I’m even more delighted to review and share it with you.I highly recommend this book.
July 30, 2015
Delightfully funny! Made with Love, By: Tricia Goyer and Sherry Gore
I absolutely loved reading this book! I laughed, my way through this book. Such a refreshing take on Amish fiction. Characters that are headstrong and others that are trying to make amends. There are characters that will sure to delight you and capture your heart. These wonderful characters that will sure capture your attention as they did mine. Others that make you want to slap them. There was never a dull moment in this wonderful story. The description of things that would make you feel as though you were there. I could practically taste the wonderful recipes throughout this story.
I absolutely loved reading this book! I laughed, my way through this book. Such a refreshing take on Amish fiction. Characters that are headstrong and others that are trying to make amends. There are characters that will sure to delight you and capture your heart. These wonderful characters that will sure capture your attention as they did mine. Others that make you want to slap them. There was never a dull moment in this wonderful story. The description of things that would make you feel as though you were there. I could practically taste the wonderful recipes throughout this story.
July 4, 2025
I live four blocks from Pinecraft, and I know Sherry Gore, one of the authors of this book. She was not born into the Amish lifestyle like most. She chose to become Amish. A major difference when you visit the setting in this book, compared to most Amish fiction, is the location. Pinecraft has a small community of full-time residents. Once a year, the buses come in with Amish from up north. They have houses, apartments, and motorhomes for them to rent. Instead of horse and buggies, most of the Amish travel by two or three-wheeled bikes, or they walk. When Lovina’s family moves to Pinecraft, she finds an area that uses modern conveniences. Most, but not all, use electricity. Some of them have their own phones. They are very welcoming to outsiders.
I love a good Amish novel. What I liked about this one was how normal everyday life was. I’ve read some Amish novels where the romance is so strong, and that is what they wanted to focus on. This one focuses on the business of opening a pie shop, with the romance coming in naturally.
Lovina wants nothing more than to open a pie shop, where she can make and sell pies. Her mother has heard rumors about the contractor’s previous behavior, and so she is not thrilled with her daughter’s relationship with him. You know how it is with mothers and their daughters. They scrutinize everything about their new boyfriend. One issue I can relate to is that someone made a comment about Lovina, and for years, she believed it. I work with teens and see the effect that one negative comment, especially from a relative, can have on that child’s life. Why do we believe things we are told that hurt us?
Some aspects of this book that resonated with me include learning to forgive yourself and letting the past go. It also focuses on reaching for and pursuing your dream, even when others are not fully behind you. There are pie recipes at the back of the book. Overall, it is a great read. On a side note, if you decide to visit the real Pinecraft, in Sarasota, Florida and you want pie you must visit Yoder's Restaurant for the best Amish Pies.
I love a good Amish novel. What I liked about this one was how normal everyday life was. I’ve read some Amish novels where the romance is so strong, and that is what they wanted to focus on. This one focuses on the business of opening a pie shop, with the romance coming in naturally.
Lovina wants nothing more than to open a pie shop, where she can make and sell pies. Her mother has heard rumors about the contractor’s previous behavior, and so she is not thrilled with her daughter’s relationship with him. You know how it is with mothers and their daughters. They scrutinize everything about their new boyfriend. One issue I can relate to is that someone made a comment about Lovina, and for years, she believed it. I work with teens and see the effect that one negative comment, especially from a relative, can have on that child’s life. Why do we believe things we are told that hurt us?
Some aspects of this book that resonated with me include learning to forgive yourself and letting the past go. It also focuses on reaching for and pursuing your dream, even when others are not fully behind you. There are pie recipes at the back of the book. Overall, it is a great read. On a side note, if you decide to visit the real Pinecraft, in Sarasota, Florida and you want pie you must visit Yoder's Restaurant for the best Amish Pies.
September 24, 2019
Pinecraft, FL isn't your typical Amish community. They are a little less strict, a little more outgoing, and a lot more involved with the Englisch world. But, they still hold all the basic beliefs of the Amish - love, charity, simple living.
Lovina moved to Pinecraft with her family because the air would help her father's lung and breathing issues. But the area is so full of women, that Lovina's mother has almost given up hope that her daughters will find a respectful eligible bachelor - but that's OK with Lovina. She isn't all that interested in finding a husband - she wants to open a pie shop.
There are several people in the community touched by Lovina's dream. Lovina, her mother, the handsome Noah Yoder, a reporter. I would even say that the whole community learned a lesson on determination, following God's will, and not judging others by watching this strong young woman. I really loved how she stuck to her Amish beliefs and found a way to work them into the world around her. Never compromising on the important issues, but also willing to listen to what others had to say.
But, on to the romance. Noah isn't what most in the community would call an ideal candidate for a husband. Having caused some major trouble a few years back when he was younger, many in the community seem to shun him. Noah is trying so hard to find a place for himself and the teenagers (also having gotten into trouble) that he brought with him. He wants to teach them a skill and show them how wonderful the Amish community can be.
Made with Love was a really great story - and I loved that it was a lot different than most of the traditional Amish romances I've read. I've added the rest of the series to my TBR, and they sound amazing!
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
Lovina moved to Pinecraft with her family because the air would help her father's lung and breathing issues. But the area is so full of women, that Lovina's mother has almost given up hope that her daughters will find a respectful eligible bachelor - but that's OK with Lovina. She isn't all that interested in finding a husband - she wants to open a pie shop.
There are several people in the community touched by Lovina's dream. Lovina, her mother, the handsome Noah Yoder, a reporter. I would even say that the whole community learned a lesson on determination, following God's will, and not judging others by watching this strong young woman. I really loved how she stuck to her Amish beliefs and found a way to work them into the world around her. Never compromising on the important issues, but also willing to listen to what others had to say.
But, on to the romance. Noah isn't what most in the community would call an ideal candidate for a husband. Having caused some major trouble a few years back when he was younger, many in the community seem to shun him. Noah is trying so hard to find a place for himself and the teenagers (also having gotten into trouble) that he brought with him. He wants to teach them a skill and show them how wonderful the Amish community can be.
Made with Love was a really great story - and I loved that it was a lot different than most of the traditional Amish romances I've read. I've added the rest of the series to my TBR, and they sound amazing!
**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**
May 23, 2018
A dreamer and a former wild boy. The dreams in making - but whose dream and for what purpose?
This is lovely Amish romance about Lovina, a young woman with a dream of opening the pie shop. Lovina sees this not just as a business possibility, but as a community place, a community connected by a sweet treat and a deeper message. And now it seems her dreams sees a green light - a suitable building is to be sold and a knowledgeable worker offers his help with construction. But is the shop the true, God-based dream, or a fear in hiding?
Noah was a wild teen once (not dishonest, "just" irresponsible) - and the Amish people remember that about him. Now he is on the right path and because he knows how it feels to be overlooked and with a bad reputation, he tries to help another wild teens to become the responsible crowd. But the teens are not responding to his words and there is not work for the ones like them, the irresponsible ones. Until the Amish beauty with the dream enters the scene. But is Noah truly trying to help the teens and the girl, or is he only thinking about being the good one, the exemplary one?
This one is a sweet romance with some well-thought moments of truth and hope. Seemingly simple Amish story can surprise you with some sharp insights which are thrown here and there.
Also it is a warming read, like a cup of tea and a piece of good...pie.
It is also a slow read (my only critical comment here), but maybe this is exactly what you are here for.
So make yourself a nice cuppa and enjoy this sweet story!
This is lovely Amish romance about Lovina, a young woman with a dream of opening the pie shop. Lovina sees this not just as a business possibility, but as a community place, a community connected by a sweet treat and a deeper message. And now it seems her dreams sees a green light - a suitable building is to be sold and a knowledgeable worker offers his help with construction. But is the shop the true, God-based dream, or a fear in hiding?
Noah was a wild teen once (not dishonest, "just" irresponsible) - and the Amish people remember that about him. Now he is on the right path and because he knows how it feels to be overlooked and with a bad reputation, he tries to help another wild teens to become the responsible crowd. But the teens are not responding to his words and there is not work for the ones like them, the irresponsible ones. Until the Amish beauty with the dream enters the scene. But is Noah truly trying to help the teens and the girl, or is he only thinking about being the good one, the exemplary one?
This one is a sweet romance with some well-thought moments of truth and hope. Seemingly simple Amish story can surprise you with some sharp insights which are thrown here and there.
Also it is a warming read, like a cup of tea and a piece of good...pie.
It is also a slow read (my only critical comment here), but maybe this is exactly what you are here for.
So make yourself a nice cuppa and enjoy this sweet story!
February 19, 2021
We'll if that wasn't the sweetest little book I've ever read, and I'm not a quaint-town-romance reader... at all!
Lovina is the oldest of five sisters living in a small touristy Amish town in the coast of Florida. She's 25, unmarried, and completely preoccupied with her life-long dream to open a pie shop. An opportunity presents itself, as well as a carpenter and his group of unruly teens ("unruly" being that they liked to pull pranks, nothing about drugs or drinking or anything like that. "Unruly Amish" in this book = normal teenage boys looking for attention in any other one). Sweet, very innocent romance ensues (maybe I loved the romance because it reminded me a little of my husband and I in our dating days- without the pie shop or amish-ness).
I enjoyed the little contemplations on grace and humbling oneself, hard work, acceptance of others, and the romance really was so nice, uncomplicated and sweet. There are recipes that go along with the story throughout as well. This book makes me want to go visit a cute little touristy Amish town... Also, I really need some pie after all that pie shop talk.
If you're looking for a happy, very innocent and sweet quick-read, with a twist of Amish simplicity and some yummy sounding recipes... I highly recommend this book!
Lovina is the oldest of five sisters living in a small touristy Amish town in the coast of Florida. She's 25, unmarried, and completely preoccupied with her life-long dream to open a pie shop. An opportunity presents itself, as well as a carpenter and his group of unruly teens ("unruly" being that they liked to pull pranks, nothing about drugs or drinking or anything like that. "Unruly Amish" in this book = normal teenage boys looking for attention in any other one). Sweet, very innocent romance ensues (maybe I loved the romance because it reminded me a little of my husband and I in our dating days- without the pie shop or amish-ness).
I enjoyed the little contemplations on grace and humbling oneself, hard work, acceptance of others, and the romance really was so nice, uncomplicated and sweet. There are recipes that go along with the story throughout as well. This book makes me want to go visit a cute little touristy Amish town... Also, I really need some pie after all that pie shop talk.
If you're looking for a happy, very innocent and sweet quick-read, with a twist of Amish simplicity and some yummy sounding recipes... I highly recommend this book!
January 14, 2022
Made With Love is an Amish romance novella by author(s) Tricia Goyer and Sherry Gore.
Lovina Miller dreamed of owning her own pie shop in Pincecraft, Florida. Her mom wanted her to stop dreaming and start socializing. Noah Yoder was responsible for three wayward teens. I thought Lovina and Noah worked well together.
I appreciated the authentic Amish recipes throughout the book. My first recipe to try was Noah’s Mem’s Skillet Pear Ginger Pie. It was simple to make and my family enjoyed it. I look forward to making other recipes.
I highly recommend Made With Love to fans of Amish romance. It would make a great book for book clubs. Plus, the cover is so tempting.
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
Lovina Miller dreamed of owning her own pie shop in Pincecraft, Florida. Her mom wanted her to stop dreaming and start socializing. Noah Yoder was responsible for three wayward teens. I thought Lovina and Noah worked well together.
I appreciated the authentic Amish recipes throughout the book. My first recipe to try was Noah’s Mem’s Skillet Pear Ginger Pie. It was simple to make and my family enjoyed it. I look forward to making other recipes.
I highly recommend Made With Love to fans of Amish romance. It would make a great book for book clubs. Plus, the cover is so tempting.
Disclaimer: I receive complimentary books from various sources, including, publishers, publicists, authors, and/or NetGalley. I am not required to write a positive review and have not received any compensation. The opinions shared here are my own entirely. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
June 28, 2017
This is a wonderful story of a woman living in the Amish vacation community of Pinecraft, Florida. She has a dream of owning her own pie shop, but that dream conflicts with what her mother (and Amish culture) wants for her and her four sisters. And when she becomes interested in an Amish bachelor with a sketchy past, her mother is beside herself. They are living in an Amish vacation destination, and word travels fast to all the Amish communities "up north." How can Lovina stay true to herself while fitting in with Amish norms? What IS God's will for her life?
This story will touch everyone who has a dream but is fighting a seemingly uphill battle to see the dream come true. It is a reminder that if the dream truly is from God, He will surely bring it to pass.
This story will touch everyone who has a dream but is fighting a seemingly uphill battle to see the dream come true. It is a reminder that if the dream truly is from God, He will surely bring it to pass.
October 23, 2018
A simple and sweet story of an Amish girl who dreams of opening a pie shop and feels God clearing the way. An interesting way to learn about some elements of Amish culture, with some yummy recipes thrown in. I liked the Amish proverbs at the beginning of each chapter - like
Keep your Words soft and sweet in case you have to eat them.
The only time to look down on someone is when you're bending over to help.
No dream comes true until you wake up and go to work.
It is better to hold out a helping hand than to point a finger.
When faith is most difficult, that is when it is most necessary.
The foundation of understanding is the willingness to listen.
By perseverance the snail reached the ark.
Keep your Words soft and sweet in case you have to eat them.
The only time to look down on someone is when you're bending over to help.
No dream comes true until you wake up and go to work.
It is better to hold out a helping hand than to point a finger.
When faith is most difficult, that is when it is most necessary.
The foundation of understanding is the willingness to listen.
By perseverance the snail reached the ark.
October 27, 2022
My favorite part about this book is the recipes that are included at the end of each chapter. This made me smile and want to grab my apron and baking tools. The book itself definitely kept me interested in the story, typical Amish story. Family has several daughters, mom is wanting to find hubands for them all, they have to move from one state to another due to the father's failing health. Lovina, the oldest of the daughters has a dream to open her own bakery. I do feel like the story has a nice story of loving someone after they've made a terrible mistake but tried to make restitution.
December 15, 2017
4 stars for the story, 1 star for the TERRIBLE recipes!! I don't think Amish pies include mixing a tub of cool whip and canned milk, and I doubt their savory recipes all contain canned condensed soup. Truly awful looking recipes with LOTS of highly processed ingredients. Not sure why the authors would include such inauthentic dishes? But it kind of put a damper on the reading. Would have been nice to see real recipes worth trying. A simple google search could have supplied them....
April 11, 2023
What a sweet story of God's redemption in our lives. Lavina's dream to own her own pie shop begins to become a reality when her family sees her vision and the Lord sends her a handy man that changes her life.
My only frustration with this book is the repetitive fears seem to stagnate the story instead of moving it forward.
My only frustration with this book is the repetitive fears seem to stagnate the story instead of moving it forward.
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