Made with Love by Tricia Goyer and Sherry Gore

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?

 

        Made with Love is the first book in Tricia Goyer and Sherry Gore’s Pinecraft Pie Shop series, and is also the first novel I have ever read by either of them. Although I didn’t know what to expect going in, I am very fond of Amish novels, so I thought I’d give it a try. It was a cute, fluffy little story that I definitely enjoyed, although it was a bit too on the fluffy side for me. It wasn’t plotless, and the characters were cute and sweet, it just felt a bit like surface interactions and not necessarily well-thought out plotlines. All in all though, it was sweet and interesting, and I always hate to judge anyone’s work too hardly. Besides, I’ve had to put down many a novel without finishing it, although I hate to do so, but I read all of this one, which just goes to show it was pretty enjoyable.

        Lovina Miller has always dreamed of owning a pie shop. More than getting married, and having children, she just wants to own a shop where people can congregate over slices of her pies. When she finally finds a building she might be able to open her shop in, she jumps at the chance, despite the horrified reaction of her Mem, who just wants to see her settled and happily married. Then Noah Yoder arrives, offering up a way to actually make her dream possible, and Lovina wants to give him a chance despite his hidden past and her Mem’s feelings against him.

        All in all this story was short and cute, with wonderful God-filled themes, and even a few plot twists I never would have expected. I happily give it four out of five bookshelves, and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys light Amish fiction. Honestly, I think this novel would have been perfect summer reading! Too bad it’s been far from summer’s 90 degree weather the past couple of weeks. Either way, I did enjoy this novel, and am looking forward to the second book in the series—Planted with Hope—which releases in March.

        Happy reading!

To see where I’m linking up, check out my Where I Party page.

All credit for the italicized synopsis goes to Tricia Goyer, Sherry Gore, and Harvest House Publishers.