Carla's Book Crush

With This Ring by Amy Clipston 
Release Date: January 14, 2025
Buy: Amazon
Status: Currently reading. So good!

Dakota thought she had left her dreams of happily-ever-after behind, along with the pain of a broken engagement to her high school sweetheart, Hudson. Now, as the proud owner of Fairytale Bridal Shop in the picturesque town of Flowering Grove, she’s built a life and a business on helping brides find their perfect dress for their own fairytale weddings. But running a small business is not for the faint of heart, and when her ex-fiancé unexpectedly returns to town with a mission—to put a stop to his sister’s wedding—Dakota’s problems go from bad to worse.

Hudson Garrity should be living his dream. After selling his software company, he’s single, handsome, and rich, but an unexpected call from his baby sister has him flying down to his hometown, determined to protect Layla from yet another big mistake. Though he’s single-minded in his effort to derail the nuptials, he instead finds himself thrown into family chaos and roped into helping his sister with her plans . . . bringing him once more into contact with Dakota Jamison, the one who got away.

For Hudson, coming home means revisiting his painful childhood, repairing a strained relationship with his sister, and coming face-to-face with the woman he never stopped loving. For Dakota, it means confronting the tender memories she buried deep within her heart. As Layla’s wedding date draws close, the two reunited lovers begin to question if what went wrong between them really happened the way they remembered it at all. Will they continue believing the lies they’ve told themselves, or will they remain forever entangled in the threads of what could have been?

A Home for His Amish Children by Virginia Wise
Series: Bluebird Hills – Book 4
Release Date: January 21, 2025
Buy: Amazon
Status: Sending money to Harlequin soon.

The wife he didn’t expect

Could be exactly what he needs

With his house and business destroyed in a fire, widower Silas Hochstetler desperately needs somewhere for him and his children to live. Needing help to pay her mortgage—and secretly longing for a family of her own—spinster Mary King answers his ad for a wife. Navigating their new life together with the children isn’t as easy as they thought, though neither can ignore the spark between them. They might be strangers, but their marriage of convenience might just lead to something real…

The Widower Takes a Wife by Emma Miller
Series: Seven Amish Sisters – Book 6
Release Date: February 25, 2025
Buy: Amazon
Status: Wondering if Harlequin employees get a book discount.

Can a last request…

Turn into a forever love?

In a letter left by his late wife, Amish widower Jon Coblenz discovers her shocking final wish—marry their best friend, Eleanor Koffman. Initially reluctant, Jon quickly realizes the caring woman he grew up with, who already loves his children, is the perfect choice. But first he’ll need to woo Ellie. Nearing thirty, Ellie knows a husband isn’t in her future. That is, until Jon makes his intentions known. But as childhood friendship blossoms into genuine love, will the secret behind their beginning lead to its end?

The Peacemaker by Wanda E. Brunstetter
Series: Mifflin County Mysteries- Book 2
Release Date: March 1, 2025
Buy: Amazon
Status: Applying for ARC teams. Must read ASAP!

In book two of A Mifflin County Mystery series, Rosa Petersheim’s disappearance continues to cause suspicion and pain to swirl in the Big Valley.
 
Ada’s best friend, Rosa, disappeared a year ago and still has not been found. In their grief and confusion, Ada and Rosa’s boyfriend, Ephraim, have grown very close. But some in the community feel Ephraim is responsible for Rosa’s disappearance. Now Rosa’s younger sister is making accusations against Ephraim that can’t be true, and he pulls away from Ada, feeling betrayed. A fire set by an arsonist might finally be the thing to reveal secrets that have long been dividing this community of friends and family. But will it be too late for love between the peacemaker and the suspect?

Green Pastures by  Patricia Johns
Series: The Amish of Shepherd’s Hill – Book 1
Release Date: March 18, 2025
Buy: Amazon
Status: On the ARC team! Anxiously awaiting my copy.

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

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

Bluebonnet Season by Teri Wilson
Series: Comfort Paws – Book 3
Release Date: April 29, 2025
Buy: Amazon
Status: Looking up openings at Harlequin.

School librarian and Comfort Paws cofounder Belle Darling will do anything to keep her reading assistance program going at Bluebonnet Elementary—except sell her beloved dog, Peaches, to billionaire Cash McAllister! And yes, he has the funding to keep the program going—but he wants this particular dog because she is the first creature his orphaned niece turned daughter has shown real interest in since her parents died. So Belle insists Cash take classes with Belle to train a new dog for his little girl. And when their working together reveals Belle and Cash’s explosive chemistry—and a connection neither expected—will their tenuous alliance become a more permanent partnership, canines and all?

Capture the Moment by Suzanne Woods Fisher
Series: National Parks Summers—Book 1
Release Date: May 6, 2025
Buy: Amazon
Status: Excited to tour national parks!

Kate Cunningham is facing the opportunity of a lifetime. As a zoo photographer, she’s spent years photographing animals in carefully controlled environments, but now National Geographic has dangled an irresistible prize: If Kate can snag a unique photo of a legendary bear in Grand Teton National Park, they just might publish it. It’s the kind of challenge Kate has been waiting for, and she’s eager to prove herself in the wild. 

With more enthusiasm than experience, Kate soon realizes that capturing an image of this bear isn’t as simple as she hoped. Fortunately, she crosses paths with Grant Cooper, a seasonal park ranger who knows the terrain–and the bears–better than anyone. His tracking skills could be exactly what Kate needs to succeed, and it doesn’t hurt that he’s easy on the eyes. But they’re not the only ones with an interest in the park’s most famous bear. And his motives are far from innocent.

The Marriage Pact by Kathleen Fuller
Series: Amish of Marigold—Book 3
Release Date: May 6, 2025
Buy: Amazon
Status: Getting ready to press request on NetGalley.

When Daisy Hershberger and Perry Bontrager meet, they discover they have one thing in common: both their families are way too eager to see them matched with the person of their dreams. Daisy is convinced that Maynard is the one for her, but her parents have their doubts. And Perry? His family wonders if there’s anyone out there for a quirky guy like him. He’s also certain that some people–himself included–are destined to be single for life.

After comparing notes, Perry and Daisy agree to a pact. He’ll help her make Maynard realize what he’s missing, and she’ll pretend to be Perry’s love interest to keep his matchmaking mother satisfied. For a while, their pact seems to be working.

Maybe their imagined futures aren’t exactly what fairy tales are made of, but they’re committed to their plan . . . until they realize that a real-life fairy tale is happening where they least expect it. Sometimes, you don’t have to pretend to be anything but yourself in order for love to find you.

The Shop Down the Lane by Leslie Gould
Release Date: May 6, 2025
Buy: Amazon
Status: Wondering about ARC team possibilities.

Lois Yoder has always found solace in the quiet life of Paradise, Pennsylvania, where she manages a gift shop that reflects her Amish community’s simple values. Her tranquil world is upended when Moses Lantz, a former Amishman turned Mennonite and the man who broke her heart, buys the shop with ambitious plans to transform it into a tourist hub–a move that Lois fiercely opposes.

Seeking a distraction, Lois joins a bird watchers’ circle letter under an alias. But unknown to her, Moses does the same at the urging of a friend. While their correspondence blossoms into a tender romance, the enmity between Lois and Moses in real life only intensifies. Can they overcome their animosity and embrace the love they’ve found through their letters, or will their stubborn hearts keep them apart forever?

Unshaken by Shelley Shepard Gray
Release Date: June 3, 2025
Buy: Amazon
Status: Counting the days until June 3^rd.

When Stephanie Miller planned her visit to a dollar store in southern Ohio, she was expecting to pick up a few items she couldn’t find in her Amish community. She was not expecting to find herself an innocent bystander as a drug deal went horribly wrong. The sole witness to a murder, now Stephanie is targeted by the gunman.

Hardy Anderson is always ready to help his social worker sister, Beverly–which now includes hiding an Amish woman until a killer can be brought to justice. Surely if they dress her in English clothing, Hardy can hide her at the sprawling ranch where he works.

But the killer is desperate–and there’s no telling what lengths he will go.

What new releases are you looking forward to?

Thank you to The Artsy Reader Girl for hosting Top Ten Tuesday!