MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK 

Leah Otto, marrying Juda Shetler was just a huge mistake, according to everyone in their small Amish community. Leah would never get along with Jude’s twin teenage girls and his small son who misses his mammso much all he does is cries for her. But Leah was determined to marry this man that she loved dearly. And Jude was just as determined to make Leah his wife. But when Jude’s sneaky twin teens overheard a private conversation between Jude and Leah, Jude’s house was disrupted to the point that he didn’t know what to do, and Leah wished that she had listened to her mom when she tried to warn her how Jude’s twins would feel toward her.

Anout halfway through this awesome Amish story, I had no idea how Ms. Hubbard would untangle the mess called Jude’s household. I cried with Leah, and wanted to wring those twin girls’ necks! I was so glad when Leah finally broke through to little Stevie, and he started trusting her. And not only that, but Stevie was one smart five year old! And he didn’t mind telling what the twins told him, or what he overheard the twins say. I love this little one!

For me, this is my favorite so far from author Charlotte Hubbard. A bit different from most Amish books I’ve read. Leah wasn’t the usual Amish Housewife and Jude didn’t care what people thought of her working with her cows, goats, and other farm animals. One thing this story teaches us is that communication is so very important in a marriage or relationship. I loved the way Jude and Leah were able to talk through their problems and struggles, even though it was very difficult and embarrassing for them both at times. And it’s also scary for Amish parents to think of their kids as the go through their time of rumspringa. It’s a cruel world out there for someone who has been so sheltered, even to those who are not Amish. Leah and Jude’s strong faith in God got them through their trying times, and He will do the same for anyone. I appreciate Ms. Hubbard dealing with these issues in this story. And I hope if someone reading this book is going through struggles, Jude and Leah’s story will help them as they go through their difficult journey.

I received this book from Goddess Book Tours to read and review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 55.

A sweet Amish romance with endearing characters.
I usually enjoy the authors work but this one didn't resonate with me as her other work has.

This has to be my favorite book I've read by Charlotte Hubbard so far. Leah has had a long time dream of marrying Jude and her dreams come true. Jude comes with 3 children from his previous marriage but Leah doesn't mind, she is looking forward to motherhood. Jude has 16 year old twin daughters and let me tell you these girls are the devils spawn. They purposely eavesdrop on their parents conversations and do everything possible to make their new Mamm's life miserable. Felling unappreciated Leah wonders if this marriage was a mistake. Her saving grace is her husband though he always reassures her she is just what he wants and he takes the girls to task. The girls continue to sneak out of the house and meet up with Englisher men. Leah afraid they are going to get pregnant tries to give them motherly advice but they'll have none of it. The little brother, now I really liked him he is the sweet buffer between the girls and Leah . Stevie is his name. He at a younger age is more respectful than the girls. When a baby is left on their porch Leah admits she feels more adequate taking care of farm animal babies than a real one. Falling is love with a baby is pretty effortless though and all in the family do,even the girls. When Leah's Mamm comes to visit the girls are still out of hand. Will a miracle happen before the girls really do something regrettable? I loved seeing the sweet reunion and beautiful redemption of souls. Very enjoyable book!
Pub Date 27 Mar 2018
A complimentary copy of this book was provided to me by Kensington Books through NetGalley. Thank you. All opinions expressed are my own.

A Mother's Gift Is a book of judgment, love, fitting in, rebellion, vengeance, forgiveness and faith. Poor Leah - she just wants to love - love her husband Jude and his twins Alice and Adlain and son, but they have other ideas. The poor thing cries at night - that is how those brats treat her. The twins (are in Rumspringa) and the boy has built up walls - which she did break through with her animals, but if you ask me it was GOD - now with the twins, the father took them to task. GOD-made sure she was watched over throughout the whole horrible mess - which tugged at your heart strings. Did things turn out OK? Well that is something you have to find out for yourselves.

Amazed by the character of Leah and all that she went through in this book. Her faith never failed her and was please with the way the book ended. Was sad when it did. All the characters were amazing.

A Mother’s Gift is the latest novel by Charlotte Hubbard. Leah Otto is marrying Jude Shetler, but her mother is worried that Leah has not thought it through completely. Jude has twin daughters who are sixteen and enjoying their rumspringa along with a five-year-old son who misses his mother. Leah has always preferred working with animals to taking care of a home and feels that Jude is the right man for her. There is the added benefit of Jude’s mother, Margaret who takes care of the household. Jeremiah, Jude’s older brother, has his doubts about the match as well and wishes Jude would delay the wedding. Jude and Leah have no reservations and proceed with their wedding. Three months pass, and Leah is miserable. Margaret moved out after the wedding, the twins are making life difficult for Leah, Stevie is still not talking to Leah, and Jude has not been supportive. Something needs to change if their marriage is to survive. Then a baby named Betsy is left on their porch with a note asking that they give the baby a loving home. Leah has no clue on how to care for a baby and is thankful when Lenore, Leah’s mother, comes to assist her. After a long-needed talk, Jude alters his behavior and begins reigning in the twins. This is just the beginning for Leah and Jude. With communication, faith, and love they can have a happy, rich life together that is full of unexpected blessings. Come along for the journey in A Mother’s Gift.

I found A Mother’s Gift to be well-written in a nice, conversational writing style. There are a variety of characters in the story with different personalities. They are realistic in their attitudes and behaviors. A blended marriage is challenging for all parties and it takes time for people to adjust (come together as a family). There are good life lessons in the story and we can see that the Amish have the same problems/struggles as Englischers. It is important not to judge others, the harm that gossip can cause to people, forgiveness of oneself and others, God is in control, the power of prayer and the importance of having a strong faith in God. God had a plan when he brought Leah and Jude together. My rating for A Mother’s Gift is 4 out of 5 stars. I do wish the characters had been introduced into the story differently (in the beginning). A Mother’s Gift is such a lovely, heartwarming story that will take readers on an emotional journey.

A Mother’s Gift is probably my favorite that I have read by Charlotte Hubbard to date. I found it to be a heartwarming and inspirational story. I enjoyed the lesson about the power of forgiveness, faith and love. Jude and Leah were wonderful characters to get to know and it was a pleasure to spend to time with them.
I recommend A Mother’s Gift and would give it 5 stars. As always, I look forward to more by Charlotte Hubbard in the future.
I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.

I loved this book and I also love the beautiful cover. Leah is marrying Jude, there are several people in that seem to have a problem with this. They don't want them to marry they don't think it will work. Leah is more of a tomboy type. She likes being outside taking care of the animals. She's not much for wanting to be inside taking care of the house or cooking. Knowing all of this Jude is still willing to accept Leah for who she is.

Jude is the father of two teenage twins daughters and a son. Jude's mother also lives with them and she's not very fond of Leah. The twins make things hard for Leah once she moves in. Which makes Leah very unhappy. She's wanting to up and leave. One night she hears crying on her porch. When she rushes to the door she is surprised at what she sees.

I recommend this to others it is such a wonderful book. You will love it from start to finish.
Thanks to Kensington books for allowing me to read this book.

Leah is going to marry Jude, a widower with teenage twin daughters, and a young son. Her mother is against the marriage, her bishop is against it, and his brother (also a bishop) doesn't approve. The biggest fear is that she won't fit into his family and will have a hard time adjusting because she didn't know much about the housekeeping portion of life. She had livestock and raised them for money.

Jude's twins, Alice and Adalain, are in their rumspringa, but they are living a dangerous life and have become rude and disrespectful, thinking that they don't have to abide by any family or church rules. They are involved with two wild boys who seek their attention.

Jude's young son does not take to Leah right off, but when the girls run to town and Leah has him all to herself, she finds herself breaking through his walls. He's fascinated with her animals and wants to learn to care for them.

Jude does not see how his daughters are treating Leah and doesn't know the pain she's in until he hears her crying in the middle of the night. This is the turning point of the book where Jude takes on his daughters and encourages his son.

Charlotte Hubbard writes sweet Amish stories that show that even the Amish have the same kinds of conflicts in their lives that we Englishers have in our lives. A Mother's Gift takes on teenage rebellion, babies born out of wedlock, revenge, and forgiveness that witnesses to a rebellious world.

Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and a goat to milk.

My thanks to Kensington Books for allowing me to read and review this book.

Charlotte Hubbard’s, newest book, A Mother’s Love, is a delightful story of family, faith, and forgiveness.
Leah and Jude can’t wait to be husband and wife, but they both are on the receiving ends of doubt from their family and community. Leah, an only child, tended to be outdoors with her father and the farm animals more than in the house with her mother learning to become a good Amish wife. Jude is a widower of three children, two teenage daughters, and a young son. The twins are in their running around time and seem to be out of control.
Leah expects her new mother-in-law to stay in the home to assist with cooking, cleaning, and child care, but she bashes that hope when she tells them that she is moving out on the day of the wedding. Leah wanted to tend to her animals and help where needed. Now she is thrust into a life with children who obviously do not want her there. She quickly learns that the struggle will be difficult if she wants to make her husband believe that everything is fine.
When Leah finally confides in Jude, the twins find out some family news that they wish they did not hear, when Jude tells the family secret. They act out even greater, but it is Leah who is there to find them and bring them home.
When a baby is abandoned on the front steps, the family is pulled together to care for little Betsy. As Leah, Jude, and the children fall in love with Betsy, they also grow closer.
Without giving away too many details, this is a very heart-warming story of love finally found and faith and trust in family.
I received a copy of from NetGalley and Kensington Books in return for my honest review.

Leah Otto is finally fulfilling a life long dream of marrying Jude Shetler. He is a widower with three children. However, since most men shy away from courting her, Leah is happy that Jude wants her in his life just the way she is. When her step daughters start to push more boundaries than they should, Leah is afraid their little world is falling apart. Then an unexpected bundle is dropped on their doorstep. Will this prove to be more than any of them can handle? Will their world fall apart?

I love how the characters in this story are written so that the reader learns about every aspect of their thoughts and lives. This series is one of forgiveness, understanding, love, and finding ones path when obstacles stack against you. I highly recommend this series. I received a copy through Netgalley. A review wasn't required.

Family members have concerns about Leah marrying Jude. As the only child, she helped her dad with the farm animals rather than learning cooking and household things from her mother. Jude is a widower with three children, two of which are teenage girls who are in their time of Rumspringa. While this is a permitted time for teens to put their foot in the 'Englisch' world in an attempt to decide whether or not to join the church, there is talk and concern regarding the things Jude's daughters are doing.
Leah's mother tries to talk to her about her concerns regarding marrying Jude. Also, Jude's mother lives in the home, so there is already a woman there and like they say, 'too many cooks spoil the broth.' Leah has no interest in cooking. She loves taking care of her farm animals which Jude will be moving over to his farm.
Jude's brother also expresses his concerns to Jude, to no avail. So...there is a wedding!
Promptly, following the wedding, Jude's mother states that she's moving out and Leah is in somewhat despair for she was counting on her to do the cooking and run the household. Jude's mother clearly does not approve of the marriage.
Three months later, Leah is sobbing and feels she doesn't belong and should leave. The twins are very rude and hateful to her and five year old Stevie misses his mother something terrible. Jude is very understanding and sympathetic. The girls, while eavesdropping, overhears things about their mother that is quiet upsetting and only causes them to act out more. Their behavior becomes quite reckless. Leah found them in a pool hall and escorted them back home.
Things begin to change in the household after a baby is left on their front porch. Everyone grows to love the baby, Betsy. Initially, somewhat scared about caring for a baby, Leah falls in love with her. Who has left her and why? Leah feels the twins know more about this than they are saying. Leah and Jude make plans to try to adopt baby Betsy.
This is a delightful story about family, faith, hope and forgiveness.
I was given a free ecopy of this to read by the publisher, Kensington and Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

I have received this book as an advanced read and this review is being done voluntarily. This book really struck home with me. Being a step parent I felt pretty much every emotion Lenore did. From the start it seems like everyone against her and Jude's marriage. To throw just a little wrench in a already complicated situation with 3 step children surprise someone drops off a baby. The one thing about this sweet baby is it eventually pulls the family together. Lenore shows she is tough and can handle most things even if there is a break down on occasion. Jude is a good husband who has her back and shows how a man should care for a woman. This book reminds us that God is control and things are not always going to fixed in a blink of an eye.

Another wonderful book by Charlotte Hubbard! The love and sense of community in the Amish faith is very heart-warming throughout this story. Leah thought she was going into her marriage with her eyes open but was that was soon proven wrong. I love the way Jude supported his wife through everything. Many readers will be able to relate to the difficulties in parenting teenagers. Highly recommended!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Kensington Books through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. This book was a joy to read. Leah has recently married Jude, an Amish widower with three children. Initially there is conflict and mistrust between Jude's twin teenage daughters and Leah. Secrets are revealed when the girls eavesdrop on a private conversation between Jude and Leah, which leads to tense and difficult times in the Shetler home. A well written and satisfying book for anyone.

A Mother's Gift is one of those books I was sad to have come to an end! On one hand I was desperate to see how Leah and Jude would solve his teenage daughters' dilemmas. On the other hand, Leah and Jude, their mothers, and Jude's children, were such skillfully described characters that I really felt I was in their midst.
Despite the concerns of family members, Leah marries Jude, a widower with three children, as she and Jude are devoted to a future together. His son quickly embraces her as a stepmother, while his teenage daughters grow more and more rebellious, and take greater risks with the men they date outside the community.
Leah exercises great patience and common sense to find middle ground with her stepdaughters and step son. She is aided along the way by Jude and by her mother. This is a story that will keep readers up all night to find out what happens next. I cannot recommend it enough!