CFBA tour Love Finds You in Amana, Iowa by Melanie Dobson

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Love Finds You in Amana, Iowa Summerside Press (June 1, 2011) by Melanie Dobson



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Melanie Dobson is the award-winning author of The Black Cloister; Love Finds You in Liberty, Indiana; and Together for Good, and she has now authored nine contemporary and historical novels including Love Finds You in Nazareth, Pennsylvania which releases in November 2011.  



Prior to launching Dobson Media Group in 1999, Melanie was the corporate publicity manager at Focus on the Family where she was responsible for the publicity of events, products, films, and TV specials. Melanie received her undergraduate degree in journalism from Liberty University and her master's degree in communication from Regent University. She has worked in the fields of publicity and journalism for fifteen years including two years as a publicist for The Family Channel.



Melanie and her husband, Jon, met in Colorado Springs in 1997 at Vanguard Church. Jon works in the field of computer animation. Since they've been married, the Dobsons have relocated numerous times including stints in Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, Colorado, Berlin, and Southern California. These days they are enjoying their new home in the Pacific Northwest.



Jon and Melanie have adopted their two daughters —Karly (6) and Kinzel (5). When Melanie isn't writing or entertaining their girls, she enjoys exploring ghost towns and dusty back roads, traveling, hiking, line dancing, and reading inspirational fiction.





ABOUT THE BOOK

With a backdrop of the community of The Amana Colonies, the Civil War, and a great love story, Melanie Dobson’s new historical fiction title LOVE FINDS YOU IN AMANA, IOWA both enlightening and entertaining.

The novel is set in the United States during the turmoil of the 1860s. As the rest of the nation is embroiled in the Civil War, the Amana Colonies have remained at peace with a strong faith in God and pursuit of community, intertwined with hard work, family life and the building of their colony.

Amalie Wiese is travelling to the newly built village of Amana in 1863. When she arrives in the colonies she finds that her fiancée, Friedrich has left to fight with the Union Army. Amalie fears for his safety as she also struggles with his decision to abandon the colony’s beliefs. Matthias, Frederick’s friend, stays back in Amana to work in the colonies. But there is something wrong with Matthias; he always seems angry at Amalie when there is no simple explanation for him to act that way.

The goods that colonies manufacture are much needed supplies for the war effort and Matthias decides to deliver the goods to the soldiers. When he leaves, Amalie realizes that her fear for Matthias’s safety is equally as strong. What will become of Friedrich, will Matthias return safely, and will Amalie marry Friedrich? LOVE FINDS YOU IN AMANA, IOWA is a richly told story of life in the Amana Society and the people who live and love there.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Love Finds You in Amana, Iowa, go HERE.

My Review.
I loved this book. I like learning new parts of history and learning more of this society and how they feel about war. It was interesting seeing Friedrich's feelings when he went to war. I also love Amalie's character and how some perceive her. The way this society works is everything is shared and everyone has there own job. They share everything and live as a community. I also love how they helped provide supplies for the war and found this infact did happen. This is a great story and very informative. Great read.

CFBA tour The Silent Order by Melanie Dobson

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing The Silent Order Summerside Press (November 1, 2010)by Melanie Dobson



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Melanie Dobson is the award-winning author of The Black Cloister; Love Finds You in Liberty, Indiana; and Together for Good.



Prior to launching Dobson Media Group in 1999, Melanie was the corporate publicity manager at Focus on the Family where she was responsible for the publicity of events, products, films, and TV specials. Melanie received her undergraduate degree in journalism from Liberty University and her master's degree in communication from Regent University. She has worked in the fields of publicity and journalism for fifteen years including two years as a publicist for The Family Channel.



Melanie and her husband, Jon, met in Colorado Springs in 1997 at Vanguard Church. Jon works in the field of computer animation. Since they've been married, the Dobsons have relocated numerous times including stints in Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, Colorado, Berlin, and Southern California. These days they are enjoying their new home in the Pacific Northwest.



Jon and Melanie have adopted their two daughters —Karly (6) and Kinzel (5). When Melanie isn't writing or entertaining their girls, she enjoys exploring ghost towns and dusty back roads, traveling, hiking, line dancing, and reading inspirational fiction.





ABOUT THE BOOK

Rural America - 1928. After the murder of his partner, Detective Rollin Wells hides away in an Amish home near Sugarcreek, Ohio, to find out who in the police force is

collaborating with Cleveland’s notorious mob. While Rollin searches for answers to his partner’s death, he befriends an elusive young Amish woman named Katie and her young son. As Rollin learns about Katie’s past, he’s shocked at the secret Katie is hiding - a secret that has haunted Rollin for eight years.



If you would like to read the first chapter of The Silent Order, go HERE.

My Review:
Another great book by Melanie, I found this a good story with an edge of suspense. The book is about an amish woman Katie and a police dectective Rollin and is set in the probation years in Ohio. The events that lead to the two meeting is interesting. I love the characters and story and how the amish and outside worlds collide and what happens. I enjoyed the story and wanted to know what would happen next. I love summerside press books this series of suspense books from different time frames and have enjoyed each one.

Getting to know you Thursdays with Melanie Dobson

Today I have Melanie Dobson on my blog. I read Love finds you in Homestead Ohio and just loved the story and wanted to have Melanie on my blog. I have just spent time at her website and reading her adoption story is was really moving. Thanks for visiting Melanie.

1. Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I’m blessed to be the mom of two busy girls. We live in the Pacific Northwest and enjoy spending our summers visiting playgrounds and hiking in the mountains. When the girls are in school, I love creating new characters and enjoy putting their stories on paper.

2. When you were a child did you have a favourite book or books?

One of my favorite first books was “Emily of New Moon.” Emily loved to write, and I wanted to be just like her.

3. Do you have a favourite Genre to both read and right write?

I love to read about everything except science fiction, but my favorite genres to write are historical romance and suspense. My latest novel, Refuge on Crescent Hill, is more of a mystery, and I enjoyed writing that as well.

4. When did you know you wanted to be an author?

I’ve been compelled to write ever since I began jotting down my thoughts into a bright red diary while I was in second grade. During middle school, my fascination with Nancy Drew pushed me to start a number of “mysteries,” but I discovered early in life that endings are hard to write so I never finished these stories.

After college, I pursued a career in public relations and journalism instead of fiction writing. I always thought I would start writing stories again when I was “older,” but it wasn’t until a few months before my thirtieth birthday that I realized I was indeed older. God renewed my passion for fiction, and a decade after the big 3-0, I’m still writing novels.

5. If you were not a writer what would you like to be?

I always wanted to be an archeologist when I was a child, but I liked the mysteries of the past more than the science of it. If I weren’t a writer today, I would probably be a librarian or work in the travel industry.

6. Outside reading and writing what do you like to do?

I enjoy hiking, kayaking, and exploring deserted houses, ghost towns, and old cemeteries.

7. Do you have a place you love to visit or would love to visit?

In 2003 my husband and I spent four weeks backpacking across Europe, and we loved every place we visited. I would love to go back and spend more time in Austria and Switzerland.

Finally can you tell us about your current books and/or any that will

be coming out soon. Also where we can find you on the web.

My last novel, Refuge on Crescent Hill, released in May. This is a contemporary romantic suspense set in a dilapidated Ohio mansion—a mansion hiding a number of both past and present secrets. The Silent Order, my next romantic suspense novel, releases in the fall. This story is about a Cleveland detective hiding out in Ohio’s Amish country during the late 1920s and an Amish woman who can’t let him find out about her past. More information about these novels is at www.melaniedobson.com.

Love finds you in Homestead, Iowa by Melanie Dobson review

Times are hard in 1893. In the midst of an economic depression, Jacob Hirsch loses his job with the banking industry. Desperate for work, the widower rides the rails west from Chicago with his four-year-old daughter, Cassie. When illness strands the pair in Homestead, Iowa, the communal Amana Society settled there rallies around the newcomers. Liesel, a young Amana woman, nurses Cassie back to health while the Homestead elders offer Jacob work. But when the elders recognize Jacob’s interest in the engaged Liesel, they ask him to leave the colony. Will Jacob choose to stay in the only place that’s felt like home—if it means he must give up the woman he’s come to love? 

My Review:

Thanks to Summerside for this review copy.
I really loved this book. I hadn't heard of the Amana Religious community before but would love a place like that. They care for each other and share everything. This book takes place during one of the wall street crashes and at a time when living in the city is dangerous. Jacob is looking after his daughter and they end up in the Amana community when Cassie is very sick. Liesel helps nurse Cassie and its interesting seeing how the 2 interact. I loved this book and learning about the community. Great book one of my favourites so far.