In The Shelter Of Hollythorne House (the Houses Of Yorkshire Book 2) by Sarah E. Ladd

 

Sarah Ladd's books never fail to entertain. In The Shelter of Hollythorne House was a very good book. It had something for everybody, historical fiction, suspense, unrequited love, villains and heroes. The setting of a country house in the English Moors is gorgeous. The suspense ran through from beginning to end, leaving one unsure as to who to trust. Without giving spoilers, the end was very satisfying. 

So brew up some tea, bake a few scones and settle in for a great read.

I was given a copy of this book with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.

From Amazon:

A young widow faces an uncertain future . . . until an unexpected encounter with her first love gives her heart a second chance in this Regency romance set on the Yorkshire Moors.

England, 1817—Charlotte Grey thought she had seen the last of Anthony Welbourne. Knowing her father would never consent to his only daughter marrying a man he deemed beneath their family’s station, Charlotte bid her final farewell to Anthony and vowed never to turn back. Instead, she honored her father’s wishes by marrying the wealthy Roland Prior.

Determined to put his love for Charlotte in the past, Anthony chose to immerse himself in a life full of meaning—first as a soldier fighting a war overseas, then as a member of William Walstead’s watchmen, a rugged band of men dispatched to deal with perilous situations. Fearless and persistent, he makes it his life’s focus to fight for those who can’t fight for themselves.

When Charlotte’s husband dies unexpectedly, she quickly realizes how blind she’d been to his nefarious ambitions and how many people he’d angered on his relentless quest for wealth. To protect her infant son, Henry, from those who wish him harm, she and the baby flee to Hollythorne House, her childhood home. There Charlotte comes face-to-face with her former love, who has been sent as one of the hired watchman to protect her and Henry until the details of her late husband’s estate are settled.

Anthony’s presence brings back feelings she never expected to have again, and she struggles to trust his intentions. Are the watchmen really looking after Charlotte as they claim—or are they looking to make trouble for Roland’s estate and heir? Despite the constant reminders of their past, Anthony must remain focused on the task he was hired to do. But when new threats emerge and the past collides with the present, both must decide what they are willing to risk for the chance to right old wrongs and carve out a new future . . . together.

• Sweet Regency romance
• Part of the Houses of Yorkshire series but can be read as a stand-alone novel
• Includes discussion questions for book clubs

About the author:

Sarah E. Ladd has always loved the Regency period — the clothes, the music, the literature and the art. A college trip to England and Scotland confirmed her interest in the time period and gave her idea of what life would’ve looked like in era. It wasn’t until 2010 that Ladd began writing seriously. Shortly after, Ladd released the first book in the Whispers on the Moors series. Book one of the series, The Heiress of Winterwood, was the recipient of the 2011 ACFW Genesis Award for historical romance.

Captivated By The Cowgirl (Colorado Cowgirls book #4) by Jody Hedlund

 Captivated By the Cowgirl is a good book. I enjoyed the chance to return to Fairplay, Colorado, the setting of many books by Jody Hedlund. It was great to tie up  the Courtney Boarding House series. I enjoyed the plot and the strength of the characters. The book was a bit spicy for my taste, but still clean. This book was a good ending to the series.

So brew up your tea and sit back to enjoy a good story.

I was given a copy of this book with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.

From Amazon:

Jody Hedlund is the best-selling author of over forty books and is the winner of numerous awards. She writes sweet historical romances with plenty of sizzle. Find out more at jodyhedlund.com.

Cloak of Scarlet (A Dericott Tale book 5) by Melanie Dickerson

 

In Cloak of Scarlet, Melanie Dickerson continues with her medieval retelling of fairy tales. This book is a combination of the 6 Swans and Red riding Hood. I loved this story, Violet and Sir Merek were both strong characters. The story was sweet and I really enjoyed the way their love and faith grew along with the story. I love the fact that Ms. Dickerson can take the magic out of the story but still tell a great tale. 

I recommend you brew some tea and curl up in front of a fireplace for a fun read.

I was given a copy of Cloak of Scarlet with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.

From Amazon

She was an orphan of no importance . . .

He was an ordinary knight serving the baron . . .

Suddenly the kingdom depends on both of them.

Violet Lambton never imagined herself as anything but average. Adopted as a young child, she’s content with her comfortable life in her small medieval town with her faith, her books, and her baking . . . and the vivid red cloak her grandmother gifted her. Her one dream: to find a love that is pure and true. Then, her beloved grandmother is robbed by the villainous Baron Dunham. Outraged, Violet finds herself in the midst of the action and determines to put an end to the evil baron’s mis­treatment of the hardworking people.

Sir Merek, a knight in the service of Baron Dunham, has pledged his life to fighting injustice and defending the weak. But when he encounters the spirited and beautiful Violet and discovers the depths of the baron’s treachery, he realizes that serving his employer is not serving the kingdom—and so he sets out on a daring journey to go behind the baron’s back to expose his deceitfulness to the king.

But before Merek and Violet can act to bring the corruption to light, Violet is captured and brought directly to Dunham—where she shockingly discov­ers a secret that shakes her entire world . . . and the future she dreams of. Thrown together in the baron’s quarters in a race against time to save the lives of their loved ones and themselves, Violet and Merek must learn to trust each other to expose Dunham’s treachery to the king—all while suc­cumbing to their growing feelings for each other. Can the two find their happily ever after against all odds, or will the wolves amongst them drive them apart?

From New York Times bestselling author Melanie Dickerson comes a thrilling retelling of “Little Red Riding Hood,” where two hearts must learn to trust themselves and each other in order to save a kingdom.

• Sweet historical medieval romance
• Part of the Dericott series: Book 1: Court of Swans; Book 2: Castle of Refuge; Book 3: Veil of Winter; Book 4: Fortress of Snow; Book 5: Cloak of Scarlet
• Book length: 80,000 words
• Includes discussion questions for book clubs

 

About the author:

Melanie is the Christy award-winning author of Regency and Medieval fairy tale romances.

Melanie’s newsletter sign-up is on her website, www.MelanieDickerson.com, and you can connect with her on Facebook www.facebook.com/MelanieDickersonBooks/ and on Instagram www.instagram.com/melaniedickerson123/

Growing up about 50 miles from Harper Lee’s hometown in rural Alabama, Melanie wrote stories in notebooks for her friends, who passed them around in class as soon as she finished a scene. (And no, they didn’t get in trouble—much.) These stories always involved adventure, danger, and a hero and heroine falling in love, with a happily-ever-after ending. She’s been a romantic for as long as she can remember!

Melanie lives in North Alabama with her husband and sometimes her two young adult children, who have (mostly) flown the nest. You'll find her sprint-writing with her friends on video chat, sipping hot tea at a local coffee shop, hanging out with her handsome husband, watching movies with her oddly calm Jack Russell terrier, or daydreaming about her book-in-progress.

Double Take, Lake City Heroes book one by Lynette Eason

Double Take is book one in Lynette Eason's newest series, Lake city Heroes. This book is full of suspense. Lanie Jackson is a physician's assistant and is finally recovering from having to shoot her her ex. She is sure he died before her eyes, but now someone is trying to kill her and she keeps seeing her ex lurking in various places.

Detective James Cross recently honorably discharged from the service is helping Lanie. I loved the dynamics between Lanie and James, and the fact that they have a group of friends along with their faith makes for a great book. I loved every word!

So if you are in the mood for great suspense, grab a cozy blanket, a pot of tea and settle in for a fantastic read. 

I was given a copy of Double take with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.

From Amazon:

Detective James Cross has been honorably discharged from the Army Criminal Investigation Division due to wounds sustained when an IED blew up near him. Now with the Lake City Police Department, he's rooming with this good buddy and partner, Cole, while he figures out his family dynamics.

Physician Assistant Lainie Jackson is eighteen months out from an attempted murder perpetrated by her ex, which ended when she managed to grab the weapon and shoot him. When he appears to have survived and is back to finish the job he started, Lainie insists it's not possible. But someone keeps trying to kill her, and she keeps seeing his face.

Together, Lainie and James must work together to find out who, exactly, is after her and why he wants her dead. And failure is not an option.

USA Today bestselling author Lynette Eason will leave you breathless with this fast-paced first book in a brand-new series.

About the author:

Award-winning, best-selling author, Lynette Eason writes for Harlequin's Love Inspired Suspense line and for Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. Her books have hit the Publisher's Weekly, CBA and ECPA bestseller lists and have won numerous awards such as the prestigious Carol Award, the Selah, the Daphne, the IRCC award and more. Lynette is married, has two children, and lives in Greenville, SC.

 

Concrete Evidence by DiAnn Mills

 

Avery Elliot, granddaughter of Senator Elliot and CEO of is construction company, is used to a comfortable life. That ends when she sees her grandfather standing over a body while holding a gun. She turns to FBI Special Agent Marc Wilkins for help. Now her grandfather is missing, people are turning up dead and her company is being investigated for fraud. I loved the way DiAnn Mills kept me guessing as to who was on which side. this boo is full of faith, suspense, family dynamics, fraud and murder.

So grab a cozy blanket and brew a pot of tea. You are going to want to settle back for a great read.

I was given a copy of this book with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.

From Amazon:

On the family’s Brazos River Ranch in Texas, Avery Elliott helps run her grandfather’s commercial construction business. Raised by Senator Elliott, Avery has never doubted her grandfather is the man of integrity and faith she’s always believed him to be . . . until the day she finds him standing with a gun over the body of a dead man. To make matters worse, Avery’s just discovered a billing discrepancy for materials supposedly purchased for construction of the Lago de Cobre Dam.

Desperate for answers, Avery contacts FBI Special Agent Marc Wilkins for help. As Marc works to identify the dead man Avery saw, threats toward Avery create a fresh sense of urgency to pinpoint why someone wants to silence her. With a hurricane approaching the Texas coast and the structural integrity of the Lago de Cobre Dam called into question, time is running out to get to the bottom of a sinister plot that could be endangering the lives of not only Avery and her loved ones but the entire community.

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She weaves memorable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels. DiAnn believes every breath of life is someone’s story, so why not capture those moments and create a thrilling adventure?

Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards, the Golden Scroll, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests.

DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, an active member of the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers, Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Mystery Writers of America, the Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. DiAnn continues her passion of helping other writers be successful. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country.

DiAnn has been termed a coffee snob and roasts her own coffee beans. She’s an avid reader, loves to cook, and believes her grandchildren are the smartest kids in the universe. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.

Learn about all of DiAnn’s books and connect with DiAnn @ diannmills dot com.

The Ark and the Dove by Jill Eileen Smith releasing February 27, 2024

I loved The ark and the Dove! The Bible does not give many details of life on the Ark.  Jill Eileen Smith has done a fantastic job of filling in possibilities of what may have transpired during that time. Questions on how they handled feeding and watering the animals and themselves. How they handled all of the waste products. The grief they felt at losing everyone but the 8 of them. Most of all how they kept their faith in the Creator. I highly recommend the Ark and the Dove!

This book releases February 27, 2024. I suggest you pre-order it and block off a weekend to read it!

I was given a copy of this book with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.

From Amazon:

Zara and Noah have walked together with the Creator for their entire lives, and they have done their best in an increasingly wicked and defiant world to raise their three sons to follow in their footsteps. It has been a challenge--and it's about to get much, much harder.

When the Creator tells her husband to build an ark to escape the coming wrath against the sins of humankind, Zara steps out with him in faith. But the derision and sabotage directed their way from both friends and extended family are difficult to bear, as is knowing that everyone she interacts with beyond her husband, her sons, and their wives is doomed to destruction. And when the ark is finally finished and the animals have been shut up inside, Zara and her family embark on an adventure that will test their patience and their faith as they await deliverance and dry ground.

Experience the story of Noah and the flood like you never have before. With bestselling and award-winning author Jill Eileen Smith as your guide, you'll never look at a rainbow the same way again.

About the author:

 Jill Eileen Smith is the bestselling, award-winning author of the Wives of King David series, Wives of the Patriarchs, Daughters of the Promised Land, The Heart of a King, Star of Persia, Miriam's Song, and the nonfiction When Life Doesn't Match Your Dreams, and She Walked Before Us. Her research has taken her from the Bible to Israel, and she particularly enjoys learning how women lived in Old Testament times.

When she isn’t writing, she loves to spend time with her family and friends, read stories that take her away, ride her bike to the park, snag date nights with her hubby, try out new restaurants, or play with her lovable, “helpful” cat Tiger. Jill lives with her family in southeast Michigan.

Contact Jill through email (jill@jilleileensmith.com), her website (http://www.jilleileensmith.com), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/jilleileensmith), or Twitter (https://twitter.com/JillEileenSmith).

 

Within These Gilded Halls by Abigail Wilson

 Within These Gilded Halls is the first book by Abigail Wilson that I have read. I enjoyed the Regency era setting with all of the rules, most of which Phoebe ignored. I found the treasure hunt to be quite enjoyable, and I was kept guessing as to who was the good guys and who wasn't. Phoebe and Graham were both intriguing characters. I was not quite as fond of the first person narrative, but that was only a minor issue. I was a bit surprised at the ending which makes for a good book! 

If you have a free afternoon, grab a copy of this book, your favorite beverage and curl up for a treasure hunt!

I was given a copy of this book with no expectations. All thought's are my own.

Amazon:

Hidden treasure and betrayal mingle with unexpected love within the walls of Avonthorpe Hall.

After studying art under Miss Drake, a renowned painter, Phoebe Radcliff is certain she can finally move beyond the childish mistake that’s kept her away from home. She is thrilled when Miss Drake employs her to complete a complicated ballroom renovation.

Everything changes, however, the moment Miss Drake is murdered. With her last breath she imparts the location of a clue to Phoebe. Can the biggest secret of Avonthorpe Hall be true—the rumored treasure real? Phoebe is tasked to finish her work in the ballroom by Miss Drake’s infuriatingly regimented yet all-too-handsome nephew, Lt. Graham Burke. Determined to fulfill the promise she made to her beloved teacher to find the treasure, Phoebe also works to uncover the truth about Miss Drake’s death—and she must do so before Lt. Burke leases the house.

But dark shadows line the gilded halls of Avonthorpe, and soon enough Phoebe realizes she’s not the only person who knows about the clues. What’s worse, she needs Lt. Burke’s help to stay ahead of whoever is hard on her heels. If only she weren’t so attracted to him.

Caught up in a deadly race for answers, Phoebe must find a way to breach the shroud of lies that surrounds every last resident in the house and, more importantly, face a past she’s been running away from for far too long.

• Regency romance and mystery
• Stand-alone novel
• Book length: approximately 95,000 words
• Includes discussion questions for book clubs
• Also by author: Twilight at Moorington Cross, Masquerade at Middlecrest Abbey, and The Vanishing at Loxby Manor

About the author:

Abigail Wilson combines her passion for Regency England with intrigue and adventure to pen historical mysteries with a heart. A Registered Nurse, chai tea addict, and mother of two crazy kids, Abigail fills her spare time hiking the National Parks, attending her daughter’s gymnastic meets, and curling up with a great book. In 2017, Abigail won WisRWA’s Fab Five contest and in 2016, ACFW’s First Impressions contest as well as placing as a 2017 finalist in the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense. She is a cum laude graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and currently lives in Dripping Springs, Texas, with her husband and children.

Dawnlight: A Novel of Matthew 27:52-53 by Kacy Barnett-Gramckow

 

Dawnlight is a novel inspired by the events of Matthew 27:52-53. It follows the lives of some of Jesus' followers during the last year of Jesus' life here on Earth. I found the descriptions of women's lives during this time to be very interesting. I feel that Kacy Barnett-Gramckow invested quite a bit of time in researching this time period. I highly recommend this book.

So settle in with a cup of tea and a cozy blanket to enjoy a great eye opening read.

I purchased a copy of this book and all thoughts are my own.

From Amazon:

Inspired by the mysterious events of Matthew 27:52-53: Amid first-century Jerusalem's political and religious unrest, Elisheba loses her beloved husband, Joseph. Though she is mourning, Elisheba must fight to protect herself and her young son from the schemes and deceptions of others who wish to control her fortune and her future. While Elisheba defies her enemies, her husband's closest friends must decide what they believe—and risk death. When another tragedy strikes, an impossible miracle shakes their lives—and their world is forever changed...at Dawnlight.

About the author:

Kacy Barnett-Gramckow is the author of Dawnlight, a Biblical Novel inspired by Matthew 27:52-53, as well as Moody Publisher's THE GENESIS TRILOGY: The Heavens Before, He Who Lifts the Skies, and A Crown in the Stars. Kacy also writes Christian Fantasy Fiction as R. J. Larson.

Kacy finds research almost as interesting as writing, and she brings a lively knowledge of history to bear on her settings and characters. She and her husband, Jerry, have been married for more than thirty years, and they live in Colorado.

Rain by Dana McNeely

 I really enjoyed reading Rain by Dana McNeely. I feel that Ms. McNeely did a fantastic job of creating a backstory for  what life may have been like in the time of Elijah. I admit it was tough reading in a few places, but the best books bring out emotions in their readers. I will definitely look forward to reading more books by Dana McNeely in the future.

So pour up your favorite beverage and settle in for a great  read.

I was given a copy of this book with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.

From Amazon:

He is destined to be high priest—but at what cost to those he loves?​

In ancient Samaria, Aban anticipates his rites of passage with excitement and dread. He yearns to join the priesthood of Ba’al Melqart, unlock the power of the rain god, and hear the deity’s voice. He’s been warned the licentious ceremony can take a dangerous turn, but as eldest son of the high priestess, he holds a privileged position. If he can make it through the ceremony, one day he’ll rise to high priest.

On the eve of the rituals, Aban’s mother confesses a dark secret about the bloody sacrifice demanded by Melqart. Aban may have escaped the flames, but if he is to save his brother, Aban must take his destined position of power as soon as possible.

When the mysterious prophet Elijah interrupts the rites, overturns the idol, and curses the land with drought, Aban’s world is shaken. The current high priest and the king appear powerless, but even more confusing is the fact that the rain god does nothing.

Against his better judgment, Aban conceals the strange prophet’s whereabouts, forfeiting the high priesthood. Now an enemy of the relentless Queen Jezebel, Aban has little time to question his fading commitment to Ba’al Melqart as he and his loved ones flee. But the conflict in Samaria is much larger than just a high priestess and her sons. Soon, Aban will have to choose a side in Yahweh’s war against the Ba’als—and it may cost him his life.

About the author:

Dana McNeely dreamed of living in a world teeming with adventure, danger, and romance, but she had a problem—she also needed a lot of peace and quiet. She learned to visit that dream world by stepping into a book. Better yet, hundreds of books. Soon, she began writing her own stories, fact and fiction.

Inspired by the Bible stories of Elijah, Dana wondered why the prophet came to stay with the widow of Zarephath and her son. Who were they? What was their life, before? How did the boy change after he died, saw the other world—and came back?

Those questions led to Dana writing RAIN, in which she built her dream world of adventure, danger, and romance. Peace and quiet, however, have remained elusive.

No stranger to drought, Dana lives in an Arizona oasis with her hubby the constant gardener, two good dogs, an antisocial cat, and myriads of migrating butterflies.

Her debut novel RAIN weaves the story of a mysterious prophet, a desperate youth, and a relentless queen. RAIN and a second novel are contracted by Mountain Brook Ink. Sign up for Dana’s newsletter to get her book updates, garden exploits, butterfly effusions, and writerly fiascos.

The Italian Ballerina by Kristi Cambron

The Italian Ballerina by Kristy Cambron is a beautiful, well researched dual time novel. this book was based on actual events that took place during WW2 in Italy. I loved the story once I figured out the various time lines and places. I highly recommend The Italian Ballerina.

So brew up some coffee and maybe grab a few biscotti, and a box of Kleenex and settle in for a great read.

I was given a copy of this book with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.

From Amazon:

At the height of the Nazi occupation of Rome, an unlikely band of heroes comes together to save innocent lives in this breathtaking World War II novel based on real historical events.

Rome, 1943. With the fall of Italy’s Fascist government and the Nazi regime occupying the streets of Rome, British ballerina Julia Bradbury is stranded and forced to take refuge at a hospital on Tiber Island. But when she learns of a deadly sickness sweeping through the quarantine wards—a fake disease known only as Syndrome K—she is drawn into one of the greatest cons in history. Alongside hospital staff, friars of the adjoining church, and two Allied medics, Julia risks everything to rescue Jewish Italians from the deadly clutches of the Holocaust. Soon a little girl who dreams of becoming a ballerina arrives at their door, and Julia is determined to reunite the young dancer with her family—if only she would reveal one crucial secret: her name.

Present Day. Delaney Coleman recently lost her grandfather—a beloved small-town doctor and World War II veteran, so she returns home to help her aging parents. When a mysterious Italian woman reaches out claiming to own one of the family’s precious heirlooms, Delaney is compelled to travel to Italy and uncover the truth of her grandfather’s hidden past. With the help of the woman’s skeptical but charming grandson, Delaney learns of a Roman hospital that saved hundreds of Jewish people during the war. Soon, everything Delaney thought she knew about her grandfather comes into question.

Based on true accounts of the invented Syndrome K sickness, The Italian Ballerina journeys from the Allied storming of the beaches at Salerno to the London ballet stage and the war-torn streets of World War II Rome, exploring the sometimes heart-wrenching choices we must make to find faith and forgiveness, and how saving a single life can impact countless others.

• Split timeline: WWII and present day
• Stand-alone novel
• Book length: approximately 107,000 words
• Includes discussion questions for book clubs

About the author:

 KRISTY CAMBRON is a vintage-inspired storyteller writing from the space where beauty, art, and history intersect. She's a Christy Award-winning author of historical fiction, including her bestselling novels, THE BUTTERFLY AND THE VIOLIN and THE PARIS DRESSMAKER, as well as nonfiction titles. She also serves as a literary agent with Gardner Literary.

Her work has been named to: Cosmopolitan Best Historical Fiction Novels of 2021, Publishers Weekly Religion & Spirituality TOP 10, Library Journal Reviews’ Best Books, RT Reviewers’ Choice Awards, a Carol Award final, and received a 2020 Christy Award for her novel, THE PAINTED CASTLE. She's also been featured at: Cosmopolitan, Publishers Weekly, Once Upon a Book Club Box, Frolic, Book Club Girl, BookBub, Country Woman Magazine, and (in)Courage.

Kristy holds a degree in Art History/Research Writing and spent 15 yrs in education and leadership development for a Fortune 100 corporation, partnering with such companies as the Disney Institute, IBM/Kenexa, and Gallup before stepping away to pursue her passion for storytelling. She lives in Indiana with her husband and three basketball-loving sons, where she can probably be bribed with a peppermint mocha latte and a good read.

You can connect with Kristy at: kristycambron.com

Star Of Persia by Jill Eileen Smith

 Jill Eileen Smith's Star of Persia is a fantastic retelling of Queen Esther's story from the Bible. From Mordechai's house near the Jewish section to Xerxes's palace in  Susa, Star Of Persia follows Esther's life. Smith has done a wonderful job of describing Esther's humble beginnings to life in the opulent palace and the danger and intrigue that lurk in the harem. I love the theme of God's faithfulness that carries throughout the book. 

I highly recommend The Star Of Persia. So grab a tray of Hamantaschen, a pot of tea and find a comfortable nook in which to curl up and savor this book.

I was given a copy of Star Of Persia with no expectations. All thoughts are my own.

From Amazon:

In an effort to complete a war his father had planned to win, King Xerxes calls every governor, satrap, and official in his vast kingdom to his palace in Susa to strategize and feast. When they finally leave, he decides on one more week of frivolity, which ends in the banishment of his favorite wife, something he never intended to do. But when he discovers Esther, Xerxes is sure he has a second chance at happiness.

In her wildest dreams, Esther could never have imagined that she would end up as queen of Persia. Yet she knows better than to become complacent. Another of Xerxes's wives is vying for position, and his closest advisor has a deep and dangerous grudge against Esther's adoptive father. Caught in the middle of palace politics, Esther will find herself in an impossible position: risk her life or consign her people to annihilation.

With her impeccable research and her imaginative flair, Jill Eileen Smith brings to life the romantic, suspenseful, and beloved story of Esther, queen of Persia.

About the author:

Jill Eileen Smith is the bestselling, award-winning author of the Wives of King David series, Wives of the Patriarchs, Daughters of the Promised Land, The Heart of a King, Star of Persia, Miriam's Song, and the nonfiction When Life Doesn't Match Your Dreams, and She Walked Before Us. Her research has taken her from the Bible to Israel, and she particularly enjoys learning how women lived in Old Testament times.

When she isn’t writing, she loves to spend time with her family and friends, read stories that take her away, ride her bike to the park, snag date nights with her hubby, try out new restaurants, or play with her lovable, “helpful” cat Tiger. Jill lives with her family in southeast Michigan.

Contact Jill through email (jill@jilleileensmith.com), her website (http://www.jilleileensmith.com), Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/jilleileensmith), or Twitter (https://twitter.com/JillEileenSmith).

Hamantaschen cookie recipe:

Easy Hamantaschen Cookies

Hamantaschen, a delicious, triangular-shaped cookie often served for Purim, is easy to make and melt-in-your-mouth delicious!

Prep Time10minutes mins

Cook Time12minutes mins

Chilling Time2hours hrs

Total Time2hours hrs 22minutes mins

Servings: 35 servings

 

Calories: 90kcal

 

Author: Stephanie Wilson

Ingredients

• 12 tablespoons butter at room temperature (3/4 cup)
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 large egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 orange zested (about 1 tablespoon)
• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

Instructions

• In the bowl of a stand mixer or with an electric mixer, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.
• Add the egg, vanilla and orange zest to the butter mixture and beat together until fully combined and creamy.
• Mix in the flour and salt until the dough just comes together. Transfer to a lightly floured surface and shape into a flat disc, wrap and chill; for about 2 hours.
• While the dough is chilling assemble your fillings. I like to use preserves, spreads, and Nutella for beautiful colors and a range of flavors. You can make your own or buy ready made at the market.

Rolling and shaping dough

• Preheat the oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
• Once the dough is chilled, it will be stiff. I like to let it sit out for a few minutes which helps with the rolling process. Transfer to a lightly floured surface.
• Using a heavy rolling pin, roll the dough until it's quite thin; about 1/4 to 1/8 inch thickness. The thinner you roll the dough the more delicate the cookies will be. The guys in my house love the cookie so much, I make a few thicker ones for them :).
• Using a 3-inch cookie cutter or the rim of a 3-inch diameter glass, cut circles from the rolled dough and transfer to the baking sheet. Gather scraps and re-roll the dough. If you're using a thin dough, you should be able to make about 35 circles. A thicker dough will yield less cookies.
• Place 1 teaspoon of filling into the center of each circle. Be careful not to overfill as the it will seep out during baking.

Assembling the cookies

• Fold the left side of the circle toward the center. Then fold the right side of the circle toward the center and overlap the upper part of the left side.
• Finally, fold up the bottom part of the circle to form a triangle. Tuck the left side of the bottom flap underneath the left side corner of the triangle, and the right side of the bottom flap over the right side corner of the triangle. This folding technique helps keep the filling inside the cookie during baking.
• Pinch each corner to secure the triangular shape. If any cracks have formed in the cookie dough, smooth them with your fingers until they disappear. Repeat for all cookies.

Baking the cookies

• Bake for 10 to 20 minutes, or until golden brown on the corners and the filling is bubbling. The time difference will depend on your oven and the thickness of your cookies. I begin checking them at 10 minutes and usually bake for about 12 minutes, using a thinner dough.

Nutrition

Calories: 90kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 16mg | Sodium: 66mg | Potassium: 19mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 136IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 0.4mg