About the Book

Book: Andrew

Author: Jennifer Beckstrand

Genre: Amish Romance

Release Date: June 25, 2019

Andrew, Abraham, and Austin Petersheim’s family business has earned them the nickname The Peanut Butter Brothers. But if their matchmaking younger siblings have their way, all three may soon bear another title: husband . . .

Handsome, hardworking, and godly, Andrew Petersheim has always been sure of his place in his Wisconsin Amish community. He’ll be a welcome catch for the local girl who finally captures his heart. Mary Coblenz certainly isn’t that girl. Two years after “jumping the fence” for the Englischer world, she’s returned, unmarried and pregnant. Yet instead of hiding in shame as others in the community expect, she’s working at the Honeybee Farm, ignoring the gossips—and winning over Andrew’s eight-year-old twin brothers . . .

For all Andrew’s certainty about right and wrong, it seems he has a lot to learn from Mary’s courage, grace, and resilience. She’s changing his notions about forgiveness and love, but will she in turn accept the challenge of starting over and choose to stay—with him?

About the Author

Jennifer Beckstrand is the two-time RITA-nominated, #1 Amazon bestselling Amish romance author of The Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hillseries, The Honeybee Sistersseries, and The Petersheim Brothersseries for Kensington Books. Huckleberry Summer and Home on Huckleberry Hill were both nominated for the coveted RITA® Award from Romance Writers of America. Jennifer has written twenty-one Amish romances, a historical Western, Jessie and James, and the nonfiction book, Big Ideas. She and her husband have been married for thirty-four years, and she has six children and seven adorable grandchildren, whom she spoils rotten.

More from Jennifer

If you enjoyed The Honeybee Sisters, you’re going to love The Petersheim Brothers, or the Peanut Butter Brothers as they’re known in their small Amish community of Bienenstock, Wisconsin. The Petersheim brothers work their small farm and make peanut butter. The idea for The Petersheim Brothers series came when two of my friends and I were creating The Honeybee Sisters Cookbook. My friend Alicia suggested I write a book about Peanut Butter Brothers, and the idea stuck.

One of my favorite characters in my Amish romances is Aunt Bitsy, the irrepressible, unconventional woman who raised the Honeybee Sisters, tried to chase off all their suitors, and then lit fireworks at their triple wedding. In Andrew, the first book in the Petersheim Brothers series, Aunt Bitsy takes in a girl who has jumped the fence and wants to come back to the Amish community to have her baby. Aunt Bitsy is still protecting her dandelions and her bees, still dyeing her hair all sorts of bright colors, and still praying to Gotte right out loud.

Andrew is about forgiveness, second chances, and learning to love. It will have you laughing and crying, and you might just fall in love with two of the most mischievous little boys in Wisconsin. Enjoy.

In honor of the Peanut Butter Brothers, I want to share one of our favorite family recipes. These bars are perfect for picnics, parties, and potlucks. They’re easy and delicious!

Peanut Butter Bars

Cream together:

1 cup butter

1 cup brown sugar

1 cup sugar

Blend In:

2 unbeaten eggs

1 tsp. baking soda

2/3 cup peanut butter

½ tsp. salt

1 tsp. vanilla

Stir In:

2 cups flour

2 cups quick oats

Spread mixture in greased jelly-roll pan or large cookie sheet.

Bake: 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Do not overbake. Remove from oven.

Sprinkle on:

1 ¼ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips.

Let stand five minutes.

For peanut butter mixture on top, combine:

½ cup sifted powdered sugar

¼ cup peanut butter

2 to 4 Tbs. evaporated milk

Mix well.

The chocolate chips will melt on the bars. Spread melted chocolate evenly. Drizzle peanut butter mixture on top. Cool completely. Cut into bars.

This book angered me a lot as I read it. I understand that Mary has sinned when she became pregnant before marriage. Wasn’t it enough that her family shunned her, the father of her child deserted her and the community whispers about her? Just how much punishment does she deserve to make Andrew feel like has  she has paid for her sins? They have some heated conversations and I admired Mary for not backing down. She realizes what she has done was wrong, but at some point forgiveness needs to come. God has forgiven her, so why can’t others? I’m not quite sure why Andrew is so bitter when it comes to Mary, but this scripture kept coming to my mind. “He without sin cast the first stone.”

Bitsy and Yost are a breath of  fresh air as they welcome Mary into their home. They are there to help her and not judge her.  Bitsy is a character with different colored hair, cats named Farrah Fawcett and honeybees swarming everywhere. She is carefree and welcoming to Mary in a sincere way. What a wonderful example they are to those who whisper and set in judgment. I wonder how many times the church has turned their back on someone who has sinned? We should  lead them to repentance and show them unconditional love. The community sure wasn’t doing that for Mary. Mary lets Andrew know just how much she has suffered for her sin, but reminds him that God has forgiven her.

What I really liked about the story was how Andrew took a good look at himself and realized he was a sinner as well. His high and mighty attitude towards Mary was wrong and he knew he needed to change. It was so nice to watch his transformation and reach out to Mary for forgiveness. It is not an easy road for either of them, but it’s a road they must travel to rid themselves of pride, judgmental attitude and learn how to truly forgive.

Benji and Alfie are the comic relief in this book. They get into everything possible and it amazes me how they survive. I loved their childlike innocence and how they became friends with Mary without blinking an eye. Children can sure teach us a few things about accepting others. They have such big hearts and see people the way God does. We can sure learn a lesson from them. I couldn't help but feel a bit sorry for Mary for the way she was being treated by others. There are so many quick to judge Mary, but the perfect words came from Benji. " Are you in charge of her soul?" I laughed and then I had to repent. I have done the same thing as others. I have judged and talked about someone who was in sin. It was like I was happy they had got caught so no one would focus on my sins.

The book is a great lesson in forgiveness and judging others. I am glad I read this book and it made me angry. Why, you ask? Because it made me look at myself and examine my heart. How many times have I ignored someone because they were in sin? Why didn't I extend a hand and lead them to Jesus? I have read many books about judging others but this one really opened my eyes. The author addressed a subject we are all guilty of. Now it's time to ask forgiveness and start seeing people like Jesus does.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

Blog Stops

The Power of Words, June 26

The Avid Reader, June 26

Moments, June 26

Lighthouse Academy, June 27

D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, June 27

Blossoms and Blessings, June 28

Christian Author, J.E. Grace, June 28

Reading Is My SuperPower, June 29

Bigreadersite, June 29

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, June 30

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 30

Genesis 5020, July 1

Stephanie’s Life of Determination, July 1

Inklings and notions , July 1

Maureen’s Musings, July 2

Locks, Hooks and Books, July 2

Christian Bookaholic, July 3

Pause for Tales, July 3

Southern Gal Loves to Read, July 4

For Him and my family, July 4

A Reader’s Brain, July 4

Mary Hake, July 5

Splashesofjoy, July 5

Vicky Sluiter, July 5

Texas Book-aholic, July 6

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, July 6

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 7

janicesbookreviews, July 7

Little Homeschool on the Prairie, July 8

Older & Smarter?, July 8

Quiet Quilter, July 9

Jeanette’s Thoughts, July 9

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Jennifer is giving away a grand prize of a $20 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/e57a/andrew-celebration-tour-giveaway