About the Book
Book: Lizzie’s Little Mouse (The Heart of the Amish Series Book Eight)
Author: Anne Blackburne
Genre: Amish/Christian Fiction
Release date: April, 2025
Lizzie Has Dreams That Won’t Be Deterred
Full of faith, hope, and romance, this new series takes you into the Heart of Amish country.
Ever since attending a wedding in Louisiana, Lizzie Miller has been fascinated by French baked goods. With permission of her parents and bishop, she did a two-year internship in a French bakery in New Orleans. When a local Amish bakery became available, she bought it and opened her own French inspired bakery.
But now someone wants her out of business. During her grand opening, a strange man accosts her, then a brick is tossed through her window wrapped in a note telling her to leave. Someone breaks into her apartment above the bakery, and her cat chases the intruder out.
With the help of her friends, Lizzie will get to the bottom of why someone wishes her to fail. And at the same time, she’ll realize that sometimes dreams can be fulfilled with what—or who—was always close at hand, just waiting to be noticed.
Click here to get your copy!
MY REVIEW
This is the first book I've read by this author. I enjoyed the character of Lizzie, who is so independent, caring, and quite determined. She was motivated to succeed despite the threats to close her new bakery.
There is humor, danger, mystery, and an unexpected budding romance. The author did an excellent job of weaving some historical and mystery aspects into the story, keeping me engaged. I like stories with cats, so Little Mouse was a great addition. Made me laugh.
It's an exciting story with lots of twists and great characters with flaws and strengths. I gasped when I read some parts, laughed through others, and thought a lot about "who did it" until the end. It's not your normal Amish story—much more.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher; a positive review is not required. All opinions are my own.
About the Author
Anne Blackburne lives and works in Southeast Ohio as a newspaper editor and writer. She is the mother of five grown children, has one wonderful grandchild, and a spoiled poodle named Millie. For fun, when she isn’t working on Amish romance or sweet mysteries, Anne directs and acts in community theater productions and writes and directs original plays. She also enjoys reading, kayaking, swimming, searching for beach glass, and just sitting with a cup of coffee looking at large bodies of water. Her idea of the perfect vacation is cruising and seeing amazing new places with people she loves.
More from Anne
I’m so excited that once again, the amazing bloggers who work with Celebrate Lit are going to do a blog tour for my brand new book in Barbour’s “Heart of the Amish” series, “Lizzie’s Little Mouse”!
Lizzie’s story is available now to readers in print and online wherever fine books are sold, and I feel so blessed to have the help of the Celebrate Lit folks in launching this wonderful story.
If you read either of my previous two books in the series, “Ruth’s Gingersnap Surprise” and “Mary’s Calico Hope”, you’ll remember Elizabeth Miller, their sassy friend with the darling Haflinger pony named Goldie who gave Mary a ride one morning before church services. Elizabeth, or Lizzie, was also mentioned in Ruth’s story as one of the lucky recipients of a kitten from their elderly friend, Lydia’s, cat’s final litter.
Lizzie’s cat is a gray kitty she named Petit Souris, which is French for Little Mouse. Why Little Mouse? Because as a tiny kitten, the darling reminded Lizzie of a mouse!
And why the French name? Well, our heroine is not your typical Amish miss. After attending a wedding in New Orleans as a teen and tasting the amazing baked goods for which the city is renowned, Lizzie began dreaming of opening her very own New Orleans style French bakery – in Ohio’s Amish country!
She loves everything to do with New Orleans, and learned to speak their dialect of French while doing an internship in a bakery there when she was 18. Upon returning home she went to work at the local bakery to learn more about the business, and to save up for her dreams.
As the story opens, we find that Lizzie’s dream has come true! It’s opening day of The Plain Beignet, Lizzie’s bakery in Willow Creek, Ohio. Everyone comes out to wish her well, including friends you’ll recognize from my first two books!
But when something unexpected and frightening happens during the grand opening, it becomes apparent that not everyone is as happy as Lizzie and her friends about her success.
Along with some help from her pals, and her best friend Jane’s handsome big brother, John, Lizzie will get to the bottom of the mystery of who wants to put her out of business, and why!
They discover, among other things, that Lizzie’s bakery was the site of a murder a hundred years before! What could this historic crime have to do with Lizzie’s current problems?
As she, John and their friends search for clues, Lizzie will discover that there’s more baking than her latest batch of beignets!
Could it be romance?
Thank you for taking the time to learn about Lizzie’s story! This book is my third in Barbour Publishing’s series, “The Heart of the Amish”. Look for other great reads in the series from authors Mindy Steele and Lisa Jones Baker.
I’m currently writing my fourth book in the series, which will feature a young woman you’ve met in all my other stories, Jane Bontrager.
Just like her friends, Jane received a kitten from their friend, Lydia; a little brown tabby. Her story, “Plain Jane’s Secret Admirer”, is due out in early winter 2026. .
I hope you’re having as much fun reading about these remarkable young women – and their kitties! – as I’m having writing about them. Thanks for being part of our journey!
As for me and mine, we are all well and enjoying spring in southeast Ohio. In other words, enjoying the sunshine, but carrying a sweater and an umbrella, just in case!
God bless you and yours!
Joyfully,
Anne Blackburne
Blog Stops
The Avid Reader, April 30
lakesidelivingsite, April 30
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 1
Carla’s Book Crush, May 1
Life on Chickadee Lane, May 2
Vicky Sluiter, May 2
Simple Harvest Reads, May 3 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)
Texas Book-aholic, May 4
Locks, Hooks and Books, May 5
Holly’s Book Corner, May 5
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 6
Stories By Gina, May 7 (Author Interview)
Mary Hake, May 7
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, May 8
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 9
For Him and My Family, May 10
Jeanette’s Thoughts, May 10
Bizwings Book Blog, May 11
Lily’s Corner, May 12
Little Homeschool on the prairie, May 12
She Lives to Read, May 13
Cover Lover Book Review, May 13
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Anne is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon eGift card and a copy of the book!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54209
