Character Interview & Giveaways: Temptation by Kathryn Barrett

  
Today I welcome Rachel from Kathryn Barrett's novel, Temptation.  Rachel is mother to Jacob and she's a bit of a meddler.  She's definitely an interesting character and I grew to like her over the book. I thought it would be fun to get to know her as a person during the Temptation blog tour and get more of a glimpse into the Amish life and how she views her life, work and Englishers.  She also has a delicious recipe to share.  So go grab your favorite cuppa and sit and learn a little more about Rachel and the community and then enter the giveaway to win a copy of Temptation from the author just on my blog and also a Blog Tour giveaway of .

Rachel, it’s good to sit down and talk with you today, you have a lovely home, I can tell you work hard and care for it very well.

What is a typical day in your life like?

I generally get up at 5 am and start cooking. After breakfast I wash clothes in my wringer washer (our congregation allows such technology as wringer washers, but over to Bird-in-Hand they don’t even allow that! Imagine!) Then I tidy up, mopping the floors and such (we don’t have any of that carpet you Englishers do, which is a good thing since I don’t own a vacuum cleaner—those are forbidden, even in our more liberal congregation.) By 10:30 it’s time to start cooking lunch, then I have some free time I usually spend sewing and quilting.

And there’s always canning: I can peaches, beans, tomatoes, watermelon rinds—anything that can fit in a canner. No sense wasting good food when it can be preserved.

Rachel, I’ve seen you with Daniel, you are wonderful with him,  However you’ve already raised Jacob, what does it feel like raising another child at your age?

Frankly, I’m too old to be raising a child. I do my best, but these old bones don’t need to be playing hide-and-seek in the corn stalks. Daniel needs a mother, one who’ll give him some brothers and sisters. But the boy does a good job of shucking corn. I think I’ve taught him well, if I do say so.

You seem to love gardening, quilting and cooking, which one would you say is your favorite?

I do love to have a quilt to work on. Just like Jacob likes putting pieces of wood together, I like putting pieces of fabric together. I would never call it artistic, like some do, but it’s fun to figure out where the different colors work best. And I love nothing better than lingering in Mary Stoltz’s quilt shop—so many fabrics to choose from, I get dizzy!

I use to quilt a lot and I understand the love of a quilt shop though I have to admit I wish I had your eye for color, that's what I lacked when I quilted.

Do you have a favorite book?

You mean when I’m not reading the Bible? I do like those Amish romances, but don’t tell anyone. I wouldn’t want anyone to think I’m just a frivolous old woman.

I won't tell.  I like those as well, but I guess they are accepted among us Englishers.  We're just curious about your lifestyle.

I’ve heard your you make a wonderful snitz pie, what exactly is that for us Englishers? And would you share the recipe?

Snitz pie is just a fancy word for dried apple pie, one of Daniel’s favorites. First you need to go ask Bishop Beiler for some dried apples from his orchard. You’ll need about three cups. Soak them overnight in water. Then cook them for just a minute, until they’re soft.

Stir in a cup of sugar, a half teaspoon of cinnamon, a dash of salt, and don’t tell anyone I told you this, but add a tablespoon of lemon juice—that’s the secret ingredient, gives it just a bit of tartness. You want it to be a little dry, so the pie can be eaten by hand after church when everyone is standing around gossiping—err, I mean talking.

Put half a double pie crust in a pie plate, fill it with the apples, then cover with the top crust and crimp the edges. Make a few slits to let the steam escape. Mind you, they don’t need to be too decorative, but if you want to pretty it up, that’s between you and your bishop.

Bake at 425 degrees for 10 minutes, then lower the heat to 350 and bake another 35 minutes. By the time the church meeting is over it should be cool enough to eat. Remember, you don’t want it too runny!

Oh my goodness, that sounds delicious and I love the idea of being able to hold it!  I may have to try this recipe for our next church lunch!

Don’t hold back now, what did you think of Laura when you first saw her?

I knew she was trouble! An English Delilah, I said, sent to tempt my son Jacob. I knew it the first time I saw her getting out of that red Jeep. I mean, I don’t think you can mistake a woman in a red car—we all know what they’re like.

You are a Mother and Mothers have great intuition so did you sense Jacob’s feelings toward Laura at the start?

Oh, yes, I knew he had eyes for her. He looked at her the same way a man looks at a frisky colt he’d like to buy at auction. I knew I had to steer him away, and fast. There are plenty of nice Amish girls around; he’s got no need to go searching in pastures beyond. And that’s exactly what I told him, though I don’t think it did any good. That is one stubborn man I raised.

You seem very private, but is there a man in your life or someone you are looking after, or who maybe is courting you?

Let’s just say Samuel is being well looked after these days. Speaking of, I need to go make another pie. I make them without all that cholesterol the younger women put into their pies. Someone’s got to think of the man’s heart.

Thanks for talking with me today Rachel and welcoming me into your home.

Thank you, Crystal, and if your readers have any questions about what it’s like to be a stubborn old Amish woman, feel free to ask! I am happy to talk to Englishers, even the ones who drive red cars.
To follow the tour, click on the banner at the top of the post or go here.

About the book:

Title: Temptation
Author: Kathryn Barrett
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: 322 pages
Release Date: February 18, 2013
Imprint: Entangled Edge
ISBN: 9781622669615

Laura Hayes has been acting since she was an infant, making Hollywood the only home she has ever known. But when she moves to Pennsylvania's Amish country to film her next movie, she discovers there's more to life than a pair of Jimmy Choos and a Marie Claire cover.

Intrigued by the Amish simplicity, she's soon gardening and baking plum pies—and enjoying it. And when her neighbor turns out to be the local heartthrob and a talented furniture maker, she realizes that what's missing from her life might be the love of a good man—not to mention the perfect heirloom tomato.

Jacob fights the urge to question the teachings of his Amish beliefs—despite his desire to create furniture that is beautiful as well as useful—and struggles with his longing for the sexy stranger who makes him feel truly alive for the first time. As his attraction grows, so do his doubts, until he's forced to face temptation and decide once and for all what is truly worth the fight.

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About the Author:

Kathryn Barrett has been writing women’s fiction since the day her youngest daughter left for pre-school. All was going well, until she read a book called “30 Mistakes In Fiction Writing” and realized she was making all of them.

One by one, she’s overcome the mistakes and learned to make a few more along the way. “The best way to learn to write is to write,” she says. “Period.”

Kathryn lives near London in the enchanting countryside of England. When she’s not writing, she’s busy training a rescue dog, tramping around archeological ruins, and occasionally making wine runs to France. Because nothing fuels the imagination like a good Bordeaux.

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Giveaway:
I have one giveaway from the author for a copy of Temptation just for this stop on the blog tour and then there is also a bigger giveaway for the whole blog tour of a Kindle Paperwhite so be sure and enter both giveaways below!


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