Morning Star by Charlotte Hubbard is the beginning of The Maidels of Morning Star series. Jo Fussner, Regina Miller, Lydianne Christner plus Mariettta and Molly Helfing are five unmarried women living in Morning Star, Missouri. The five independent ladies all have jobs that support them which is unconventional for Amish women. I liked Jo Fussner’s idea of purchasing the Clementi property and turning the run down stable into a marketplace. The community is lucky to have a kind and compassionate leader in Bishop Jeremiah Shetler. It is a shame the deacon and ministers are not cut from the same cloth. Regina Miller has been creating art for many years. While taking a class during her rumspringa, Regina discovered her love of watercolors. She creates realistic landscapes and has dozens of them stacked in bins in her attic studio. Regina came up with a plan to rent a stall at The Marketplace. Unfortunately, she did not count on someone figuring out her secret and blurting it out in front of others. I thought Morning Star was well-written with steady pacing. There are some great characters in this story as well as some you want to drop kick into the next county. The problem I had was with the content. We see a woman being condemned for using her God given talents to create art. These few men now attack her for her creativity. I could not stand the belittling and bullying. They want Regina to give up her independence. I just found it all wrong. I know it is a part of the Amish faith, but I found it frustrating and upsetting. If she had painted on usable objects, then it was not sinful (where is the logic in that). Please note that this is just my personal feelings to some of the content in Morning Star. I will be reading First Light in Morning Star when it comes out in December. I enjoyed the references to nearby Willow Ridge from Charlotte Hubbard’s Simple Gifts series and Seasons of the Heart series. My favorite line from Morning Stars is, “Chocolate makes everything feel better, ain’t so?” Morning Star starts off the Maidels of Morning Star series with a bang. Morning Star is an emotional tale with picturesque paintings, merry music, a booming marketplace, firm friends, and a benevolent bishop. ( )

The Old Order Amish have strict rules that must be adhered to. Art for its own sake, and musical instruments are strictly forbidden. But that doesn’t prevent young people from experimenting with such things during their rumspringa. After they join the church and make their vows, they are expected to give up such pursuits. This story tells of the problems two young people encounter when they indulge in such activities in secret, because secrets have a way of becoming public. It’s a lovely tale of hope and growth and the strength that comes from God. And, oh yes, it’s also about love and romance when two people have shared beliefs and desires. ( )

I am thrilled to have read the first book in a new series by Charlotte Hubbard, come journey in Morning Star.
There are five maidels here and this one is about Regina Miller, and what great friends they are, considering what happens to this dear young lady, they are there for her.
Of course there is a young man that has piqued the interest of our girl, but will he ever notice her?
There is also a lot of excitement over the idea of opening a marketplace on a dilapidated property, but to convince all the naysayers and help their districts school.
Journey along here with Regina and her dear friends, there are chuckles and tears, and a story that will fly off the pages.
There is also a teaser at the end of the next maidels story!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Kensington, and was not required to give a positive review. ( )