Book Review: An Amish Love by Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller & Kelly Long

Excerpt: Joseph's mind whirled. What had the girl been saying? And suddenly a thought came to him - clear and resonant. Here was a provision from the Lord to have a girl like Abigail Kauffman in his life. It didn't matter that she'd obviously lied; she was young. Perhaps her father had forced her into it...

In any case, his impulsive nature took over. To deny the claim would mean the scorn and possible dismissal of his place in the community, something he'd worked too long and too hard to reclaim. And even though the little miss probably had a reputation for being wild, a woman's word, her honor, would always be more valuable than a newcomer's. To admit to the accusations might mean recompense as well, but perhaps not as bad, not in the long run anyway. And he'd have the beautiful Miss Kauffman eating out of his hand for defending her honor.

He lifted his head and met Mr. Kauffman's blazing eyes. "All right. I was wrong. I behaved... poorly with Miss Kauffman. I apologize."

"There. He admits to it. I'll get Abigail from the buggy. You can perform the ceremony here."

"What?" Joseph and Mrs. Knepp spoke in unison.

Mr. Kauffman's lips quivered, and for an instant Joseph thought he might burst into tears. "The wedding ceremony. The bishop will do it here, now." An Amish Love, pg 7.

Back Cover: Romance is in the air, Old-fashioned courtship is alive and well, and Love is an eternal promise.

My Review: An Amish Love is a wonderful collection of three beautiful Amish stories. In the story "A marriage of the Heart," Kelly Long explores the mind of a young woman seeking to escape the restrictions of her Amish upbringing. However, as she learns to take care of her husband, she finds the simple pleasures of a job well done, and the world loses its glamor in the light of her new understanding. I appreciated this story for the similarities that I see in children growing up in strict homes. Some long to throw off the restraints that there parents have placed on them, only to discover that true happiness is found in obedience.

"What the Heart Sees" by Kathleen Fuller is a moving story of a young girl who lost her eyesight in a tragic accident. It is a story of healing and hope, where only the truth can truly set a person free. I loved the character of Ellie because of her gentle spirit even through her difficult times. I can't imagine, personally, what it must be like to go blind like that, but Ellie grows through her difficulty and for that, she is truly courageous.

"Healing Hearts" by Beth Wiseman was not a typical Amish story. After a long separation, Levina and Namman have to learn to live together again. This story is one of fixing broken trust, and the complications that we can get ourselves into when we go our own way. "Healing Hearts" kept me flipping pages, wondering if these two people would ever learn to reconcile the past, and move into the future. Of course, the mysterious appearance of a sheriff searching for Namman added fuel to my curiosity.

My Rating:

My Recommendation: I highly recommend this book to lovers of Amish Fiction.

I received a complimentary copy of this book for the purpose of review.

Book Review: Plain Promise by Beth Wiseman

"She recalled the phone call from Mr. Saunders's personal assistant. The woman requested the one-bedroom cottage January through March for Mr. Saunders, but only after insisting that his privacy be respected during his stay. Sadie had hesitated. Her previous renters had been couples and families. How would it look for a single man to be occupying the same property as Sadie for three month, even if they were under separate roofs? Would the bishop be displeased?" Plain Promise, pg 4.

Sadie Fisher, a young Amish widow, struggles with the wisdom of her decision. Was it right to let Kade Saunders stay in her cottage all winter? Kade is running away from his hectic life in Los Angelas. The last think that Kade Saunders wants is the complication of a woman in his life. What he gets is more complicated than he could have imagined. Kade’s soon-to-be-ex wife arrives and drops off their autistic son for Kade to take care of. Kade is now faced with challenges that threaten to undo him... until the beautiful Sadie steps in to help.

Plain Promise is a sweet, comforting story of two people from two different worlds. There are no huge twists and turns in the book, but there were many interesting sub-plots going on throughout. Beth does a wonderful job fleshing out her characters. They are believable, vulnerable and strong at the same time. One of my favourite characters in the story was Jonas. The older Amish man was so much fun to read about. He reminded me a lot of my grandfather, at the beginning of his struggle with Alzheimer’s. Though part of a series, this book reads well on its own. I would recommend this book to those who want a heart-warming story set among the Amish of Lancaster County.