The Christmas Singing, by Cindy Woodsmall

Mattie's heart was broken when her childhood sweetheart broke their engagement, but she moved on.  She moved to a new town, and started a cake business.  But when fire strikes her bakeshop, Mattie is forced to revisit her old town, her old life, and her old love.  Suddenly, everything she thought she knew is not exactly as it seems.

This was a perfect holiday read for me.  Cindy Woodsmall does a wonderful job creating characters that readers really care about.  I found this story to be really unique, focusing on a strong independent woman in the Amish culture, which is a rarity.  Mattie is a strong character, wonderfully written, and as a reader, you long to see her happy.  

I really liked that the story showed struggle, and felt it emphasized the similarities between the Amish and the English.  I think that is part of why Amish fiction is so popular, because it helps bridge a gap between cultures that seem so foreign and antithetical, when in reality the cultures share many commonalities.  The story is one of my favorites by the author, and it made for a wonderful, peaceful, hopeful holiday read.

I received a review copy courtesy of the publisher.

   

When the Heart Cries, by Cindy Woodsmall

Hannah has a secret that would shock her Old Order Amish family; she is in love with a Mennonite boy, and is considering leaving the Amish faith to marry him.  But when she is attacked by an English man, her world, her faith, and her family are rocked.  Her parents choose to not report the attack, but the consequences prove to be devastating to Hannah.

Call me a sap, but I typically prefer Amish novels to be a tiny bit lighter, and have a happier ending than this one.  I was actually a bit depressed reading this book.  I have read other Amish books that deal with heavy, serious topics, but still have a peaceful feeling to them.  I found no peace at all within this book.

From a character and plot standpoint, the book is solid and leaves me no room to criticize.  The characters are very well developed, particularly Hannah, and the scenes are written quite well.  Hannah's pain is palpable throughout the progression of the story.  And I like that the story touches on the differences between the Amish and Mennonite communities.  So, from a writing standpoint the book is excellent.  I personally just did not care for the story.

I received a review copy courtesy of the publisher.

 

An Amish Wedding, by Beth Wiseman

Three different women, three different stories, all interwoven, all showing the trials of planning an Amish wedding.  Priscilla King wonders if all the set backs and bad luck are God's way of telling her not to wed.  Naomi Fisher is tired of playing matchmaker for everyone else, while she remains alone.  Rose Bender struggles with allowing friendship to grow into love.  Will these women find their own happiness in the end?

Sometimes, you just need to read a nice sweet love story.  Or three.  This book make me happy.  Just plain happy.  Not a lot of books do that, and while this book was not high literature, it did elicit a specific feeling, so in and of that, it is successful.  I really enjoyed the way the book was three stories, with all the characters making appearances in the various stories.  It made for nice short reading sections, with the added benefit of continuity.  My only critique is that I might have changed the order of the three a bit, since we hear hints of Priscilla's troubles long before we actually read her story.  However, I think with some of the action seeming to take place simultaneously, the order is kind of irrelevant.

I really enjoyed the three main female characters, but I have to say Naomi's story was the one I enjoyed the most.  Having married later than many of my peers, I felt that was the one to which I most related.  Each story was written by a different author, and I think each had their own unique voice, but never strayed from the main concept of the book.

Fans of Amish fiction will enjoy this three-in-one book, as will anyone in need of a nice sweet romance.



I received a review copy courtesy of the publisher.

Harvest of Grace, by Cindy Woodsmall

Sylvia has experienced a deep betrayal that makes it hard to remain at home with her family, or within her small Amish community.  She decides to seek work as a farm hand to help assist a family in another Amish community that is having financial difficulties.  When her employer's son returns to the family farm, Sylvia finds his motives at odds with her own, and plenty of reasons to dislike him.  Instead, she finds herself drawn to him, and they develop a bond to which neither cares to admit.  Will Sylvia ever heal from her past hurts enough to let him in?

My frequent concern with Amish fiction is eventually, there will cease to be any new, orignial, engaging storylines.  So, I always approach Amish fiction with caution.  However, I really enjoyed this book a lot.  Unlike many of the Amish books I have read, this book focused less on the interation between the Amish and English, and more on relationships within and between different Amish communities.  We also see, in Sylvia's character, the fact that while Amish women have typical roles to play, some certainly do branch out into more traditionally male oriented tasks.

To me, this book highlights the similarities between Amish people and their English counterparts.  We are dealing with marital infidelity, substance abuse, and strained parental relationships, not to mention the overwhelming theme of forgiveness.  Because of these univeral themes and topics, I found the book really relatable, and because of that, I found myself getting pulled into the story.

This book is part of a series, and I have not read the first two books in the series.  A short recap was given at the beginning, but you do not seem to necessarily need to read them to fully appreciate this book.  All in all, a nice, enjoyable story.

I received a review copy courtesy of the publisher.

Lilly's Wedding Quilt, by Kelly Long

Lilly has always been in love with Jacob, but never did she think she would end up married to him, yet that is exactly what happened.  She wonders if she is merely settling, or is it actually the will of God.  She works hard to keep her heart protected, but finds herself falling  in love with a husband she never expected to have, but fears what will happen if he never feels the same.

While not all books of Amish fiction work, this one really does.  I absolutely loved this story, and while the setting and characters are clearly Amish, the heart of the story is romance, and it is so universal that all readers can relate.

I really liked the characters of Lilly and Jacob, and thought it was wonderful watching their story unfold.  It felt like a privilege to be a part of their world and their story.  I can clearly see that there is a large cast of characters within this world, and I love getting glimpses of their stories, and wondering about where these stories might lead.

This is the second novel in the Patch of Heaven series, yet this book is a wonderful stand alone book.  While it helps to have read the first book in the series, it is not necessary for the full enjoyment of this story.



I received a review copy of this book courtesy of the Amazon Vine program.

Sarah's Garden, by Kelly Long

Sarah is a young Amish girl who, until now, has primarily stuck to tending her garden, and doing her work on the farm.  With the pregnancy of her sister, however, Sarah is now in charge of running the family's roadside stand, and is petrified at the thought of interacting with the English world.  Grant is a English veterinarian who moves next door to Sarah's family.  With a heart to serve the Amish community, Grant quickly makes meaningful friendships with Sarah's whole family, as well as many other Amish community members.  But it becomes clear that Sarah and Grant have feelings for each other beyond friendship.  Knowing a marriage between an Amish girl and an English man is impossible, both trust in the Lord to lead them in the right direction.

It has been my experience, this being the third Amish book that I have read, that novels about the Amish and their way of life are so peaceful to read.  Kelly Long's writing is graceful, soothing, simple yet elegant.  Her characters have real depth, you can feel their emotions pouring from the page.

I most appreciate that Kelly shows the Amish way of life and how it makes the Amish feel when English people treat them as spectacles or novelties, while providing examples of how the English can have more meaningful relationships with Amish community members.  I think, for me, that is what made the book so realistic, when the characters feel awkward interacting with my English world.  While my faith and way of life are different, that discomfort is a feeling to which I can fully relate, as will many other readers.

In fact I think that one of the greatest things about this book is showing how the Amish and English can be so similar.  The book is excellent for readers who appreciate a good romance, and because this is a Christian book, it is appropriate for mature teenage readers.  I believe this to be the first in a new series of novels termed the Patch of Heaven novels.  I look forward to reading the next in the series when it is released.



I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

A Summer Secret, by Kathleen Fuller

A Summer Secret is the first book of the Mysteries of Middlefield series.

Mary Beth Mullet is an Amish teenage girl living with her parents and brothers, struggling with having a little privacy during her last summer of freedom, before she will have to get a job.  She spends hours in an abandoned barn that is near her home, against the wishes of her parents, to reflect on life, and write in her journal.  But when Mary Beth's secret place is discovered by her brother Johnny, an mystery unfolds.  Someone has been staying in the barn.  Who is he, why is he there, and what will happen now?

This is a young adult fiction book, and although written for a juvenile audience, the book was extremely well written, and captivated me.  The beginning of the book contains a glossary of Amish terms, which I found extremely helpful, as this vocabulary is used throughout the book.  Kathleen Fuller created very relatable characters in the book, and even though these were Amish children, for the most part they seem quite like typical English or Yankee children.  The fact that they are Amish does serve to establish a message of faith, hope, and willingness to help ones neighbor which I found very refreshing.

The plot contained just the right amount of action and mystery.  While this was an easy book for me to read, it was one that I did not want to put down until it was finished.  I think that Mary Beth's character is one that many young girls will connect with, and they will enjoy seeing her story unfold in this book.  As an adult reading this book, I found the story charming, uplifting, and entertaining.  I would certainly recommend this book to any parent looking for good quality reading for their young adult children.  I also think that this book would be fantastic for a young adult book club discussion, as many plot points and themes could open up discussions about faith, obedience, safety, respect for others' property, and respect for siblings.

Overall, a truly excellent book, and I look forward to the other books in the series.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Plain Jayne, by Hillary Manton Lodge

Plain Jayne
By Hillary Manton Lodge

As the story opens, we meet Jayne, a reporter in Portland, Oregon. Having recently lost her father, Jayne seems to be distracted in her work. When her boss forces her to take some time off, instead of taking a vacation, Jayne travels to a small Oregon Amish community in search of a story about plain living. Jayne meets Levi Burkholder, a business owner in the community, who introduces her to an Amish family. Jayne quickly forms strong bonds with the family, as well as Levi, and learns the meaning of family, faith, love, and life.

This was my first foray into fiction about the Amish, and I must say, I could not have picked a better book to start with. As a new writer, Lodge does a wonderful job of setting the story up, without revealing too much from the beginning. We are able to journey along side Jayne, as she makes her startling personal discoveries, and works through old emotional wounds. Because the female protagonist is not Amish, or as they refer to her as, is English, we are able to quickly relate to the character, so that we want to make the journey with her. As she learns about Amish living, so do we. I could almost smell the freshly baking pies, and feel the quilt squares in my hands.

Much like Amish life, the book is peaceful, quiet. While reading, I could not help but reflect on my own life, and how I dealt with the themes of family, faith, love, and living a bit simpler. The characters are well developed and realistic. I found myself very much identifying with Jayne, having lived in a bigger city for a while, and now living a simpler small town life. I love the way this book led me into reflection, not just about the story, but about myself. And although there are aspects of a romance to the story line, the moral choices of Jayne’s character, for which I completely applaud Lodge, make the book appropriate for young adult readers as well as adult readers.

The book is set up to be the first in a series I believe, called Plain and Simple, with a character from this story setting up the next book. If that is indeed the case, I cannot wait to read the next book.

This book was provided for review free of charge courtesy of the Christian Review of Books.