Tuesday, September 30, 2014

A Love Undone

Book description:  "At nineteen years old, Old Order Amish Jolene Keim was on the brink of happily-ever-after when everything changed, stealing the future she expected and burdening her with an unbearable decision. For the next ten years, Jolene throws herself into family life—and then she meets Andy Fisher. The horse trainer and father to a sweet nine year-old challenges her and holds up a mirror to issues Jolene has been unwilling to face.

Andy is cautious about his deepening friendship with Jolene, but he believes she knows the truth about him – that he is a grass widower. As a man whose wife has abandoned him six years past, he is unable to divorce or remarry according to the Amish ways. Andy has wrestled with God concerning his reality, and he had found peace with the solitary future facing him…until he met Jolene.

As Andy and Jolene find themselves confronted by difficult choices, will they trust in God's guidance—or will the allure of their deepening friendship only lead to further temptation?"

My review:  A Love Undone is another great Amish novel.  I loved the characters and enjoyed catching up a little with characters from a previous novel.  This isn't a story that you just enjoy.  This is a story that will make you feel like part of the family.  You will be pulled into the lives of the characters and will hate to see the story come to an end. There are unexpected events and deep emotions throughout the book that will keep you turning pages.  The only part of the book I didn't like was the ending.  For such a deeply emotional book, the ending was rushed.  The book wasn't so long that the ending couldn't have been a little longer.  I know I could have kept reading since I hated to see it come to an end.  I received a complimentary e-copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own.  

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

An August Bride

Book description:  "Kelsey vowed never to love a cowboy again. But then she meets Brent.
After a cowboy broke her heart, Kelsey Wilcox traded in her boots for flip-flops and a bistro on the beautiful sandy beach of Corpus Christi. Two years later, still not believing in happy endings, she is about to endure a weekend of torture at her cousin's beach wedding. Not only will she be forced to watch yet another wedding, but her great-aunt and her two best friends-aptly nicknamed "the matchmaking posse of Mule Hollow"-are coming to the wedding, and Kelsey is sure to be on their radar.
Brent Corbin has had his share of bad luck with women and isn't looking for love or looking forward to the weekend of wedding festivities as a groomsman for his friend. When he sees a commotion on the beach and what appears to be a mermaid in distress, he doesn't hesitate to dive to the rescue. His attention is instantly captured by the woman he's saved and it turns out they're part of the same wedding party. But the instant Kelsey spots his soaking wet boots she wants no part of him.
Thrown together through the weekend and with the meddlesome encouragement from the matchmakers, Brent is determined to pursue Kelsey and change her mind about cowboys. Sparks fly at this August wedding as Kelsey and Brent dance a rocky Texas two-step toward a beach wedding of their own."
My review:  An August Bride is another great "A Year of Weddings" story.  There is plenty of romance, humor, and fun to keep the reader turning pages until the very end.  I have enjoyed this series and was looking forward to reading this novella as well. I was not disappointed.  If you want a quick, enjoyable, summer read this is the book for you.  I received a complimentary e-copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own. 

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

The River

Book description:  "Tilly and Ruth, two formerly Amish sisters, are plagued by unresolved relationships when they reluctantly return to Lancaster County for their parents' landmark wedding anniversary. Since departing their Plain upbringing, Tilly has married an Englisher, but Ruth remains single and hasn't entirely forgotten her failed courtship with her Amish beau.

Past meets present as Tilly and Ruth yearn for acceptance and redemption. Can they face the future in the light of a past they can't undo?"
My review:  The beginning of The River did not flow very smoothly, but once I got into the book a little way the story line seemed to move along more easily.  I think there were too many "voices" at the beginning and that caused things to be a bit disjointed.  Once I got into the book I thoroughly enjoyed it. Beverly Lewis has a way of telling a story that makes the characters come alive.  This is another great Amish fiction that is a bit out of the ordinary.  The unusual plot makes for a great read!  I received a complimentary e-copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own.