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anastaciaknits's review
5.0
This is a book with 3 shorter novels within, that are loosely related. I'm not sure why it took me so long to read this book, but once I started I did read it quickly. I'm not a big romance fan, but I greatly enjoyed the light romances within. My favorite by far was "A Marriage of the Heart", I got wrapped up within the characters & wanted to know what happened next to them.
I would have liked to have seen a little bit more negative things happening in the book - everything just seemed a little bit too perfect & happy. Even something that should have been negative, all the characters just happily accepted reality as "God's will" and quickly moved on with their lives. The stories would have been more realistic to me, if we could have felt some pain coming from the characters, even for a short while.
I would have liked to have seen a little bit more negative things happening in the book - everything just seemed a little bit too perfect & happy. Even something that should have been negative, all the characters just happily accepted reality as "God's will" and quickly moved on with their lives. The stories would have been more realistic to me, if we could have felt some pain coming from the characters, even for a short while.
blissbooksandjewels's review
4.0
Novellas aren't normally my thing. I've found that I enjoy a longer story much more than a short one. However, I bit the bullet in this case, and read an anthology of novellas. And if I really want to be truthful, it was only because Beth Wiseman's name was on the cover. :o)
And guess what? I was pleasantly surprised! Beth's story was great, of course, like all of her other books have been. There were a few places where the story seemed to be rather drawn out, but on the whole, I enjoyed it. I loved that it was a little spicy on the romance which, compared with other Amish novels, was a refreshing change. I came across a review while I was reading this book that said the romance was inappropriate. Puh-lease. I found nothing wrong with a married couple (who had drifted apart from one other) that was desparately trying to reconnect romantically with one another. If that's too much for some folks, then...wow. I found it to be very realistic because unless you have the *perfect* marriage, there's nothing wrong with a wife being courted all over again by her husband.
Moving on...
Kathleen's story was just okay. I didn't dislike it, but it just wasn't as great as the other two stories, in my opinion. However, it was different in it's own right, dealing with a young blind woman living among the Amish (which was a first for me).
The most pleasant surprise, though, was Kelly Long's novella--A Marriage of the Heart. Until now, I've not had the pleasure of reading any of Kelly's books, but let me just say...WOW! What a great introduction to a new author! Her story was so much fun, yet serious, and I loved the blossoming romance that happened after an impromtu marriage. I can't wait now to find one of Kelly's full-length novels because I'm pretty confident that I'll find another good story nestled between it's pages. :o)
This set of stories would be perfect for those wanting to try out the Amish genre, or any of these authors, in general. Each novella is a little more than 100 pages, and gives a reader a glimpse into the Amish lifestyle and culture. It would also be a perfect read around Valentine's Day because it is a little heavier on the romance than most Amish stories are. My rating is 4 Stars.
And guess what? I was pleasantly surprised! Beth's story was great, of course, like all of her other books have been. There were a few places where the story seemed to be rather drawn out, but on the whole, I enjoyed it. I loved that it was a little spicy on the romance which, compared with other Amish novels, was a refreshing change. I came across a review while I was reading this book that said the romance was inappropriate. Puh-lease. I found nothing wrong with a married couple (who had drifted apart from one other) that was desparately trying to reconnect romantically with one another. If that's too much for some folks, then...wow. I found it to be very realistic because unless you have the *perfect* marriage, there's nothing wrong with a wife being courted all over again by her husband.
Moving on...
Kathleen's story was just okay. I didn't dislike it, but it just wasn't as great as the other two stories, in my opinion. However, it was different in it's own right, dealing with a young blind woman living among the Amish (which was a first for me).
The most pleasant surprise, though, was Kelly Long's novella--A Marriage of the Heart. Until now, I've not had the pleasure of reading any of Kelly's books, but let me just say...WOW! What a great introduction to a new author! Her story was so much fun, yet serious, and I loved the blossoming romance that happened after an impromtu marriage. I can't wait now to find one of Kelly's full-length novels because I'm pretty confident that I'll find another good story nestled between it's pages. :o)
This set of stories would be perfect for those wanting to try out the Amish genre, or any of these authors, in general. Each novella is a little more than 100 pages, and gives a reader a glimpse into the Amish lifestyle and culture. It would also be a perfect read around Valentine's Day because it is a little heavier on the romance than most Amish stories are. My rating is 4 Stars.
librarydeb's review
5.0
Three very good Amish Fiction novellas in one. I enjoyed all three.
In story one... "A Message of the Heart"... Abigail wants to get away from her father and his "rule and cold distance" and so she tells a lie about a young man and her father forces her to marry the boy right away. Unfortunately, Abigail does not get away from her father because her new husband just moves in with them. Her mother had died when she was very young and because of it she lacked many things. Love being one of them. But...
"...you got more than you bargained for, my sweet." He lifted her chin so that she was forced to meet his dark eyes. " I don't want the English ways, Abigail Lambert-that's why I came back. And I will honor this marriage and the responsibilities it entails. And my expectation is for you to do the same." pg 11
There are many twists and turns in this book and both Abigail and her new husband Joseph Lambert have much growing up to still do and what of their marriage. Will they learn to love each other? Will Abigail's relationship with her father ever change? Read to find out the answers to these and other questions.
In book two... "What the Heart Sees"... we have people in turmoil. An Amish young lady who had been wounded physically (lost her sight) and emotionally by an accident, another family with a brother who lost the girl he was going to marry in the same accident, and a sister who is marrying the boy who was driving the car when the accident occurred, and parents and friends trying to help them all deal with this. There are twists and turns in this book as well and secrets yet to be revealed... a very good read!
In book three... "Healing Hearts"... an Amish man, Naaman, who struggled with an empty nest and feelings of distance from his wife, abandoned his family, just went for a visit to his cousins in Ohio and didn't come back for 11 months! I have never heard of such a thing! He comes back home and has much to deal with with his wife and his grown children, some of whom struggle more than other with forgiveness. He decides to try courting his wife again. In this time of restoration there is much to be learned. Maybe God will even bring something good out of all this. You will have to read the book to find out.
Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge prompt(s) –
#11 - A book with an item of clothing or accessory on the cover (hats)
In story one... "A Message of the Heart"... Abigail wants to get away from her father and his "rule and cold distance" and so she tells a lie about a young man and her father forces her to marry the boy right away. Unfortunately, Abigail does not get away from her father because her new husband just moves in with them. Her mother had died when she was very young and because of it she lacked many things. Love being one of them. But...
"...you got more than you bargained for, my sweet." He lifted her chin so that she was forced to meet his dark eyes. " I don't want the English ways, Abigail Lambert-that's why I came back. And I will honor this marriage and the responsibilities it entails. And my expectation is for you to do the same." pg 11
There are many twists and turns in this book and both Abigail and her new husband Joseph Lambert have much growing up to still do and what of their marriage. Will they learn to love each other? Will Abigail's relationship with her father ever change? Read to find out the answers to these and other questions.
In book two... "What the Heart Sees"... we have people in turmoil. An Amish young lady who had been wounded physically (lost her sight) and emotionally by an accident, another family with a brother who lost the girl he was going to marry in the same accident, and a sister who is marrying the boy who was driving the car when the accident occurred, and parents and friends trying to help them all deal with this. There are twists and turns in this book as well and secrets yet to be revealed... a very good read!
In book three... "Healing Hearts"... an Amish man, Naaman, who struggled with an empty nest and feelings of distance from his wife, abandoned his family, just went for a visit to his cousins in Ohio and didn't come back for 11 months! I have never heard of such a thing! He comes back home and has much to deal with with his wife and his grown children, some of whom struggle more than other with forgiveness. He decides to try courting his wife again. In this time of restoration there is much to be learned. Maybe God will even bring something good out of all this. You will have to read the book to find out.
Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge prompt(s) –
#11 - A book with an item of clothing or accessory on the cover (hats)
momrec's review
3.0
An enjoyable read. Three stories with likable characters who are dealing with personal issues in their lives. Always fun to try new authors.
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