I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by NetGalley. I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.
An Amish Homecoming by Amy Clipston, Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller, Shelley Shepard Gray Published by Zondervan on October 16, 2018
Genres: Amish & Mennonite, Christian, Clean & Wholesome, Fiction, Romance
Pages: 416
Source: NetGalley
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Four brand new Amish stories of coming home.
No Place Like Home by Amy Clipston
Estranged daughter Eva Dienner has been staying with her in-laws, the Riehls, since her husband was killed in a fire, but now she wants her son to meet his maternal grandparents. Upon her return, Eva finds that the man her parents always intended for her is living in their daadihaus and running the dairy farm for them for free, despite her suspicions of him taking advantage of her family. Eva knows she should put the past behind her, but is she ready to move into the future?
When Love Returns by Beth Wiseman
Hurricane Harvey forces Sarah Zook to return to the home she fled six years ago when she couldn't face her stern parents' reaction to her unplanned pregnancy. Upon her return, Abram King can think of nothing but the pain she caused him--until he meets Sarah's daughter and realizes that he never really stopped loving Sarah. Sarah and Abram must find a way to face the truth of their past so they can rekindle their first love.
The Courage to Love by Shelley Shepard Gray
After the death of her Englisch husband, Irene Keim seeks a fresh start by staying with her new friends Mary Ruth and Henry Wengerd in exchange for helping them around the house. But when Mary Ruth and Henry's son Marcus comes around, he isn't pleased with the woman they've taken in and is determined to push her out. Misunderstandings abound, but both Irene and Marcus learn that people aren't always what they seem.
What Love Built by Kathleen Fuller
Independent and headstrong, Carolyn is determined to forge ahead with the opening of her bakery, a lifelong dream, in the Birch Creek home she left ten years ago. But she's in over her head and needs help with the cleaning, shopping, and deliveries. Carpenter Atlee Shetler is visiting Birch Creek to escape the memories of his late wife. He takes a job renovating the new bakery and finds the project--and its owner--to be much more than he bargained for. Both Carolyn and Atlee must face pains of the past if they want to have the bright future God has planned for them.
No Place Like Home by Amy Clipston
Estranged daughter Eva Dienner has been staying with her in-laws, the Riehls, since her husband was killed in a fire, but now she wants her son to meet his maternal grandparents. Upon her return, Eva finds that the man her parents always intended for her is living in their daadihaus and running the dairy farm for them for free, despite her suspicions of him taking advantage of her family. Eva knows she should put the past behind her, but is she ready to move into the future?
The question that bears asking is: is it instalove if they have known each other for years? I mean they were separated for the last six but still. . .is it instalove or rekindled love? Instalove annoys the carrots out of me but rekindled love. . .that I can get behind. I read the first book in the Amish Homestead series but then had to set it aside as I dealt with my own grief of losing someone as close as a sister to a house fire. Truth be told, I’m still collecting the books but I’m just not ready to read them yet. This vignette into Eva’s life and the rest of the Dienner clan was refreshing without the heaviness I imagine when I think of her widowhood. Home with her family after six long years, home to regrets and heartache and whoa wait doesn’t Ian look mighty fine. My oh shiny take on her homecoming. There’s a lot of hurt feelings to work through, a lot of regrets and anger and also guilt. Guilt at the possibility of finding a new life, a new love, even four years after losing her husband. Mamm, Daed, even Ian have their own set or regrets. There was a LOT to wade through in all their lives and Amy Clipston did so in this small novella that flowed perfectly, didn’t feel rushed, and was exactly perfect just as it was. I gotta say though I didn’t see that spunk in Eva coming!
When Love Returns by Beth Wiseman
Hurricane Harvey forces Sarah Zook to return to the home she fled six years ago when she couldn’t face her stern parents’ reaction to her unplanned pregnancy. Upon her return, Abram King can think of nothing but the pain she caused him—until he meets Sarah’s daughter and realizes that he never really stopped loving Sarah. Sarah and Abram must find a way to face the truth of their past so they can rekindle their first love.
Beth Wiseman has yet to disappoint me. From novel to novella she knows how to weave a story that draws you into its complexity, and it’s grit. She doesn’t shy away from the hard topics and I adore that about her. However, she fell into the trap that turned me off of novellas for many years and still makes me hesitant to pick up one to this day. Trying to do too much. A good novella is a snapshot in time. Just that. In this book, which I still loved mind you, Wiseman tried to tell the whole story. It was super well told but. . . Honestly, I could totally do without the epilogue. I don’t need ‘the rest of the story’ so to speak but would have loved to see those pages used to deepen the snapshot. Less rush, more emotion, more depth. Just my two pennies.
The Courage to Love by Shelley Shepard Gray
After the death of her Englisch husband, Irene Keim seeks a fresh start by staying with her new friends Mary Ruth and Henry Wengerd in exchange for helping them around the house. But when Mary Ruth and Henry’s son Marcus comes around, he isn’t pleased with the woman they’ve taken in and is determined to push her out. Misunderstandings abound, but both Irene and Marcus learn that people aren’t always what they seem.
I’m currently right in the middle of reading Shelley Shepard Gray’s series The Amish of Hart County. So this novella fit right in. It was interesting to spend time between novels with this community, see a few familiar names, and hope I didn’t spoiler myself for the next couple of books I’m about to start reading. On a different note of the same page however is the realization that so many Amish families in this community are dysfunctional and abusive in one way or another. Not something that you expect from a faith that we tend to idolize or at least romanticize. Irene is from another such family, and I’ve already met two others. And oh the judgey mcjudgersons in this community! Gray doesn’t shy away from hard topics and she wins again with this novella. A snapshot in time that told all the story it needed to without losing something in the lack of pages. I am left with the massive burning question however in how Marcus changed his tune so very quickly? I mean the lecture from Mom and Dad aside and his decision to pray but I need meat on this one thing!
What Love Built by Kathleen Fuller
Independent and headstrong, Carolyn is determined to forge ahead with the opening of her bakery, a lifelong dream, in the Birch Creek home she left ten years ago. But she’s in over her head and needs help with the cleaning, shopping, and deliveries. Carpenter Atlee Shetler is visiting Birch Creek to escape the memories of his late wife. He takes a job renovating the new bakery and finds the project—and its owner—to be much more than he bargained for. Both Carolyn and Atlee must face pains of the past if they want to have the bright future God has planned for them.
I was so happy to go back to Birch Creek, and see Cevilla, again. I’ve grown to love this little community. And *hint hint* Cevilla needs her own book, just saying. Carolyn is a corker that’s for sure. She’s the epitome of every person I’ve ever met that’s been met with criticism at every turn and missed out on opportunities to be encouraged and even praised. Sometimes one bad deed or misplaced word can trigger a lifetime of resentment and rebellion. Carolyn embodies this so completely. It’s not that she didn’t come from a loving family, she did. One bad bishop, with his own agenda, took what could have been a full life full of contentment and grace and turned it into bitterness and self-doubt. How many bishops have we all met that left a dark spot on our story? How many times have we found ourselves in Carolyn, desperate to prove the naysayers wrong, even when they aren’t in our lives any longer? How often have we prayed for an Atlee? Not necessarily someone to love but someone to help us smooth over the rough edges. And how often have we tried to push our Atlees away? Even when they were everything we needed and wanted. God bless the Atlees in our lives, without them it would be easy to become bitter and angry. Without them we would constantly find ourselves at odds even with ourselves in addition to those around us and even God. I loved this story for the depth that I got from these people. I wish it was more, I felt like there was a whole backstory there I didn’t get a solid grasp on. But I left it thankful for the Atlees in my life.
About Amy Clipston
I enjoy spending time with my family, including my hubby, my two wonderful sons, my mom, and my four spoiled-rotten cats. I love reading.
I’m an advocate for organ and blood donation. I donated a kidney on June 14, 2011, at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Through my donation, my husband received a second kidney transplant. My husband and I matched another couple and we swapped kidneys with them. I gave a kidney to my husband’s donor’s wife. Feel free to email me and ask me what it was like to be a kidney donor. It was one of the most amazing experiences in my life. If you’re healthy, please donate blood! Also, become an organ donor.
About Beth Wiseman
Beth has a deep affection for the Amish and their simpler way of life, and while she plans to continue writing Amish love stories, she is also branching out into other areas. Her first non-Amish, contemporary—Need You Now—released in April 2012 and landed on the CBA Bestseller List. She enjoyed writing the story based in a town near where she lives, and she chose another small Texas town for her next non-Amish contemporary—The House that Love Built—which is based in Smithville, the same quaint town where movies such as Hope Floats and Tree of Life were filmed. Beth continued to spread her wings when she released The Promise in October 2014. Inspired by actual events, The Promise follows Beth’s characters all the way to Pakistan. Beth was involved in the real-life rescue when her friend was held captive in Pakistan. Beth is currently working on book #2 in her new Amish Secrets series, tentatively titled Jacob’s Ladder. Book #1—Her Brother’s Keeper—recently released and was chosen as a Top Pick by RT Reviews Magazine.
Beth and her husband are empty nesters enjoying the country life in Texas with three dogs and a rooster. When she’s not writing, she loves to travel, paint, and enjoy time with friends and family.
About Kathleen Fuller
Kathleen Fuller is the best-selling author of over thirty books, including the Hearts of Middlefield series.
1. I started writing January 1, 2000. New year, new millenium, new career.
2. I’m a former special education teacher, specializing in teaching the blind and visually impaired.
3. I was born in New Orleans, LA, raised in Little Rock, AR, and call Geneva, OH my home.
4. On June 12, 2013, my husband and I will celebrate twenty years of marriage.
5. We have three awesome kids.
6. I love chocolate. ‘Nuff said.
7. I’ve written and published over twenty-five novels and novellas.
8. I also write nonfiction–interviews, devotionals, Bible studies, essays, blog posts…
9. We have three dogs–Biscuit, Mollie, and Chief. And one cat, creatively named Kitty.
10. If I could go anywhere in the world I would go to Ireland.
About Shelley Shepard Gray
I grew up in Houston, Texas, went to Colorado for college, and after living in Arizona, Dallas, and Denver, we moved to southern Ohio about ten years ago.
I’ve always thought of myself as a very hard worker, but not ‘great’ at anything. I’ve obtained a bachelor’s and master’s degree…but I never was a gifted student. I took years of ballet and dance, but I never was anywhere near the star of any recital. I love to cook, but I’m certainly not close to being gourmet…and finally I love to write books, but I’ve certainly read far better authors.
Maybe you are a little bit like me. I’ve been married for almost twenty years and have raised two kids. I try to exercise but really should put on my tennis shoes a whole lot more. I’m not a great housekeeper, I hate to drive in the snow, and I don’t think I’ve ever won a Monopoly game. However, I am the best wife and mother I know how to be.
Isn’t it wonderful to know that in God’s eyes that is okay? That from His point of view, we are all exceptional? I treasure that knowledge and am always so thankful for my faith. His faith in me makes me stand a little straighter, smile a little bit more, and be so very grateful for every gift He’s given me.
I started writing about the Amish because their way of life appealed to me. I wanted to write stories about regular. likeable people in extraordinary situations-and who just happened to be Amish.
Getting the opportunity to write Inspirational novels is truly gratifying. With every book, I feel my faith grows stronger. And that makes me feel very special indeed.
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