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.
The Teacher's Bride by Kathleen Fuller Series: Amish Brides of Birch Creek #1
Published by Zondervan on December 4, 2018
Genres: Amish & Mennonite, Christian, Clean & Wholesome, Fiction, Romance
Pages: 320
Source: NetGalley
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Beloved and bestselling author of Amish romance Kathleen Fuller reminds us that sometimes opposites really do attract.
"A heartwarming story of unexpected romance woven with fun and engaging characters who come to life on every page."--Amy Clipston, bestselling author of A Seat by the Hearth
If there is one thing Christian Ropp will not allow in his classroom--or his life--it is chaos. So why is he drawn to Ruby Glick, a woman who seems to bring mayhem wherever she goes?
Christian Ropp moves to Birch Creek to accept a teaching position in the rapidly growing Amish community. He's determined to put the rambunctious school in order as well as check another task off his list: finding a wife. Of course, that would be much easier if women were like textbooks, straightforward and logical.
When an accident puts Christian out of commission, a new community member named Ruby Glick takes over his classroom. But Ruby's exuberant teaching style clashes with Christian's careful methods and he worries his students will never be the same.
With a track record of catastrophe, Ruby always feels too clumsy, too distracted, too . . . much. Desperate for a chance to prove that she can do more than make mistakes in her life, she throws herself into her new teaching position. But when Christian can't seem to stay out of her way, she finds herself slipping into old, chaotic tendencies.
What she doesn't anticipate is that Christian's heart is slowly catching up with his mind--and she, too, must decide whether to follow logic or love.
"Kathleen Fuller has written a sweet, oftentimes humorous, romance that reminds readers that the perfect match might be right in front of their noses."--Kelly Irvin, bestselling author of the Every Amish Season series
"Kathleen Fuller is a master storyteller and fans will absolutely fall in love with Ruby and Christian in The Teacher's Bride." --Ruth Reid, bestselling author of the Amish Mercies series
"Kathy Fuller's characters leap off the page with subtle power as she uses both wit and wisdom to entertain!"--Kelly Long, national bestselling author
"The story will captivate you from the first page to the last with Ruby, Christian, and engaging characters. You'll laugh, gasp, and wonder what will happen next." --Molly Jebber, Speaker and Award Winning Author of Grace's Forgiveness and the Amish Keepsake Pocket Quilt Series
Kathleen Fuller never fails me. I know that when I pick up one of her books I’m going to be pulled into a community of people that I can relate too (even despite our vast difference in lifestyle) and appreciate. I adore getting to go back to Birch Creek, and despite the fact that technically I started a new series I’m with my same ol’ friends (I mean even Cevilla made a cameo!). I like that Kathleen focuses several series around the same community. She continues to branch out with new themes with each series while keeping a central cast of characters that are familiar and comfortable. Fresh and familiar are an alluring combination for someone who isn’t keen on change (that would be me :D). I also love that she can dig into some deeper themes while still maintaining a coziness to her writing that is like a gentle reminder that even when things are hard there is still good all around us. And I think we all need to be reminded from time to time that especially when things are hard God has still got us.
If ever there was a pair of mismatched people it is Ruby and Christian. Ruby who is so effervescent and truly optimistic that she is not appreciated by those around her. I get her. OK, outside the whole bubbly optimistic thing, I’m more a pessimistic optimist but ya know, moments of square pegs in round holes. She’s scatterbrained and clumsy and just can’t seem to get it right, until she does. I get that. I am that. In running from home to her brother’s so perhaps she can start a future with a fresh start she’s really just trying to run from herself. She just doesn’t’ realize it. Location doesn’t magically turn you into a round peg. Thing is, she had to run from herself to find herself. Christian, on the other hand, doesn’t even realize he’s a square peg trying to fit into anything. He’s just a peg. He knows what he knows and does what he does and while he wants to grow a future he doesn’t even get that he doesn’t get it. But thinks that he can learn it from a book. Let’s face it, I could totally be Christian too 😀 Only thing is that Christian doesn’t need to run from anything, he’s got his mind set and his goals in place. He just doesn’t realize that he can’t achieve them simply by making them, and that not everything can be learned from a book . . . sadly.
I loved watching these two disasters figure out life. And each other. I loved that Kathleen stepped away from the traditional cliché idea that only women could be teachers. I mean, I’m sure male Amish teachers are pretty rare but she introduced the idea to the mainstream reader. And she showed the heartache that must come with that, stepping outside the traditional gender roles and away from family expectations to pursue a passion. She also built an intriguing secondary story line with Selah, Christian’s sister, and her struggles to figure out life as well. I enjoyed watching her grow and change. I enjoyed watching her run away from herself as well. I think we all do that sometimes. In trying to figure out this thing we call life, we try to escape what makes it hard when really it’s our own selves just trying to find our matching peg. Sometimes it’s ourselves we are trying to run from and run too. We just can’t seem to see the other side. Another highly recommended Kathleen Fuller book that kept me engrossed in the lives of my Birch Creek family. And the impatient waiting for the next book commences. . .
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.
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