A sweet and innocent story about growing up amish
933644
Even if "Life with Lily" is a children book I really enjoyed reading this sweet story. It is very well written and I got an insight on how it is to be living and growing up as an Amish child. After reading the book I had no reservations in letting my younger children read this book. I hope to read more from Lily soon.

****ARC received in exchange for my honest review***
4184298
This is a lovely, easy-to-read, story about a blossoming romance between a shy young Amish girl and grounded and confident young Amish man.  There are no real surprises here -- you have a pretty good idea where the story is going from the first few pages -- and although it's a romance, there's not the slightest hint of bodice-ripping.  The first kiss comes on page 211, and is little more than a gentle brush of lips across the protagonist's skin.  Nonetheless, it is a compelling read and seems to give outsiders a glimpse of what life might be like within the Pennsylvania Amish community.
4918501
I enjoyed the first person POVs, alternating between the H and h. The kids in the story were darling, and I liked the main characters. A sweet love story between people of faith.
1715258
I do enjoy my fluffy fun Amish romances, but I also appreciate it when the novels tackle some deeper questions and situations, as in this one regarding a family of sons who left their community over their father's violent outbursts and abuse. Of course, David left a girl, the subject of romance when he returns to help his mother care for his ailing father. It's sweet in the way Ms. Cameron is good at presenting, and the plot is complex enough for plenty of the right sort of drama while still maintaining an uplifting Christian message.
3311912
This is an Amish romance mystery novel. It is Book 1 in the Lancaster County series. Now if you don't like to read about religion or people practicing their religion or if you don't like "sweet novels", then don't pick this one up. I have always been interested in the Amish way of life and of their approach to living by the word of God, and I also enjoy light mysteries, so this to me was a fun read. The story is set in Lancaster County, PA; an area with a large population of Amish people. Carrie is a young Amish woman in love with Sol, a young Amish man who is determined to play professional baseball. That is not part of the Amish way. They plan to run off together and leave their community when Carrie's father suddenly dies. She has to care for her brother, so she stays in the community and marries the man her father had chosen for her, Daniel. It is not a marriage of love and she still thinks only of Sol, but slowly the marriage changes her. The next year is full of loss and change that challenge Carrie and her faith in being Amish. An interesting and easy read. Different from the standard mysteries and "chic lit".
3492357
* ARC Provided for an honest review

Made with Love, by Sherry Gore and Tricia Goyer is a wonderful partnership that produced a cute Amish story. This is the first book in the Pinecraft Pie Shop series. This story is told in alternating points of view to tell the story of Lovina and her dream of opening a pie shop. The book also includes a collection of recipes that can be found at the end of most chapters.
Pinecraft, Florida is an Amish community where many of the northern Amish families vacation and where some Amish call home year round. Lovina, her four sisters, and her parents now call Pinecraft home due to her Dats (fathers) health. The family is adjusting to their new life in Pinecraft, and Lovina starts thinking it is time to follow her dream of opening a pie shop, much to her Mems (mothers) dismay. Mem is far more concerned about Lovina and her sisters finding upstanding Amish men to marry.

Noah is an Amish man who is known as a troublemaker by the older Amish community after a serious incident that occurred during his rumspringa. Although he is infamous for his mistake, he has devoted his life to God and the Amish way and has vowed to help other young men who find themselves in the same position he was as a youth. But will anyone ever trust him, or these boys again?
As Lovina begins the journey toward her dream, she realizes she will need much more help than she thought. Unknowing of his past, she begins to know Noah and finds herself intrigued by him. Could Noah and the boys be the answer in her lifes dream? Could Noah be the answer in more ways than one? Or will everything end in heartbreak?

Made with Love was a well written and well executed story. It is mostly light-hearted and an easy book that is full of faith. The characters are very well developed and deep. The reader is able to identify with their hopes, dreams, and emotions. There is no violence, profanity, or sexual situations. This is a Christian story concerning the Amish community. A basic understanding of Amish culture would be helpful before reading this book, but is not absolutely necessary. I found the book a little slow at times, but it was still engaging. I would give this book four out of five stars.
4837645
I liked this novel, as I was interested in the Amish culture.  This really was a nice romantic story with some twists. It really showed how the main character had a lot of insecurities.  It was nothing over the top.  A nice read giving an insight into the ways of the Amish and how they deal with things in their lives.  I would recommend this to anybody.
3576908
This is the story of three generations growing up in the same small town. It's about marriage, and gossip and deception, the kind we perpetrate on others (or think we do) and the kind we attempt to use on ourself. And, in a lot of ways, it's about growing up. How much we want to, and how little we like it when we do.

The story is told from the perspectives of Bob, a lifelong Cooperstown resident, his daughter Anne, who moved back to her hometown when she married, her husband Hugh, who has made his own name in town as principal at a sought-after preschool, and their children, popular Senior Teddy, and the more sensitive Julia, struggling with her first crush at age 15.

While not all the family members are as fleshed out as I'd like--Teddy, in particular, gets short shrift--I enjoyed this meandering, but thematic tale. Sprightly and real feeling, it seemed to stay true to its characters throughout, letting the reader empathize with their emotions, even if when you didn't always understand or agree with their actions.

In the end, though I won't spoil anything, it's really a simple, everyday tale; believable, yet tense and interesting. The 1960's "scandal" storyline, isn't nearly as salacious as advertised, and manages to feel fairly organic and germane. It accurately captures a fractured family dynamic and how we may not make the same mistakes our parents did, but we all, inevitably, make our own.

An interesting, fast-paced and engaging read. Unquestionably well-written and entertaining.
2141621
This lovely little first novel focuses on a Middle Western couple who leave the big city to run the ancestral farm.  I was quickly drawn into their lives, as well as the lives of Lake Emily's citizens.  The story is sweet without being cloying.  Mae's struggles, both maritial and spiritual, felt genuine and believable to me.  The book has some weaknesses.  Some of the writing is awkward and Mae's relationship with her mother seems less than plausible.  But for the most part, the characters and setting rang so true that I felt as if I had experienced them myself.  I found myself thinking the other day "Now what does this remind me of?  Mae and Peter's situation, of course."  I'd forgotten for a moment that they were character in a book, and not people I'd met.  Which is high praise, I think.  I look forward to the DePree's next book.
2310127
One of my favorite things to do in my spare time is read.  I love reading books, magazines, blogs, news articles, curriculum designs...I just love reading and learning new information.  While I mostly read non-fiction material these days if I do take the opportunity to read some light-hearted fiction it is invariably Amish inspired Christian fiction.  I'm not sure exactly why.  Maybe it's the wonder of a simpler culture or a desire for a more focused, less materialist lifestyle.  For whatever the reason I recently found myself sucked into the latest by Cindy Woodsmall titled, The Harvest of Grace.

The Harvest of Grace is the 3rd book in Woodsmall's "Ada's House" Series.  While you may miss a little of the story line getting into this book from the git-go, the author does a fantastic job preparing the reader for this book without prior series reading by including a summary of books one and two at the beginning and a description of the main characters at the back of the book.  I have to say even I found myself wandering to the back of the book occasionally to get a character or two straight in my mind as there are several story lines to keep track of in this 3rd book.

Overall the book centers around one particular young Amish woman by the name of Sylvia Fisher.  Sylvia is the youngest of an Amish farmer's nine daughters.  While the other daughters maintain the household etiquette and demeanor typical of that found in Amish society, Sylvia prefers the life of a dairy farmer, milking the family's cows in the mornings and making sure they are fed and properly cared for.  As the story begins, Sylvia is heavily involved in her father's farm and even has hopes of inheriting a portion of it for her own one day.  She also is contemplated a relationship with a certain Amish man by the name of Elam with whom she finds irresistibly handsome.

As the story unfolds, Sylvia finds herself needing to leave her family farm and escaping to a failing dairy farm in another Amish community some 70 miles away.  When she lands at this dairy farm she puts her heart and soul into restoring it while the farmer's son puts his heart and soul into trying to sale it so he can better provide for his parents by doing something he thinks he would better enjoy.

Without giving much more of the plot away, I will say there are lots of heartfelt sensative topics covered in this story that some often avoid discussing--everything from adultery to abandonment, foster care and stalkers, alcoholism and rejection of a loved one, birth defects and fertility testing, and more.  I very much appreciate the way Woodsmall presents these topics in a non-threatening and life-changing way...a way that draws the eyes upward.

If I had to summarize this book in one sentence I would have to say, "my God is a God of second chances" because in nearly every plot found in this book, couples and individuals are being given second chances to live again.  If you are in need of a little light-hearted reading that can uplift your soul or some spiritual encouragement that God is a God of second chances then I highly recommend you pick up a copy of The Harvest of Grace.  I'm sure you won't be disappointed.
3546591
It makes one enjoy what the Amish are about and very interesting without being to serious, and an enjoyable read.

Anne Stickles
936134
A sweet love story of an arranged marriage right before leaving on a wagon train. Sweet and innocent, it was a fun and engaging read.
574308
This is the second Amish themed book I have picked up this month, so being more familiar with the culture from my last read, I was able to get into the book right away.  I am a big fan of mysteries in books, so I was rather delighted by how well the author continued the mystery without making me feel like it was dragging on.  I liked that the mystery was the main bit of the story, but built upon the friendships between several of the characters.  There was a bit of a romance weaving through the story, but not in a way that detracted from the story as a whole, nor did it seemed tacked on like some mysteries has been guilty of in the past.  Personally the story made me think of my interactions with both my friends and my acquaintances; how quickly one can go from only ones name to someone you would depend on & trust.  I would recommend this sweet story with a Mysterious bent; as for myself I will be looking for more stories from this author.

I was given a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review--My good opinion cannot be bought, all words are my own thoughts on the matter.
3735991
I have enjoyed reading Beth Wiseman's writing for quite some time. I am never disappointed in her ability to allow me to relate to the characters she creates. They are real to life dealing with issues that often face Amish and English alike. With "Plain Peace" we get the story of Anna Byler, who at the age of 18 longs to have a life of her own, thing is because her grandfather is the Bishop none of the young men will even approach her. Things change when a new  family moves to town and she meets Jacob, and she decides to do the asking. When Jacob agrees to go to a singing with her it seems things might change, that is until her grandfather decides that he doesn't want Anna seeing Jacob. Will Anna listen to her grandfather, or follow her heart?

"Plain Peace" allows the reader to see that the Amish life isn't always smooth sailing, instead there is turmoil just like Englishers face. I could totally relate to Anna, she truly loved her grandparents but at eighteen she longs to start her own family. Her grandfather, who just happened to be the Bishop was pretty strict,which caused several people in his community to feel as if they needed to keep secrets from him. While I was pretty sure of how things would work out for Anna it was so nice to read the journey this story took me on. This book is the sixth in the Daughters of Promise series, but can easily be read as a stand alone work. There were a few characters from former stories that appear in this one, but the author does a great job of filling in what the reader needs to know. Fans of Amish fiction are going to want to read this one, but anyone who is looking for an clean interesting story that also provides a few yummy recipes will want to check this one out as well.
A complimentary copy of this book was provided for review.
716144
It was a sweet book and I liked the characters, but it was not really true to Amish belief in some ways.
83503
Breaking Amish Tradition was a quick read and an interesting premise since there were connected stories within the boxed set of nine stories in total. All were an enjoyable read and although some didn't have the closure I was looking for they did from the connected story. My favorite stories were the four Amish Zook stories that revealed the relationships between the siblings and their parents as well.

There wasn't a multitude of Amish words throughout as I find in other author's books - Amy Lillard and Molly Jebber as an example. But the simplicity of the stories was enriched by the doubts some of the characters raised in following in the Amish traditions or even remaining in their community. There was a depth to the characters that always shone through. The books were set in Pennsylvania and the descriptions of the land and the people along with their hard work and lives brought them to life.

There were family and friends, the elders, the Bishop, getting to know you moments, family squabbles although they were still always there for one another, Englischers, disagreements, struggles, fear, anger, tears, lies, laughter and prayer. There were a few twists and turns to the stories as well which added another layer. These were sweet romances that happened quickly along with love.

Becker is a new to me author and I look forward to reading more of her books since I find this genre an enjoyable read. I will be adding more of her books to my always growing TBR pile.
2935665
The Silent Boy, by Lois Lowry is a sweet tale.  I haven't quite figured out what Lowry's themes are about, but according to her website, they are about human connections. I'm not sure I agree.  But anyway, this is a delightful book. Not in a silly kind of way, like some of her others, but because the main character, Katy, has no prejudice and has an open, curious spirit.  While the title would lead you to believe that the story is a bout the boy, it isn't really.  The Silent Boy, Jacob, seems to me to only be a peripheral character. The child does not speak, and because of that is called many awful names that Katy seeks to understand.

I chose this book because I though it would address children with disabilities.  Jacob is eventually sent to an asylum where they care for mentally ill and possibly disabled people.  I was hoping for more insight into Jacob's disability but I guess that would have been too difficult a topic for a children's book.  Each chapter contains a vintage photo which helps the reader visualize the characters.  It is an interesting feature.
The Silent Boy is a fine book and an enjoyable read. I give it 3 paws!