A Dream of Miracles Book Review

An Amish Wonders Novel

Book Three

SUMMARY:  Amish widow Mattie vows never to love again . . . until a suspicious outsider with a shadowy past comes crashing into her fragile world.

     Mattie Diener can barely keep it together.  A young Amish widow and mother of two young children, she faces the lingering heartbreak of lost love, her son's mysterious illness, and a torrent of accusations that threaten to undo her.

     Bo Lambright is a fast-rising social services investigator whose high-society mother won't rest until she finds his Mrs. Right.  Despite Bo's worldly success, the raw ache of a shadowy past and a series of unsettling dreams have left him reeling.

     When Mattie and Bo cross paths, all signs point to disaster.  Yet as they face a crucible of trials and tragedies together, longings begin to stir that seem destined only to end in more heartbreak.  Is a miracle possible - not only of healing but of forbidden love?  What secrets lie in Bo's dreams?  And will Mattie find the courage to face her uncertain future . . . or will she simply run away?

REVIEW:  The concept of this book was one I haven't seen before.  It is Old Order Amish meets the modern legal system and all the complications that go with it.  Mattie is trying to take care of her sick child.  Trouble begins when her regular physician is out on vacation. The young doctor replacing him is not familiar in the ways of the Amish community and comes in making wrong assumptions that has Mattie under suspicion of child abuse.  When events start spiraling out of control, Mattie doesn't know what to do.
     My favorite character is Bo.  I love how he tries to keep up with the kids who have been under his care as a social services investigator.  Bo is genuinely concerned about them and does what he can to keep them on the right path.  While he investigates Mattie's child abuse allegations, he gets involved with her two children and comes to love them like his own.  When the truth about Nathan's condition is finally realized, I love how Bo is quick to get the correct information to his superiors and acquit Mattie.
     There were times I wished Mattie would speak up for herself and not let people run over her and make false assumptions.  It seems like a lot of speculation and worry could have been avoided if she would have just asserted herself.
     This was a good book with a pleasant ending.  Even though it is the third book in the series, I did not feel like I was missing anything by not reading the others.

This book was provided by Litfuse Publicity Group, Fiction Guild 
and Thomas Nelson Publishers for review without compensation.

Ruth Reid is a full-time pharmacist who lives in Florida with her husband and three children.  When attending the Ferris State University College of Pharmacy in Big Rapids, Michigan, she lived on the outskirts of an Amish community and had several occasions to visit the Amish farms.  Her interest grew into love as she saw the beauty in living a simple live.  Visit Ruth online at ruthreid.comwww.ruthreid.com, on Facebook at Author Ruth Reid and on Twitter at @authorruthreid. 

An Amish Christmas Gift Book Review

Three Amish Novellas

SUMMARY:                                Naomi's Gift by Amy Clipston

     Naomi has begun to believe that she isn't meant to find love, but she might receive more than she has ever hoped for this Christmas.

     Twenty-four-year-old Naomi King has all but given up on marriage and children.  As Christmas approaches, Naomi is certain that her life will be spent as an old maid, helping with the family's quilting business and taking care of her eight siblings.  Then she meets Caleb, a young widower with a 7-year-old daughter, and her world is once again turned upside-down.

An Unexpected Joy by Ruth Reid

     Abigail has driven other suitors away, but can Micah find a way to show her he cares?

     Being a caregiver for Micah Zook's grandmother is the answer to Abigail's prayers. In fact, the elderly lady keeps finding ways to set Abigail up with her grandson.  Despite Abigail's constant chatter, Micah realizes he's beginning to care for her - until he makes a decision that leaves her feeling betrayed.  With Christmas in their midst, can Micah find a way to reconcile with Abigail and to reveal the true feelings of his heart?

A Christmas Visitor by Kelly Irvin 

      Frannie Mast returns to Bee County for Christmas, but her heart stays back in Missouri with an Englisch farm boy.

     Frannie knows her parents have the best of intentions when they send her back to Bee County, Texas, to live with her aunt and her aunt's new husband, Mordecai.  After all, Frannie knows nothing can come of a relationship with Rocky, the handsome Englisch farm boy back in Missouri.  But all bets are off when Rocky follows Frannie to Texas to plead his case.  Could he be the Christmas gift to end all gifts?

REVIEW:  These Christmas novellas focus on finding the one person who God has for you, even if they do not fit everyone's mold of the "perfect" person.  In Naomi's Gift, Naomi's mom thinks Naomi is too bold and doesn't need to show interest in any man.  Caleb's sister has the perfect girl in mind for widower Caleb and tries to discourage his interest in Naomi.  I like how they did not let those around them decide their fate but let God guide them.
    An Unexpected Joy is probably my favorite one.  I LOVE how Abigail gives from her heart and how she puts everyone in front of her own wants and needs, giving up the one thing she wanted most of all to help a family member then adds to a gift she made for herself and gives it to a homeless man she had met one other time.  I like how Micah, at first turned off by Abigail's constant chatter, later finds it appealing and comforting.  He is also attracted to Abigail's huge heart and her very giving nature.
     When I first started reading A Christmas Visitor, I wasn't sure I would like it.  Rocky struck me as a stalker, when he leaves everything behind and follows Frannie from Missouri to Texas.  He faces all sorts of difficulties on the road and again when he finds the Amish community.  I kept expecting him to unleash anger onto Frannie but it never came to fruition.  I did like how Frannie was determined to stay within the Amish community and how Rocky sought help and direction from the leaders of this private society.  The timeline of their romance was also positive.  Most books have their main characters fall in love within a few weeks.  Frannie and Rocky met in Missouri and even though they never dated, they did spend a lot of time together.  She moved to Texas in August/September, with Rocky following about three weeks later. They aren't even allowed to date and their time together is severely limited until Christmas.  I like the Christmas surprise Rockey and Frannie's family had as Frannie's Christmas present.
    These three novellas are fun Christmas reads.  Check them out for yourself.

This book was provided by Fiction Guild for review without compensation.

 Amy Clipston is the award-winning and bestselling author of the Kauffman Amish Bakery series.  Her novels have hit multiple bestseller lists including CBD, CBA, and ECPA.  Amy holds a degree in communications from Virginia Wesleyan College and works full-time for the City of Charlotte, NC.  Amy lives in North Carolina with her husband, two sons, and four spoiled-rotten cats.  Visit her online at www.amyclipston.com, on Facebook: AmyClipstonBooks or Twitter: @AmyClipston.

 Ruth Reid is a CBA and ECPA bestselling author of the Heaven and Earth series.  She's a full-time pharmacist who lives in Florida with her husband and three children.  When attending Farris State University School of Pharmacy in Big Rapids, Michigan, she lived on the outskirts of an Amish community and had several occasions to visit the Amish farms.  Her interest grew into love as she saw the beauty in living a simple life.

Kelly Irvin is the author of the Amish of Bee County series, the Bliss Creek Amish series, and the New Hope Amish series.  She has also penned two romantic suspense novels, A Deadly Wilderness and No Child of Mine.  The Kansas native is a graduate of the University of Kansas School of Journalism.  She has been writing nonfiction professionally for thirty years, including ten years as a newspaper reporter, mostly in Texas-Mexico border towns.  She has worked in public relations for the City of San Antonio for twenty years.  Kelly has been married to photographer Tim Irvin for twenty-seven years.  They have two young adult children, two cats, and a tank full of fish.  In her spare time, she likes to write short stories and read books by her favorite authors.  Follow her on Twitter: @Kelly_S_Irvin or on Facebook: Kelly.Irvin.Author.

A Miracle of Hope Book Review

An Amish Wonders Novel

SUMMARY: She's heard about forgiveness all her life, but how far does God's mercy truly reach?

     Lindie Wyse thinks an arranged marriage is the only way to preserve a future for herself and her unborn child.  Josiah Plank is certain he'll never love again, but he needs someone to care for his deaf eight-year-old daughter, Hannah.  The two take on their arrangement tentatively at first but soon realize they are each in for more than they imagined.  After a short time, Lindie experiences a breakthrough with Hannah when she recognizes the child's special gifts, but a risky pregnancy and serious health issues threaten to demolish the foundation Josiah and Lindie are building - and the love that is growing between them.  Will their marriage survive their struggles, or will their hearts become as cold as the northern winter?

REVIEW:  This book was good but, while reading it, I got frustrated with the main characters a few times.  But, as I read on, realizing what Lindie and Josiah each had gone through, my frustration eased and I became more sympathetic and understanding.  I liked how Lindie jumped right in and tried to help Hannah and Josiah, learning sign language and trying to make their house a home.  When she discovers Hannah love and talent for drawing, Lindie encourages Hannah to express herself through her art. I like how Lindie, after being hurt and shunned in her former community, accepts the love and friendships of her new community. 

     This was a good book, one I wouldn't mind reading again and may keep in my permanent collection.

This book was provided by Litfuse Publicity Group for review without compensation.

 

Ruth Reid is a full-time pharmacist who lives in Florida with her husband and three children.  When attending Ferris State University School of Pharmacy in Big Rapids, Michigan, she lived on the outskirts of an Amish community and had several occasions to visit the Amish farms.  Her interest grew into love as she saw the beauty in living a simple life.