DESCRIPTION:
Henrietta Is Set Against Love
Full of faith, hope, and romance, this series takes you into the Heart of Amish Country.
Henrietta Miller loves animals—especially her goats. She wants to marry and have children someday, but right now her goal is to have her own business selling snacks made from goat's milk and goat's soaps. Against her the wishes of her father--who's also the bishop—she applies for a job as a veterinary assistant to earn money. Then newcomer Nicholas Byler snatches the job out from under her—or so it seems to Hen. Now Nicholas is treating Hen's beloved animals as if he knows more than her. Hen turns her frustrations toward expanding her business to include wool-producing goats, even while her aunt hatches matchmaking plans—with Nicholas Byler, no less.
The Heart of the Amish Series Includes:
The Flower Quilter by Mindy Steele
Ruth’s Ginger Snap Surprise by Anne Blackburne
The Quilt Room Secret by Lisa Jones Baker
Courting an Amish Bishop by Mindy Steele
Mary’s Calico Hope by Anne Blackburne
Serenity’s Secret by Lisa Jones Baker
A Stolen Kiss by Mindy Steele
Lizzie’s Little Mouse by Anne Blackburne
Hunting for a Husband by Mindy Steele
MY THOUGHTS:
Reading A Daughter’s Choice deeply moved me. I was instantly captivated by Hen’s world—her boundless love for animals, especially her goats. However, working with animals wasn’t supported by Hen’s father, despite her dream of becoming a vet assistant. As the Bishop in their Amish community, he was raising his seven children alone after his wife’s passing. Hen didn’t have to worry about disappointing her father regarding her desire for the vet position, as a newcomer named Nicholas was hired for the very job she wanted. Her disappointment was evident, creating tension between them, especially when it came to caring for animals.
Hen was a remarkable protagonist. Her quiet strength, sense of responsibility, and struggle to balance her heart’s desires with her father’s and faith’s expectations will no doubt resonate with readers. While this is primarily Hen’s story, Nicholas has his own story to tell. This part of the story explored the crisis of faith. Watching both Hen and Nicholas navigate their struggles felt incredibly real to me.
Kelly Irvin’s writing is warm and honest, allowing me to feel Hen’s emotions—her doubt, longing, courage, and sadness. The Amish setting provided a serene backdrop that made me reflect on how faith and community influence our choices. I appreciated that the book didn’t rush the relationship between Hen and Nicholas. However, I would have preferred the story to use the Pennsylvania Deutsch translation for the word “Mom,” which is “Mamm.”
Stories have always held a profound significance for me, and A Daughter’s Choice certainly resonated deeply with me. By the end of the book, I was reminded of the importance of trusting in God’s plan, even when it diverges from our own desires. This book prompted me to reflect on the delicate balance between listening to our hearts and honoring our faith and family.
Many thanks to Barbour and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.
Her latest Amish romance is Love's Dwelling, the first book in the Amish Blessings series, which released in July 2021. The series takes place in Yoder and Haven, Kansas, and looks at adoption among the Amish. The series follows her Amish romance series, Amish of Sky Country includes Mountains of Grace, followed by The Long Bridge Home, and Peace in the Valley. The series explores Amish communities in northwest Montana and how they are impacted by wildfires.
Other romantic suspense novels include Her Every Move, which Publishers Weekly called gripping suspense and said, "loving descriptions of San Antonio’s attractions enhance the well-paced plot."
The publication called Closer Than She Knows a "brisk, smoothly written, thriller."
Kelly's Every Amish Season series includes Upon A Spring Breeze, Beneath the Summer Sun, Through the Autumn Air, and With Winter's First Frost from Zondervan/HarperCollins Christian Publishing. This follows the Amish of Bee County series, The Saddle Maker's Son, released in June 2016. It is an ECPA bestseller. It follows The Bishop's Son, and the critically acclaimed bestseller, The Beekeeper's Son, which earned a starred review from Publishers Weekly. The reviewer called it "a beautifully woven masterpiece." The Beekeeper's Son was a finalist in the romance category of the 2016 ACFW Carol Awards Contest.
