Saturday, June 20, 2020

Review - Amish Generations

Title:   Amish Generations
Author:  Kathleen Fuller 
Publisher:  Zondervan
Genre:  Inspirational Romance
Format:  Kindle ARC
No. of Pages:   368
Date of Publication:   June 2, 2020
My Rating:   5 Stars

DESCRIPTION:
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Four sweet and funny Amish love stories, spanning four different generations. Love comes at all times and for all ages!

Young Love—When Fern was diagnosed with a chronic illness in her early twenties, she knew it would limit her abilities to be a good Amish wife. And with Dan, the object of her affection, in a serious relationship, there didn’t seem much point in dating. But Dan is now single, and he seems to be taking notice of Fern. She’ll need a strong dose of courage to talk down the fear her illness has brought on if she ever wants to pursue her dreams.

Long-Awaited Love—When Everett left ten years ago, Jemima’s love quickly turned to hate. But when they arrive back home at the same bus station on the same day, they discover some old flames aren’t put out so easily. Can they move past the forces that pulled them apart ten years ago, or are some hurts too much to overcome? 

Second-Chance Love—Benjamin and Lora Beth both lost spouses not long into their young marriages and connect over letters, exchanging recipes and commiseration as their now-grown children try to coddle them. They’re only in their forties, for heaven’s sake! The letters quickly reveal a deep friendship . . . or could it be more? When you’ve already had a great love, how do you learn to fall in love again?

Never Too Late—Jerald is a committed old bachelor. He loves nothing more than good Amish food and giving his best friend’s wife, Regina, a hard time. When people have asked—and believe him, people have asked—he’s always said he’ll marry when he finds the right woman. It’s just never happened in his seventy years. Until he tastes the best blueberry pie and discovers the woman behind it: Regina’s best friend, Elva.


MY THOUGHTS:

What a great anthology! Here are four sweet stories of love for Amish couples of various generations. I absolutely loved it. I would like to make one brief observation. At the beginning of the book the author translated specific Amish words. Because I have read over a dozen of these stories over the past year or so, I already know what these words meant. Of course, I am a different faith but there’s just something about these stories that is so compelling.

Young Love - Fern worries about her chronic illness and how it has prevented her from embarking on a teaching career - and finding love. But there is Dan, and although she is more than drawn to him, she worries that her health will prevent her from becoming a good Amish wife.

Long-Awaited Love - Jemima never forgave Everett from moving away ten years ago and breaking her heart. Her anger is crowded by her still overwhelming attraction to him. Can Jemima forgive Dan and the pair finally find love?

Second-Chance Love - Benjamin and Lora Beth were once happily married and now they have adult children. They are also both now widowed and have begun writing letters to each other to share recipes. A strong friendship has become to develop between them. Could these letters be the beginning on a sweet second chance love for the both of them?

Never Too Late - In this incredibly sweet short story, Jerald is a pleasant bachelor in his seventies. He has never found the right woman. However, one bite of the most delicious blueberry pie Jerald has ever tasted leads hm to meeting the woman who created the culinary delight, Elva. The pie might have been what brought Jerald and Elva together, but her beauty and kindness leads to much more. The story was rather sensitive and I love how these two came together.

These short stories show how love at different times comes to people who deserve to be together. Of course they are bound by their faith, but in each case they found something about each other that brought them together. With the theme being generations, it proved true that love can come at any time in someone’s life. I found each story to be so wonderfully touching. Kathleen Fuller is a new author to me and now I know that I would like to read more of her books.

Many thanks to Zondervan and to Edelweiss for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Fun Facts:

1. I started writing January 1, 2000. New year, new millennium, 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, was an Ohio transplant for twenty-two years, and am now back in Arkansas empty nesting it with my husband, James.

4. James and I have three awesome kids. Yes, they really are awesome.

5. I love chocolate. ‘Nuff said.


4 comments:

  1. I've never read a book focused on the Amish before - this sounds interesting

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  2. Sometimes I need something sweet to enjoy - thanx for the info

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  3. I haven't read many Amish books but this one sounds great :)

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