Friday, August 28, 2020

SERIES REVIEW - A Little Child Shall Lead Them


In this combined post, I will be reviewing the first two books in the A Little Child Shall Lead Them series by Loree Lough.

Title:  All He'll Ever Need
Publisher:   Zebra
Genre:   Inspirational Romance
Format:   Kindle
No. of pages:   288
Date of Publication:    August 27, 2019
Rating:  5 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

Among the New-new Order Amish of Oakland, Maryland, children bring precious hope, joy--and sometimes an unexpected second chance at love ...

For Amish widower Philip Baker, providing for his family in the wake of his wife's death means back-breaking work and renewed dedication to his faith. Still, his strength can't help him relate to his little son's struggles. It seems a godsend when new doctor Emily White is able to treat Gabe's shyness and fear even as she helps heal him. But no matter how strongly Philip is drawn to the caring Englischer from the city, their differences may be too great to overcome ...

Reeling from her own tragic loss, Emily keeps loneliness at bay through her clinic work. Somehow, though, Gabe and his gentle, sad-eyed father are making her want to risk opening her heart again. But can she find acceptance in their Plain world--and a way to turn their separate lives into a family forever? ... 


MY THOUGHTS:

In this lovely story by Loree Lough, Phillip Baker is a widower and his son Gabe has been diagnosed with a serious illness. Phillip would do anything for Gabe, He has already suffered unimaginable loss, his wife, father and brother, so losing Gabe would be something far too painful for Phillip. Meanwhile although Amish, he is part of a new order, stretching his Amish beliefs to the limit. 

Phillip takes Gabe in for treatment and that is how he meets Dr. Emily White. She falls for Gabe immediately and does whatever she can to help him get well. Not only does Emily care for Gabe, she begins to develop tender feelings towards Phillip. Although Phillip is far more modern than some Amish men, their differences seem insurmountable, especially after Phillip begins to feel much the same way as Emily. First and foremost, Gabe's needs and future must be met. Surgery is definitely on the table, and if successful, this would net Gabe a lot of vitality and a long life. 

What a touching story. Not only do we have excellent drama flowing through the pages, but we also have an unlikely romance, family issues and faith that are strong parts of this story. I loved reading this first book in a new series, as well as the second book, Home to Stay. 

This touching story kept me very interesting, making this a one-sitting read. While Loree Lough is a new author to me, especially when it comes to meeting New World Amish, I can definitely say that I enjoy her writing style and story delivery.

- - - - - 

Title:  Home to Stay
Publisher:   Zebra
Genre:   Inspirational Romance
Format:   Kindle ARC
No. of pages:   400
Date of Publication:    April 28, 2020
Rating:  5 Stars

DESCRIPTION:

In the New Order Amish community of Pleasant Valley, a helping hand is never far away, and a baby's smile can be reason enough to start over--and risk love again . . .

Since losing his family in a tragic accident, building contractor Max Lambright can't seem to find purpose in anything but hard work . . . until he meets feisty newcomer, Willa Richards. As she struggles to make a new life for herself and her baby girl, she challenges him in just about every possible way. Dare he hope that, alongside this spirited woman, he might rekindle his lost faith, and find the path to love and the family he craves?


Poor choices and a difficult past have inspired Willa to make better decisions for her precious Frannie, even if it means leaving the familiar behind and starting over . . . among strangers. As she adapts to the Amish ways, she learns about Max's generous and steadfast nature. The loneliness he tries so hard to mask can't be hidden . . . not from a woman with something to prove: Together, they can build their friendship into something that will forever stand as the cornerstone of a happy family . 

MY THOUGHTS:

This second book in the A Little Child Shall Lead Them series, the main protagonist has dealt with loss, great loss. That is Max Lambright and his loss is so great that his faith and joy are all but shattered. Meeting Willa Richards just might change things for Max. Will the undeniable connection they share almost from the start be enough to help Max restore his faith and zeal for life?

Frannie has her own issues of faith to deal with, especially since she is new to the Amish and has an idea of the many changes to her life that will soon come her way. Frannie soon sees life differently and her heart begins to grow bigger for her baby girl when it comes to Max.

This touching story was so very sweet to read. As per the norm for Amish fiction stories, faith, love and longing go a long way when it comes to offering hope for the future. I loved this second book in the series. The first book was All He'll Ever Need and will continue in April with Loving Mrs. Bontrager,.

Many thanks to Zebra and to NetGalley for this book for review. This is my honest opinion.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Yes, it's true: Once upon a time, USA Today best-selling author Loree Lough (literally) sang for her supper, performing before packed audiences throughout the U.S. Now and then, she blows the dust from her 6-string to croon a tune or two for the "grandorables," but mostly, she just writes. (And writes.) Over the years, her stories have earned thousands of 5-star reviews, more than 100 industry and "Readers' Choice" awards, and 7 movie options.

There are nearly 10,000,000 (yes, that's TEN MILLION) copies of Loree's books in circulation, and by year-end of 2020, she'll have 121 books (fiction and non-fiction for kids and adults) 72 short stories, 2,500+ articles in print.

Loree loves sharing learned-the-hard-way lessons about the craft and the industry, and her comedic approach makes her a favorite (and frequent) guest of writers' organizations, book clubs, private and government institutions, and college and high school writing programs both here and abroad.

A writer who believes in "giving back," Loree dedicates a portion of her income to Soldiers' Angels, Special Operations Warrior Foundation, and other worthwhile organizations.
Loree and her husband split their time between their home in the Baltimore suburbs and a cabin in the Allegheny Mountains, where she continues to hone her “identify the critter tracks” skills.


web 

6 comments: