The Teacher’s Bride

While uncommon, it’s not unheard of for an Amish man to be a school teacher. Christian Ropp is one of these men. He’s the teacher in Birch Creek. While comfortable in this roll, and very good with his scholars, “Chris” has a difficult time interacting with women his age. That is a big problem when you’re looking for a wife.

Ruby Glick hasn’t found her calling yet. Or a husband which is the reason she leaves her home in Lancaster to move in with her brother and his family in Birch Creek. Prospects are slim in Lancaster. Like Chris, Ruby has a problem interacting with the opposite sex. She gets so nervous she actually gets the hiccups which, of course, embarrasses her.

Chris has his eyes on Martha Detweiler. How is he ever going to get to know her if he can’t even talk to her? Ruby has chosen Seth Yoder. She can’t talk to him without erupting in hiccups. The only one Chris and Ruby seem to be comfortable talking to, beside their families, is each other. They decide to meet every Saturday to help each other out.

How does that work out for them? The title of the book is The Teacher’s Bride…. does that mean Chris, with Ruby’s help, is finally able to court Martha? I enjoyed spending time with Christian and Ruby and hope to “see” them again.

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Love this series!!

This story also deals with heartache and blame but also healing.

In this second book in An Amish Homestead series, I enjoyed reading about healing and forgiveness taking root in the lives of Kayla Dienner and Jamie Riehl.

Heartache was once again coming to the Riehl home though.  Jamie’s sister Laura lost her best friend, Savilla Lambert when she suddenly became very ill one night.  By the time Savilla’s husband Allen heard her calling his name in the middle of the night and got her to the hospital, it wasn’t long before she passed away leaving behind her husband of only a couple of years and a baby girl not even one-year-old.  Allen blamed himself for not hearing Savilla’s calls sooner.  She was only twenty-two and she was gone.  They didn’t have enough time together.  Mollie wasn’t even one yet and she was motherless.  How could he have not known his wife needed him?  The blame, grief, and being a single father to a baby girl were hard on Allen.

Read Allen’s story.  How Laura stepped in to care for her best friends’ baby girl.  How she loved little Mollie.  Laura’s boyfriend Rudy was constantly accusing her of stepping into Savilla’s shoes in the Lambert household.  Did she put up with his accusations?  They’d been a couple for a long time although he never mentioned marriage.  Does Allen forgive himself and allow healing to take place?

A MUST READ!!!

This is a well written story of heartache, blame, grieving and learning to lean on God.

From page one you’re drawn into to the lives of the Dienner’s and the Riehl’s.  Simeon Dienner was a son, husband, and father to a baby boy.  He was also a volunteer firefighter and died in a fire.   Simeon’s younger brother Nathan was also interested in fighting fires which had sister Kayla worried she’d lose her last sibling.

Dorothy Riehl was a wife and mother.  Her son Jamie was a volunteer firefighter and worked alongside his father and brother on the farm when he wasn’t at the fire station.  Jamie was so busy, in fact, that he never got around to fixing the railing on the cellar stairs.  One day when Dorothy went down to the cellar she fell down the stairs and died.

Firefighting was a big part of this story.  The two families became close friends after a fire destroyed the Dienner’s barn and Jamie was on duty when the call went out.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and couldn’t wait to read the second one Room On The Porch Swing.

A story of forgiveness and second chances

Ivy’s grandfather, Yonnie Weaver, is a handful for her to care for.  His mind is slipping.  He keeps calling her by her mother’s name.  He wanders off while she’s at work.  Ivy has a secret but, it seems, so does Yonnie.  Because of what she’s done, Ivy won’t join the church.  She doesn’t want her secret revealed.  She just can’t forgive herself.

Zebadiah Brenneman had been Ivy’s boyfriend until he moved to Pinecraft, Florida.  He spent two years there among the Beachy Amish.  Now he’s home for the holidays.  It takes some doing but he finally talks Ivy into letting him help her with Yonnie and the farm.  He tries to talk to her about what he’s learned in Florida.  About “saved by grace”.  Of course, that went against the Ordnung she followed.

Ivy went to visit a local retirement home and made a good friend there.  He could tell Ivy was troubled and talked to her about God’s saving grace.  Maybe Zeb was right.  Would God forgive her and set her free?  Could she have an assurance, not just hope, of heaven?

Pick up a copy of this book and read Ivy, Yonnie, and Zeb’s story.  I thoroughly enjoyed my trip back to Wells Landing.  Thank you Amy for another wonderful read!!

Leslie Gould gives us another great read!

At twenty-one Marie Bachmann had her life all planned out.  She was going to marry a good Amish man, the Bishop’s son Elijah to be exact, and they were going to farm.

Gordon Martin, a young Mennonite man, worked on the Bachmann farm since the death of Marie’s father.  Gordon had a heart for helping others and volunteered in the homeless shelter.  Marie thought being homeless was someone’s own doing.  Surely, they had family to live with!

Marie’s trip to Pinecraft with her Aenti Suz brought about some changes in her.  She saw how self-centered Elijah really was.  She was able to sing, something she loved to do, although it was forbidden.  And, most of all, she did some soul searching and saw a person she wasn’t very fond of.  Marie was self-centered, self-righteous and judgmental of others.  While singing in church, she felt a closeness to God she’d never felt in her church services back home in Lancaster.

Does Marie learn to give up her will for God’s?  Does she marry Elijah because that’s always been her plan?  What of her friendship with Gordon?  Does it grow?  He’s Mennonite, she’s Amish.  That’s a problem.

Leslie Gould has given us another wonderful read….be sure to pick up a copy!!

What a secret it is!

This is book four in the Amish Secrets series.  I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and learning the secret!  Saloma Troyer is a young Amish woman.  William “Will” Griffith is a young Englisher.  Although it’s against the ordnung , they’ve fallen in love. Could that be the secret? What do they do about that?  Will’s Uncle George is dead set against any kind of relationship between the two young people and isn’t shy about letting them know.

Read this well-written story and find out what the secret is and how Saloma and Will deal with it.  You’ll be surprised!

Another great mystery that’s funny too!

This is book three in An Amish Candy Shop Mystery series. Each book drew me in and had me trying to figure out who the murderer was.

It’s Christmas time in Harvest, Ohio, and the town is seeing a great deal of activity. Everyone is getting ready for the Harvest Christmas Market. The town square is once again a very busy place. And, once again, Bailey King stumbles upon a dead body.

Besides all the activity for the Christmas Market, Bailey’s ex-boyfriend from New York has brought a film crew to town.  Cass, her best friend from New York, has also come for a visit.

While this is a mystery, the antics of Juliet and her pig Jethro will have you laughing out loud!  Pick up a copy of this book and read about all the chaos going on in Harvest and, especially in Bailey’s life. See if you can figure out “who done it”!