Genre: Fiction/Amish/Romance
Synopsis/Review: This book is actually 3 novellas so I'll talk about each novella separately.
"A Choice to Forgive" - Lydia is a widow and mother of two in an Amish community. Suddenly, a man from her past, Daniel, shows up on her doorstep. He was her first love and vanished one Christmas Eve. As the mystery unfolds as to why he left in the first place, Lydia must also find the power in her heart to forgive the man she once loved.
"A Change of Heart" - Leah is the second of four girls but she is not the typical Amish girl. She is a writer and that's all she wants to do. She can't cook, sew or garden and has no desire for a husband. Aaron knows this and doesn't seem to care that he may have to live off chicken salad for the rest of his life but their personalities are so different. Aaron is told that he is "boring" and Leah is too free-spirited for him. Are they mean to be or is the relationship going to blow up in their faces?
"Healing Hearts" - Levine and Namaan successfully raised their five children and found themselves alone in their home. The realization that they hardly knew each other anymore hits Namaan too hard and he runs away for eleven mos. Upon his return, he finds that some of his children have decided they have no father anymore and his wife has trouble finding the trust she needs for their relationship to work. As the rumors and secrets start unfolding of what Namaan did while he was gone the community starts talking and Levine finds herself doubting her husband even more.
Let me just say that I have NEVER read any type of Amish fiction before in my life but these books were amazing. I think "A Change of Heart" was my favorite. It had me in tears several times but all three stories were great. There really isn't much more that I can say about them. They were just awesome. Wiseman did an incredible job of writing them so the reader continually wanted more. I had to learn some Deitsch but there was a glossary in the front to help me figure it out and I only had to look back at it once or twice.
Author: Wiseman was a journalist and then in 2008 she decided to quit and become a full time novelist. The most surprising thing for me to learn about her is that she is not Amish. She said that she has Amish and Mennonite contacts in Pennsylvania and Colorado who read over her manuscripts to make sure everything is accurate. She currently lives in Texas with her family.
Just for Fun: Here is a list of Amish recipes found in some of Wiseman's books. :)
http://bethwiseman.com/?page_id=21
Rating: ***** Five Stars
I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com <http://BookSneeze®.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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