Review of A Marriage of the Heart by Kelly Long

Review of A Marriage of the Heart 

by Kelly Long

Three Kelly Long Amish novellas—available for the first time in one collection.

Christmas Cradles—When Anna takes over for her aunt, the local midwife, Christmas night heats up with multiple deliveries, three strangers' quilts, and unexpected help from the handsome, brooding Asa Lapp.

A Marriage of the Heart—Since her mother’s death, Abigail Kauffman has lived alone with her father. She longs to escape the emptiness of the farmhouse that has never felt like home. Joseph Lambert is a newcomer in their close-knit community. Only after suddenly marrying do they begin to understand the tender truths of life-long love.

A Perfect Secret—Rose’s betrothed, Luke, is safe and dependable—maybe a little too safe. Or so she thought, until she ran into him into the woods one night and learned there was more to him than she ever suspected. Now his secret haunts her. She wasn’t sure about marrying a man she knew too well. But should she marry a man she doesn’t understand at all.

My review:  
I had read A Perfect Secret when it was released on its own and enjoyed it. I did not remember all of the details, though, and read it again.   Each of the three novellas gave me such a good feeling.  It made me think of my own first love, giving birth to my own daughters, and the wonderful experiences I had.   Rose made me think of adventure and the discontent that the ordinary, safe, life can leave us with each day.   You will love reading how Rose and Luke find a way to "spice up life".    
Anna and Asa's story was so touching.  Anna is a marvelous example of the curvy woman finding her own way in the world.   I love that we have an example of a woman who is not 80 pounds.    Anna also has her own successful career as an Amish midwife so she serves as a positive role-model in several different ways.    You will enjoy traveling through the snow and blizzard with Anna and Asa as they help to bring new lives into the world.   
Abigail and Joseph made me think of arranged marriages, though it is a bit different from them, it does have many similarities.  They start off their marriage with some definite obstacles to overcome.  Can they find love together?  Anna wants to leave her father's home?  Will she get her wish or will she be stuck in that loveless, strict home forever?   I found great pleasure in reading the story of these various young Amish people.   I believe that you will also be filled with good feelings as you read Kelly Long's novellas.    
About the Author:

Kelly Long was born and raised in North Central Pennsylvania. There was an Amish hitching post at the small grocery store in her town. She loves to write Amish romance and is the author of novel, Sarah's Garden, the novella Amish Christmas Expanded Edition with some other great Amish authors, Amish Love with Beth Wiseman and Kathy Fuller, and Lilly's Wedding Quilt--the sequel to Sarah's Garden. She lives in Atlanta with her husband and children.

I received a free  ecopy of this book from booksneeze.com in exchange for my honest review.   
To purchase a copy of A Marriage of the Heart,  
http://www.amazon.com/Marriage-Heart-Kelly-Long/dp/1401687563/ref=sr_1_1_title_0_main?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1358644771&sr=1-1&keywords=a+marriage+of+the+heart