Review of "An Amish Garden"

Review of An Amish Garden

Four Amish Novellas

by Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller, Tricia Goyer, and Vannetta Chapman

“Planting a Future” Beth Wiseman
Rosemary is doing her best to run her family’s household. She excels at all her tasks except one: gardening. Saul has been interested in her for years, but Rosemary has turned him down repeatedly. Saul begins helping with her family’s garden, but someone is sabotaging his efforts—and keeping a secret that could change their lives.

MY REVIEW of Planting a Future by Beth Wiseman--"He's doing it again," Rosemary whispered to Esther.   "Smiling and staring at me."  

      Rosemary and Saul are being offered a second chance at love and so is Rosemary's father, Wayne.   When an accidental run-in between Saul and Wayne results in both men being injured, Wayne is unable to complete his farm work and Saul offers to do it for him as well as planting a vegetable garden for Rosemary.  Rosemary hasn't had time for planting a garden since her mamm died and she has had to bear responsibility for her brothers, daed and the home so Saul and Rosemary will be thrown together quite a bit.   This is a 5-star novella and really kept me reading and cheering the couples on!   Read to see how misunderstandings can mess things up for couples until they are resolved.   

“Flowers for Rachael” Kathleen Fuller
Rachael’s garden is beautiful, but she is lonely. Gideon is in love with Rachael, but when Rachael finds her garden in shambles after a crisis, she rejects his help. Will she realize she doesn’t have to do everything on her own?

MY REVIEW of Flowers for Rachael by Kathleen Fuller---"Arranging a bowl of flowers in the morning can give a sense of quiet in a crowded day--like writing a poem or saying a prayer."--Anne Morrow Lindbergh

       Gideon and Rachael both care for the other and they're both afraid to express it.   Rachael is living next door to Gideon while caring for her grandfather, Eli, who suffered a stroke.   Rachael loves flowers and soon a secret admirer is sending flowers daily with one word notes attached to them.    She hopes it's Gideon.  Will he be the one who is secretly sending flowers ? if not Gideon, who is sending them? This is another 5-Star Novella that is simply delightful.  I learned many new things about plants and flowers as I read this work of Amish fiction.

“Seeds of Love” Tricia Goyer
When a corporation shows interest in buying Sadie’s heirloom seeds, she panics. They are all she has left of her Dat and Mem. Eli believes he can help Sadie, but a misunderstanding leaves her heartbroken. Will she trust him again, and will the seeds of a new relationship take root?

MY REVIEW of Seeds of Love by Tricia Goyer---Can planting and tending tomatoes lead to love for a grieving young Amish woman and the Amish bachelor?  or is it simply too far-fetched an idea for these two who seem to be doing fine on their own?   Poor Sadie Chupp worries too much about what her sisters think about her life and plans.   She needs to learn to listen to her own heart.    Eli Plank is having an incredible time travelling around the country and writing as the scribe "The Amish Bachelor" for The Budget, an Amish newspaper which includes little stories of interest from many Amish communities in the world.  Another 5-Star Novella!!!!   Wow, I have been having such a great time reading these works of Amish fiction and romance and learning so many new things for a self-proclaimed "brown thumb". 

“A Place of Healing” Vannetta Chapman
Emma discovers a run-away teen in her barn, and the bishop asks her to provide a haven for a woman and her two children. Then her mother-in-law reveals a secret about her garden. Will Emma choose loneliness or learn to accept God’s gifts?

MY REVIEW of A Place of Healing by Vannetta Chapman---This last novella in the book may have touched the most nerves with me as I am also an empty-nester in my early 50's like the main character, Emma.   Danny and she dated a long time ago and went their separate ways for Danny to travel, research, and write and for Emma to marry and raise a large family.   Emma is now a widow and Danny has returned permanently and is living next door.   Will they be able to put the past behind them and begin a new future and start a new ministry? or will they stay stuck in the past?  This one is another winner and another 5-star novella to finish the book.   

All four novellas are wonderful and I highly recommend this book to fellow readers as it has something for just about everyone.    Get a copy and give it a try!    I don't think you'll be disappointed.   

I was given a free kindle ARC of this book by netgalley in exchange for my honest review. 

About the Authors:

Beth Wiseman is the best-selling and award winning author of the Daughters of the Promise series - Plain Perfect, Plain Pursuit, Plain Promise, Plain Paradise, and Plain Proposal. She is contracted with HarperCollins Christian Publishing. Her other series--the Land of Canaan Novels--begins with Seek Me With All Your Heart, then The Wonder of Your Love and now, His Love Endures Forever. Seek Me With All Your Heart is the first Amish fiction book selected as a Women of Faith novel in 2011. Beth has also written two contemporary Christian fiction novels, Need You Now published in 2012 and The House That Love Built in 2013. 
In a daring new novel, Beth jumps way outside the box. The story she is currently working on will take readers far away from Amish Country and small Texas towns to a dangerous place on the other side of the world. Inspired by a true story, Beth believes this is the book she’s been working toward for a long time. Expect more information on this exciting novel soon! 

 

Kathleen is the author of several books, including the upcoming Amish series Hearts of Middlefield for Thomas Nelson. She is also included in two Amish anthologies for Thomas Nelson, An Amish Christmas and An Amish Gathering. Kathleen loves to hear from readers.

 

TRICIA GOYER was named the 2003 Writer of the Year for Mt. Hermon Christian Writer’s Conference. Her book for teens, Life Interrupted: The Scoop on Being a Young Mom, was a Gold Medallion finalist in 2005 in the Youth category. 

Her novel Night Song won the 2005 “Book of the Year for Long Historical Romance” from American Christian Fiction Writers, and her novel Dawn of a Thousand Nights won the same award in 2006.

Tricia has published over 250 articles and YA short stories for national publications such as Today’s Christian Woman, Guideposts for Kids, Brio, Christian Parenting Today, and HomeLife, and is the co-author of Meal Time Moments (Focus on the Family). She has led numerous Bible Studies, and her study notes appear in the Women of Faith Study Bible.

She has written seven novels for Moody Publishers; From Dust and Ashes (2003), Night Song (2004), Dawn of a Thousand Nights (2005), and Arms of Deliverance (2006), A Valley of Betrayal (2007), A Shadow of Treason (2007), and A Whisper of Freedom (2008).

Tricia has also published Life Interrupted: The Scoop on Being a Young Mom (Zondervan, 2004) and children’s book 10 Minutes to Showtime (Thomas Nelson, 2004). She has written My Life, Unscripted (Thomas Nelson, 2007) for teen girls. She worked on 3:16 Teens w/ Max Lucado (Thomas Nelson, 2008)

Tricia has also written books for Gen Xers: Generation NeXt Parenting (Multnomah, 2006) and Generation NeXt Marriage (Multnomah, 2008).

Vannetta Chapman writes inspirational fiction full of grace. She has published over one hundred articles in Christian family magazines, receiving more than two dozen awards from Romance Writers of America chapter groups. She discovered her love for the Amish while researching her grandfather’s birthplace of Albion, Pennsylvania. 

Her novel, Falling to Pieces, was a 2012 ACFW Carol Award winner for best mystery. All of her books have been Christian Book Distributor bestsellers. She currently writes Amish fiction for Abingdon Press, Zondervan, and Harvest House. Chapman lives in the Texas hill country with her husband.

For more information, visit her at www.VannettaChapman.com or blog with her athttp://vannettachapman.wordpress.com/.