Review of "The Amish Bride of Ice Mountain"

Review of The Amish Bride of Ice Mountain

by Kelly Long

Like most Mountain Amish girls, Mary King has always dreamed of her wedding day. But she never imagined that a sudden, irresistible kiss would result in marriage to the handsome Englischer professor studying her unique community. Or that doing the truly honorable thing means keeping their relationship chaste so both she and Dr. Jude Lyons can someday go their separate ways.

But when Mary accompanies her husband-in-name-only to Atlanta to meet his wealthy, overbearing family, she's tempted more than ever by Jude's kindness, humor--and vulnerability. And when a wrenching misunderstanding causes her to return heartbroken to her remote Appalachian home, she's certain she's lost the real love they have found...and the shared future she's come to want so much. But a crisis of more than faith will work surprising miracles--and show Mary that love is strong enough to make the impossible come true.

MY REVIEW:  I can feel the ice and the cold and the splendor of Ice Mountain as I read Kelly Long's novel.   I even researched after reading to see if this is an actual place and it appears that it is.   What a wonderful place to visit, though if I had to make the long trek up the mountain as Mary and Jude did, I don't know how I would fare.  
         It becomes a place of sadness though after a forced marriage when Mary and Jude, the professor researching the mountain and the Amish people who call it home, as Jude plans to never make the marriage a true one. He plans to take her to Atlanta to his family for a short while and then annul the marriage.   Hmmmm, does he research to discover if the Amish will accept an annulment?  They do not accept divorce.   
         This is a story of forgiveness and love.  True love expressed in all its forms.   Some readers will be taken aback as this book does focus on Mary and Jude's physical desire for one another.   I did not find it distasteful or overly erotic but it reminds me a bit more of Harlequin romances in that respect.  I found it touching in fact.  It reminded me of first love and all the tenderness a young couple (or an old couple too) feel for each other.   This book is also about relationships in many aspects.....husband/wife, siblings, friends,   parent/child, grandparents, paid household help/family they serve.  I was greatly moved by this story and found myself thinking of the characters when I had to put my kindle down and attend to life for a while.   I wanted to read more, to know more, to feel more!   I am excited to see that a second book is planned.   
       I rate this book 5 stars and highly recommend it to readers.  
I received a pdf version of this book from netgalley and a print copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.   

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.