Sarah PriceCritiques

What a beautiful story, simple and with so much meaning. I liked it, and the author made a great description of the world Belle lived in, with a nice visual description that transported me in the middle of the story. I really enjoyed it.

I love anything CHRISTMAS even with 100 plus degrees in August!! This book is so odd that I could not see what an Amish woman and a Cuban international singer had in common, but love is love, and I am so glad that Amanda convinced Alejandro to return to her mom's for Christmas when they had decorated their large home in Florida and HIS mom was doing all of the cooking!! Amanda wanted to show her children that Christmas was about the birth of Jesus and not about THINGS that would be broken, and she wanted them to be able to play without reporters who snapped their pictures, but her children raised a ruckus, AND HER MOTHER-IN-LAW invited herself along!!

Not a bad book per se. I find most Amish books are pretty superficial and this one is better than the usual. It does give some of the flavor of Lancaster County Amish although an outsider would have a much more difficult time assimilating.

Lost my attention at times.

I really like this retelling of Mansfield Park. The Amish setting works so well for the story. I only wish the ending hadn't felt so rushed.

3.5 stars

This was a lovely Sense and Sensibility retelling. I love the Amish setting for the story and how well that worked. My only negative was that there were certain scenes that felt like they were practically cut and pasted out of the 1995 movie adaptation. Otherwise, this was a delightful read and I look forward to checking out the other books in this series.

With the current pricing models making dairy farming less profitable, Edna supplements her family's income by serving authentic Amish meals to Englisch tourists. Her friend Mary has been helping her through tourist season, but after she suffers an injury which lays her up, Mary is not sure what she will do. She hopes she need not resort to taking up her friend Wilma's offer of her two troubled daughters. Edna's son John works at an auction house. Her other two boys help their father on the farm. Eventually it is decided Mary's daughter Bethany, a very shy young woman, will help in Mary's place. As John picks Bethany up, the two begin to find a lot to admire in each other. The book includes cookie recipes. I enjoyed seeing the romance blossom and appreciated the author's adherence to biblical standards of waiting until after marriage for sexual relations.½

2.5 stars
For my full, non-spoiler review: https://christianlovingbooks.blogspot.com/2020/02/belle-review.html

An interesting view into the life of the Pennsylvania Amish, and a feel-good story overall, but it bogs down and stalls about two thirds of the way through into what feels like the main character complaining about every little thing in her life. Could have used better editing. Still somewhat enjoyable if you'd like a peek into the Amish world.

The third and final book of the Amish Fairytale series is a retelling of Snow White! Sadie Whitaker meets a kindred spirit in the woods near her house and soon begins her first courtship. Meanwhile, her life at home becomes increasingly troublesome as her stepmother’s true colors start to show. I love how human Sadie’s stepmother is! From the beginning, her pain and anger are very real and empathetic, and the way she chooses to direct her jealousy toward her stepdaughter is understandable, as wrong as it is.½

Another sweet, lovely little Amish romance, this one with a Cinderella twist! Navigating life with her awful, unappreciative stepmother and stepsisters, Ella feels the first glimmer of happiness she has felt in a long time when a strange young man comes to town on business – and stays for her.

Two people, practically strangers, get married for different but mutually beneficial reasons, then must learn how to live with each other, understand, listen to, and trust one another, and eventually find friendship, love, and home. It has all the best kind of character development that I love about Beauty and the Beast retellings!

Questo è uno di quei titoli che ho iniziato a leggere con l'atteggiamento da "perché no?" per passare un pomeriggio, e ha risposto alle aspettative nel senso che mi ha intrattenuto senza troppe pretese. Non so quanto possa interessare al di fuori della nicchia degli appassionati di Jane Austen. L'unica critica che gli devo muovere - al di là di scelte e interpretazioni - è il modo in cui l'apatia di Martha, l'equivalente di Lady Bertram, viene alla fine presentata come una depressione a cui lei non ha saputo opporsi, come se il disagio mentale fosse una scelta. Ecco, questo mi ha disturbato molto.

Sarah Price could write a phone book and I would read it. Listening to her Amish stories are always a joy. Edna's holiday season is jam packed - she makes and serves meals to tourists in her house and she is overbooked. She needs helps desperately. When she voices her concerns to her friends at her cookie club they come up with a plan to help her; what they don't realize is that their solution may have other unintended affects. Bethany is a shy and painfully quiet girl who doesn't even like to leave the house. When her mother forces her to go into town to get supplies after breaking her ankle, Bethany quite literally runs into a charming young man. The young man happens to be Edna's son and before you know it - the cookie club is up to their scheming ways. Can they match these two young couples? Great narration on the audiobook - that's for sure and certain.

Edna helps out the family’s income by serving meals to the Englishers, and Mary has been helping her friend, since the task is too much for one person. When Mary breaks her leg, she enlists her daughter to take her place. But Bethany is extremely shy and sheltered, and the thought of interacting with strangers terrifies her. Edna’s son John steps in to help Bethany overcome her shyness, and both find themselves in a situation neither could have anticipated. This romantic story is quite nice, but extremely slow moving. Though perhaps intended to be that way to mimic the gentle way the relationship between the two protagonists develops, I found myself eager for the pace to pick up a bit. But it plods on slowly, like an old buggy horse, in no particular hurry. Still, it was a sweet read, and the character growth as Bethany realizes her strengths, is amazing.

Edna and three of her long-time friends get together regularly to bake cookies for the meals that follow their church services. Talk often turns to their families, and some of the problems they experience. Verna’s daughter Myrna is too outspoken for her own good, and she has been fired from every job she has ever had because of her unbridled tongue. As a last resort, she is compelled by her family to care for the four young children of a widower. He is gruff, and she immediately dislikes him. This story quietly illustrates that first impressions are not always dependable, and that the rumors that swirl around a person are often untrue. The characters are quite delightful, and the premise of the series is very interesting. Even though readers will guess how it will end, the journey to that conclusion will be a bit of a mystery. Well done.

"Amish Cookie Club Courtship" brings readers of this series back to their friends in the Amish Cookie Club. Verna, Mary, Edna, and Wilma are busier than ever with the upcoming Mayfest, for which they will provide cookies to be sold at the Amish Aid stand. Their baking is also in great demand at Yoder's store, where they cookies sell out instantly. Edna also provides income for her family through her partnership with Destination Amish, as she cooks and serves meals for tourists.

In this installment of the series, Edna hires twin sisters Rachel and Ella Mae to help with preparing and serving the meals. However, her matchmaking skills are evident as she and Wilma conspire to match the sassy twins with Edna's boisterous sons Jeremiah and Jonas. Things do not always go as planned, and while intentions may be good, mix-ups occur to create humorous situations for all involved.

This is a light, predictable, and enjoyable read, and also allows readers a glimpse into the lifestyles of Amish people. Although this book is part of a series, the story can be read as a stand-alone, once readers get the characters straight at the beginning of the book. It is a clean romantic novel, with no strong language, graphic violence of intimacy.

I received this book from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

We are back with the life long friends in this Amish Community, they continue to back their cookies for the Amish Aid, and Edna is needing help with her dinners she serves to tourists.
Against her better judgement she decides to give her friends Wilma's twin daughters , Ella Mae and Rachel, know as the bickering twins, a chance to help her.
Surprise, there is also a chance the twins might end up with at least one of Edna's sons. Is there romance in the air? You will wonder which twin is interested in which brother? Will the mother's influence their children, tongue in cheek, no, will maybe push them in the right direction.
There are some really cute moments in this story, and some shake your head times, and it did take a while to know whom was interested in whom.
A sweet page-turner!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Kensington, and was not required to give a positive review.

A multi-layered story but the main thread woven throughout is that you shouldn't believe everything you hear. Four Amish mothers get together every Friday to make cookies for the Sunday services and to lean on each other for support and friendship. When Verna tells her friends about her strong willed daughter getting fired from yet another job the friends offer not only their support but come up with a job opportunity for hard headed Myrna. In a neighboring church district there is a young widower with three children and a baby; struggling and in need of help. Myrna is dispatched to help out, but she is convinced that she is being set up and groomed to be a replacement wife. She is pleasantly surprised when she finds herself falling for the kids and is pleased that for once her hard work is appreciated. But when a rumor starts floating around about the reasons behind his wife's death (refusing treatment for breast cancer) the four friends in the Amish cookie club start to have doubts about this widower's character and their judgements start to rub off on Myrna. A story of second chances and a reminder that gossip does more harm than good. Sweet and wonderful. I can't wait to read the rest in this series!

Another great Amish novel from Sarah Price! A mother who is constantly beset with requests (or demands) of help feels herself being worn down. She keeps giving but everything is starting to lose its luster. She keeps praying to God to give her back her zeal and positivity but each day is a challenge. After her emotionally abusive and alcoholic husband died in accident she spent a few lonely years with her two children until she was approached by a widower and re-married. Things have been mostly good - but he's not use to children or living on a farm. Sometimes he's harsher on his new wife then intended - and to top it off there is a new Amish woman working at his leather shop who is causing all sorts of problems. A quick and satisfying read that obviously has a happy ending.

I liked this a lot - but I liked this the least out of all the Sarah Price Amish books I've read. It seemed so implausible. An Amish woman who is only in New York City on a "layover" gets hit by a limo as she jaywalks to buy a pair of sunglasses. The man in the limo? One of the most famous musicians in the world, Viper. He's a bad boy - but when he looks into Amanda Beiler's eyes as she lays hurt in the street he finds himself wanting to protect her. He becomes enamored with her - staying by her side in the hospital and giving her gifts. He even makes sure her family (who has no phone) is notified. Amanda finds herself getting a little ferhoodled with this strange Englischer but she knows that will do her no good, he's not Amish. Wanting to take a little break from the spotlight he accompanies Amanda back to Pennsylvania and spends a week on her parent's farm helping her father and getting to know the Amish lifestyle. What could possibly go wrong?! Good but... unbelievable. I may continue the series.

This was a quick, satisfying read. Kate Zook's life is turned upside down when her brother is involved in a tragic accident and she feels responsible for her "role" in it. She was already a pious and religious girl but in the months afterward she really doubles down on her faith and her guilt. She lets her now crippled brother boss her around and berate her thinking she deserves it. Her home life is somber and strained. When Samuel Esch starts to take an interest in her she is flabbergasted, why would anyone take an interest in her? Samuel gets Kate to start open up and living life - determined to ease some of the burden she carries. Thoughtful, poignant, and romantic - Amish romance at its finest!

So good and I'm so sad this series is over. I mean I get it, there are only so many Jane Austen novels you can adapt, but I really enjoyed this. I like Sarah Price's writing style and these books are just nice fluffy reads that you know will wrap up nicely. Per usual I won't summarize this one because I assume that anyone reading this adaptation will have read the original, Mansfield Park. Remarkably similar, I like the few tweaks they made to make it finish in a modern day Amish community. Instead of getting caught by their father putting on plays, they get caught singing hymns in English! The scandal!! Fantastic as always!

Sense and Sensibility has always been my favorite Jane Austen story and I was so happy that this modern day adaptation did it justice! Set in a modern day Amish community - many things are still similar. Modesty, patriarchal societies, gossip, etc. Some minor differences include youth singings instead of balls, shunning instead indecency, and a spotlight on religion. A fantastic adaptation of my favorite and one that I will definitely read again!