This is one of the best Amish stories I've read. It actually shows that not all Amish are true Christians. It shows that ALL need to repent and believe. The story was well written and the characters were well developed. The only thing I found awkward was the insertion of the Amish words in sentences that were not conversation. This put me off a little. The story concept was good and well executed. I highly recommend this book. As to editing, I only noticed 2 errors. ( )

I received a copy of this book from book fun.org for an honest review

Rachel Miller is a young woman who , like most young women her age have a desire to visit other places. She starts writing to people she finds through their local paper. She loves to hear about their towns and it gives her a sense of belonging . Her town is very small and she seems anxious to find something more to satisfy her hunger for the world around her. She has been writing to David, who lives in another town. They seem to be getting closer and she is excited when she receives mail from him. He is a kind man who sends her postcards with his letters to show her of the place he lives.

David and Rachel both know that they each have someone else in their life but they continue to write as feelings grow stronger. When David is involved in a life threatening accident, he decides to make a change. To Rachel's surprise , David shows up in her town. What will Rachel do when they meet for the first time? What will happen to her boyfriend, Obadiah? How will David explain to his girlfriend he left behind that he has come to see Rachel?

The characters are insecure in some areas and depend on their faith to help them overcome this. David realizes that he is being called to become a preacher. Will this calling take him away from Rachel? I loved the struggles the characters had and how the author wove the story with faith, hope and acceptance. The story was well written and gave me a time to reflect on my own beliefs. I love reading Laura's books as they are thought provoking and leaves you with a sense of peace . ( )

Dangerous Sparks Threaten Amish Community...

A daydreamer. That's what Rachel Miller is. Since she can't travel, she searches the Amish newspaper for injured people who might need a pick-me-up postcard. Little does she know when she starts corresponding with David Lapp that she has opened a door that ought to be closed.

Although both David and Rachel are promised or engaged to others, when David shows up in Rachel's town, sparks fly. Sparks of attraction between David and Rachel. Sparks of disdain and warning between the bishop and David. Sparks of hatred, which confound David, between Rachel's brother Sam and himself. Sparks of interest in Scripture beyond what the bishop allows, between David and a small set of the community.

Where there are sparks, there is fire. Which of these sparks will ignite and create trouble, hardship, or even shunning for community members? This was a fun, inspirational Amish story full of inner tension, outer tension, and Truth and love seeking to win out over hate and ignorance. I loved the fact that Hilton addressed the elephant in the room when it comes to a lot of Amish Christian novels. Many Amish believe they are following God, but follow instead the bishop and the Ordnung, afraid to read the Bible for themselves or find faith in Jesus Christ. (I will say, this is probably not the case in ALL Amish circles.)

I liked the humanity of the main characters in their attraction for each other. I also thought it was great Hilton showed it was possible to stand up to temptation and be an overcomer.
This is a book I could read twice. This is book two of three, but it stands alone quite well.

I gratefully received this book from bookfun.org in exchange for an honest review. ( )

Sweet, Sweet, Romance (Sigh!)

A book needs to grab my attention right away in order for me to keep picking it up and reading it. Not a problem with this book! I don’t think I had finished a whole paragraph before I knew I’d be hooked on this story.

My favorite characters are David and Rachel. Rachel is a dreamer and collects postcards of places she can only dream of seeing. Will her dreams come true? Just where did God want her to be or who did He want her to be with? Rachel is torn with indecision. She is promised to one man but her heart wants another. David, he knows exactly what he wants but is it what God wants? Will David’s past be held against him?

When a tragic accident happens and a life is nearly lost, we see God’s mighty hand working.

I have read all of Laura V Hilton’s Amish fiction books. She is one of my very favorite authors. She has a way of telling a story and when it comes to an end, leaves me wanting more. Her books are filled with God, scriptures, prayers, and faith. That is important to me. I also love that she writes clean romance. I would never be ashamed to pass her books along to a friend or church member.

I can’t wait to read the next book in this series!

I was given an Advanced Readers Copy of this book by the author and publisher to read and review. The opinions expressed in this review are mine alone. ( )