Marianne Ellis (2)Critiques

Summer Promise by Marianne Ellis is the first An Amish Seasons Novel. Miriam Brenneman is dealing with the loss of her father and wondering what it would have been like to have a mother growing up. Her sister, Sarah who lives in San Francisco is returning for the summer. Miriam is hoping it will give them a chance to reconnect, but she is also nervous. Miriam has always felt hat she was her husband’s second choice. She wonders if Daniel regrets marrying her since she has been unable to provide him with a child. When her beloved farm stand is destroyed, Miriam fears it will be her undoing. Summer Promise is well-written with developed, realistic characters. I enjoyed the author’s descriptions of the scenery especially the farm stand. The farm stand is something that benefited everyone in the community. There are good life lessons in the story. People think gossip is harmless, but it is not to the person who is being talked about. Another lesson is the importance of communication is relationships. Holding things in is not good for either party. I love the community in this story. When someone is in need, the others are there for them. They take care of your chores when you are grieving or have just given birth as well as other situations. I liked how Eli was helped. You can see that it does take a village to raise a child. Summer Promise is a simple yet touching story. I wish this writing duo would create more Amish stories like this one. Summer Promise is the perfect type of story for a rainy afternoon. Summer Promise is a thoughtful Amish tale with a caring community, family farm stand, an Englisch sister, a missed mother, a profuse farm, and a startling surprise.

Excellent story. I knew Ruth and Levi would get together at the end but events kept me turning pages from start to finish.

“Autumn Grace” was written by Marianne Ellis as one of the novels in her Amish Seasons Series. Ruth Schrock is the oldest of a large family with seven daughters. She helps out on the farm as much as a brother would. Her father is deacon of their community. Her mother is expecting in a few months. It seems that everyone is always commenting on Ruth and her unconventional way of acting. Even though she has been baptized, she has problems conforming to the rigid standards her father expects.

She is approached by a nearby Amish community to teach in their school. Her father gives permission, but seems to think that Ruth will fail. Levi Yoder is an unmarried man who is on the school board and who lives near the school house. He is a quiet man who takes care of wounded or sick wild animals until they can be released back into the wild. He helps Ruth with different problems that she has with the other members of the school board and also with her scholars, as the students are called.

I found this to be a very entertaining book. I always marvel at the different story lines that authors dream up and write about. There is always a common theme of romance, but also problems that need to be overcome. Usually, I find that the main characters have a difficult time adhering to the Ordnung or unwritten laws for their particular community. Some of those laws I find ludicrous and irritating. I know that I could never be Amish, although I would certainly enjoy a life that is quieter and more relaxed than what we live today.

Night Owl Reviews and Berkley Publishing Company provided a free print copy to me in return for my honest review of this book.

You can find this review on my blog at http://wp.me/p2pjIt-8Q.