Lilly's Wedding Quilt by Kelly Long

Book Title: Lilly's Wedding Quilt
Subtitle: A Patch of Heaven Novel
Author: Kelly Long
Genre: Christian, Romance, Amish
ISBN: 978-1-59554-871-9

Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Suggested Retail Price: $14.99

From the book:

She isn't looking for love. He's mending a broken heart. It will take divine intervention for these two to get together. Local Amish schoolteacher Lilly Lapp is tired of weddings, afraid of horses, and immersed in caring for her depressed mother. But when Jacob Wyse, a handsome horse breeder from her small community rescues her from a dangerous accident, Lilly discovers a renewed interest in life and the possibility of love.
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Lilly is busy caring for her mother who suffers from depression since her father died.  She seems to spend all her time teaching the local Amish school children and taking care of her mother and their home.   She has given up hoping for a husband and family of her own.  Jacob is in love with a woman who has chosen another man as her husband.  He's convinced that he can love no one but her.  When he and Lilly are thrown together suddenly, he feels the only way to save her reputation is to propose to her.  They end up married even though Jacob does not love her and Lily knows that.  God is working in their lives in ways they don't understand.

I truly enjoyed this book quite a lot. It's very rare in Amish fiction to read about people with emotional difficulties.   Seeing the problems that Lilly's mother goes through and how Lilly deals with it was truly inspiring.  There is also a little boy in the story who has learning disabilities and it was heartwarming to see how the community rallied around these two people during their difficulties.  It's also refreshing to see a Christian story where the main characters are less than perfect.  Sometimes it seems as though the *good* Christians in many fiction stories lead perfect lives and that is not always the case in the real world.

Also included in Lilly's Wedding quilt is a reading group guide and author notes.  Lilly's Wedding Quilt is a Patch of Heaven Novel. I believe it is number two.  The first is Sarah's Garden and is also by Kelly Long. I hope to be able to read that one as well.

My thanks to the sponsor for allowing me to review this book.

As required by the FTC: I received a product sample in order to write my review.  I received no monetary compensation.  All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

What the Heart Sees by Kathleen Fuller

Book Title: What the Heart Sees
Author: Kathleen Fuller
Genre: Fiction, Christian, Romance
ISBN: 978-1-59554-919-8
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Suggested Retail Price: $14.99

From the book:


Together for the first time, three Amish Romances from Kathleen Fuller.

"A Miracle for Miriam" from An Amish Christmas

Miriam fell for Seth, but he broke her heart. Years later, after he’s nearly killed in an accident, Miriam sees him at a Christmas party and notices something is different about him—not just how he looks, but how he acts. When Seth pursues her, she must decide whether to guard her heart or accept his love.

"A Place of His Own" from An Amish Gathering

When Josiah left Paradise the first time, he didn't even say good-bye. Now he's back, ten years later, and he's changed. Why is he so distant and bitter? Where is the boy who used to be Amanda's best friend? Amanda is learning that there are things even a capable Amish girl can't fix. But can she stand there and watch him walk away...again?

"What the Heart Sees" from An Amish Love

A tragic accident rocks a peaceful Amish community, leaving Ellie Chupp blinded and Christopher Bender's future shattered. But they find love and forgiveness in a place they least expect.
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Kathleen Fuller is one of my favorite authors of Amish Fiction.  These three stories by her were previously published in An Amish Christmas, An Amish Gathering and An Amish Love.  They feature three Amish couples trying to find themselves and God and each other through various struggles. 

In A Miracle for Miriam, Miriam feels she is unattractive and has a hard time believing that Seth is interested in her.  Her self doubt  threatens to destroy their budding relationship before it has a chance to grow.  She needs to learn to trust in God's plans for her.

In A Place of His Own, Josiah is running from his past and foolish decisions he's made. He's convinced he doesn't deserve anything good in his life and tries so hard to push away the very things that God is sending his way.

In What the Heart Sees, Ellis is blind and is resigned to never being in love again because of this. She's convinced no man would want her because she's blind. She needs to learn to let go of the past so that she can learn what her future offers.  What the Heart Sees includes a Reading Group Guide and Old Order Amish Recipes.

I really loved these stories because they show real people struggling with real problems.  It doesn't try to set the characters up as perfect people so it's easy to identify with their problems and lives.  I enjoyed seeing the problems through both the women's and men's viewpoints.  It made the stories all the more interesting to me.  I really appreciate the lessons that these stories teach. It's so common to be quite convinced that we know what God intends for us that we totally miss all the signs He's sending us to let us know what He really wants.  Definitely a great addition to my bookshelf!

My thanks to BookSneeze for allowing me to review this book.

As required by the FTC: I received a product sample in order to write my review.  I received no monetary compensation.  All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.

An Amish Love by Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller & Kelly Long

Book Title: An Amish Love
Subtitle: Three Amish Novellas
Author: Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller & Kelly Long
Genre: Christian, Romance
ISBN: 978-1-59554-875-7
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Suggested Retail Price: $14.99

An Amish Love is a collection of three Amish Romances.  Each novella features a woman in a different stage of her life. Healing Hearts is about Lavina and Naaman Lapp.  Lavina's children are grown and her husband, Naaman, leaves her to visit his cousin and doesn't come back for almost a year.  When he does come back, she needs to learn to trust him again and welcome him back into her life despite what some others think. I enjoyed this novella because it lets you see that no one is perfect and that we all struggle with our inner demons regardless of whether or not we're twenty or forty. It was nice to see a romance that features are more mature woman.

A Marriage of the Heart tells the story of Abby Kauffman and Joseph Lambert. After her mother dies, she is left at home with her father. She feels empty and alone and makes a rash decision that ends up getting her married to Joseph who is new to their community. By learning more of who she is, she learns to love Joseph and they grow together. This story is a true young love, happily ever after type of story.  But more than that, it's a story that lets you see two imperfect people growing and maturing into a couple with a strong relationship and a good future together.  That's rare in the real world and nice to see in a romance.

What the Heart Sees is about Ellie Chupp. She lost her site in an accident and then her boyfriend left her. She doesn't think she will ever have a husband because she's blind. When she meets a friend from long ago, sparks fly but she still doesn't believe he's interested in her because she's blind. He is trying to overcome a tragedy and she helps him with this. It's wonderful to see the friendship that this romance started with blossom into something more.

This is a wonderful collection of short stories for you to enjoy on Valentine's Day or any time. The book also includes old order Amish recipes and a reading group guide.  Definitely one of my favorite Amish stories.

My thanks to Thomas Nelson for allowing me to review this book.

As required by the FTC: I received a product sample in order to write my review.  I received no monetary compensation.  All opinions expressed are mine and mine alone.