Book Review: Beyond Hope's Valley

Author: Tricia Goyer
Title: Beyond Hope's Valley
Publisher: B & H Publishing
Publish Date: Feb 28, 2012
Buy: Amazon

Review Copy Provided By: Net Galley

Book Blurb: After an extended stay in Montana, where Amish traditions are different than in her home state, Marianna Sommer returns to Indiana for two reasons, first to help her brother and his girlfriend prepare for a baby and their wedding. Second, to plan her own wedding to Aaron Zook -- a marriage she’s been dreaming about ever since childhood. And yet, although she had missed the idyllic farms and families of her upbringing, Marianna is surprised that Indiana is somehow making her long now for Montana.

As months pass, secrets that were hidden in winter’s frozen grasp thaw and take on a life of their own. The truths about a child, about a past relationship, and about God’s plans are being revealed. Walking through a valley of questions, Marianna must hold on to hope as she decides where and with whom her heart truly belongs.

Review: Tricia Goyer's Amish romances are a little bit different from the stories I'm used to reading. Tricia's books are more faith based than what I usually read.

The story is told through several points of view; Marianna the Amish girl returning to her home state of Indiana to wed Aaron, her mother Ruth, who has had struggles in her younger days with her Amish faith and Ben, an Christian singer with a troubled past.

The book read much like an Amish soap opera, if there were such a thing, with children out of wedlock, and paternity questions that are thought about, but not spoken of. It reminds the reader that though the Amish are plain folk that some may consider backwards, they have the same problems and struggles as the rest of us.

There's a lot of drama between the characters, and a lot deals with the ways each Amish community view the church laws. Things in Montana, where Marianna  had spent the last year were more liberal than the Indiana community. That didn't make things easy for her when she returned home.

I found from the very start, that I wasn't terribly fond of Aaron. It was hard not to feel confusion about his character, especially with some of the foreshadowing that Tricia gives to you as you read. By the time things come to a climax, you really want to take him out behind a barn and knock him around in a most un Christian-like manner.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a unique Amish story, with a lot of twists and turns, and things that make you think. It was also a very sweet love story.

I highly recommend this book and Tricia Goyer, in general, for those that like Amish/Christian fiction.

Rating: 5 flowers

Book Review: Katie's Choice

Author: Amy Lillard
Title: Katie's Choice
Publisher: B & H
Publish Date: May 1, 2013
Buy: Amazon

Review Copy Provided By: Net Galley

Book Blurb: 

Katie Rose Fisher loved Samuel Beachy with an intensity that shook their Amish district. No one doubted they would one day marry, until Samuel turned his back on the church and joined the world of the English.

Alone now in Clover Ridge, Katie Rose dedicates her life to God and the school children she teaches each day. Although she secretly longs for more, Katie knows God’s hand is at work, and she is happy.

News correspondent Zane Carson never even knew Oklahoma had an Amish community until he got the chance to live among them and learn about their day-to-day activities. Their simple way of life is intriguing, but not half as much as the young teacher.

Katie Rose is flattered over the attention she receives from Zane, but she has resolved to never marry. Even if she were to entertain the idea, it surely couldn’t be with an outsider like Zane.

Never one prone to the restraints of organized religion, Zane finds a comfort in the rituals and blessings in the day to day righteous living of this small Amish community. He finds himself, God, and love with Katie Rose.

But as Zane draws closer to Katie Rose, Samuel comes back to repent his ways and return to his place at her side. Can Zane convince Katie Rose that he is committed to adapting to her way of life, or will Samuel win her affec- tions back for himself once again

Review: Most books that you read about the Amish involve just the Amish. This book was very different in that respect. Zane Carson is a worldly reported, used to covering stories in the worst conditions. He's sent to Oklahoma to study the Amish way of life and bring their story to the world for his magazine.

Amy Lillard brings the day to day life of the Fisher family to life on each page. You feel like you knew all of them. I adored Ruth, who was undergoing treatment for breast cancer and had her own demons she was facing. She was spunky and determined even though she was frightened.

And John Paul, who seems like the typical teenage boy on his rumspringa, who is anything but.

These characters show the importance of family as well as Zane's journey to find God and love. You may think that the story is about Katie Rose, and yes, she's the heroine here, but it is Zane who is front and center.

Amy shows us through his eyes how the Amish live and how he came to become one of them while he worked on her families farm and how he fell in love with her.

It isn't often that Englischers turn Amish. I hope that in future books, we'll see if Zane and Katie's relationship succeeds. You certainly are rooting for them. You even feel a bit sad for Zane's girlfriend, who is often forgotten throughout the book. As for Samuel Beachy? Well when he returns you have to let out a groan of disgust. I mean, he left the faith and was gone for 6 years and expected Katie to agree to marry him?

Not good marriage material if you ask me.

Again, it leaves you wondering what will become of him in the future, will he return to the fold or will he go back out into the world

I can't wait for the next book!

Rating: 5 flowers

Book Review: The Forgotten Duke

Author: Jamie Carie
Title: The Forgotten Duke A Forgotten Castles Novel
Publisher: B & H Books
Publish Date: July 1, 2012
Buy: Amazon
Review Copy Provided By: Net Galley
Book Blurb: Tethered by her impulsive promise to marry Lord John Lemon - the path of least resistance - Alexandria Featherstone sets off toward Iceland in search of her parents with a leaden heart. A glimpse of her guardian, the Duke of St. Easton - the path less traveled by - on Dublin’s shore still haunts her.

Will he come after her? Will he drag her back to London, quelling her mission to rescue her treasure-seeking parents, or might he decide to throw caution to the wind and choose Foy Pour Devoir: “Faith for Duty,” the St. Easton motto. The Featherstone motto Valens et Volens: “Willing and Able,” beats in her heart and thrums through her veins. She will find her parents and find their love, no matter the cost.

The powerful yet wing-clipped Duke of St. Easton has never known the challenge that has become his life since hearing his ward’s name. Alexandria Featherstone will be the life or the death of him. Only time and God’s plan will reveal just how much this man can endure for the prize of love.

Review: The first thing you must know is that this book is part of a series, and when I say part of a series, I mean one that focuses on the same characters in each book. I wish I had known that before I took the plunge on this one, because you really should read The Guardian Duke before this one. Things will make a lot more sense if you do.

That said, I didn't, but I still read on. It made things a bit more challenging, because it gave me a feeling of being late for a big party, but overall, the author did her best to keep you up to date with things that had happened before the start of this book.

The book has a lot of pros and cons though.

Pros:

The heroine is very strong willed. You have to admire a women who would keep on searching for her parents after they had been missing for a year, especially when the conditions she faced in her search were so dangerous.

The Christian aspect is certainly a strong part of the story, but it isn't the most important part of the story. I liked how Alexendria and Gabriel's faith felt like a natural part of their lives.

There was a lot of attention to detail, especially when the characters were in Iceland. I learned quite a bit about Icelandic Horses from this book.

Gabriel was truly the best character. He had flaws but he wasn't truly doing what he felt best and trying to do so without hurting anyone...well until that moment in Iceland. He faced quite a bit of hardship for Alex. I'm not quite sure she deserved him.

Cons:

John Lemon: Is he or isn't he truly a villain? He's a character that I really had mixed feelings about. Did he really want her for her money? What really motivated him? Too many unanswered questions. Like did he really seduce Alex. ARGH!

Alexandria's feelings for the Duke. Most of the time, her running away to search for her parents seemed rash. She trusted Gabriel, why did she run? I guess I'd know if I read the first book.

I didn't like how she treated John. I understand that she needed him to keep up her search, but she really did lead him on, in a not so nice way.

OMG what the heck is the thing her parents were searching for!! This machine that the manuscript is about seems to give the story an otherworldly feel.

Overall, this was a nice regency story. I probably would have connected better with the characters if I had read the first book, but it did passably well as a stand alone. I'm definitely curious to read what happens in the final book of the trilogy.

Rating:3 flowers