Monday, July 28, 2014

Book Review: The Amish Blacksmith

Author: Mindy Starns Clark & Susan Meissner
Title: The Amish Blacksmith
Publisher: Harvest House Publishing
Publish Date: August 1, 2014
Buy: Amazon
Review Copy Provided By: Net Galley
Book Blurb: Apprenticed blacksmith Jake Miller is skeptical of Priscilla Kinsinger’s innate ability to soothe troubled horses, especially when he has own ideas on how to calm them. Six years earlier, Priscilla’s mother died in an awful accident at home, and Priscilla’s grief over losing her mother was so intense that she was sent to live with relatives in Indiana. She has just returned to Lancaster County.

Not that her homecoming matters to Jake, who is interested in courting lighthearted Amanda Shetler. But Jake’s boss is Priscilla’s uncle, and when the man asks Jake to help his niece reconnect with community life, he has no choice but to do just that. Surprisingly, he finds himself slowly drawn to the beautiful but emotionally wounded Priscilla.

Jake then determines to prove to her that it’s not her fault her mother died, but what he discovers will challenge everything they both believe about the depth of love and the breadth of forgiveness.


Review: This was a really unique bit of Amish fiction/romance.

Why, you ask?

Because the authors give you the story from the hero's perspective, and Jake Miller is such a wonderful Amish guy.

There are actually two aspects to this story; the relationship with Priscilla and his job with horses, he's a Blacksmith/Horse whisperer.

The dealings with the horses is actually the more enjoyable part of the story, as is getting Priscilla's back story.

Jake's romances were a little bit too predictable. You knew what was going to happen with Amanda long before it did.

It is really Jake, Priscilla and Patch, January and Duchess that bring the novel to life. I loved the horses, and I loved how the two of them figured out each animal's needs. I would have loved more of the story to have focused on Jake, Priscilla and the horses.

One of the reasons for this is Priscilla. Even though we got to know her better in the second part of the book, through her recounting the weeks leading up to her mother's death, you don't feel like you really "know" her. She's really a mystery.

I did like how Jake found himself through his letters to Priscilla. It was a different twist, and another reason why I enjoyed getting a novel from the hero's point of view.

A great read for lovers of all things Amish.

Rating: 4 flowers


1 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great review. I want to read this!

 
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