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

Book Review: Rachel's Secret

Author: B.J. Hoff
Title Rachel's Secret
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers
Publish Date: Oct 1, 2008
Buy: Amazon

Book Blurb:Bestselling author BJ Hoff promises to delight her many faithful readers with her compelling new series, The Riverhaven Years. With the first book, Rachel’s Secret, Hoff introduces a new community of unforgettable characters and adds the elements readers have come to expect from her novels: a tender love story, the faith journeys of people we grow to know and love, and enough suspense to keep the pages turning quickly.

 When the wounded Irish American riverboat captain, Jeremiah Gant, bursts into the rural Amish setting of Riverhaven, he brings chaos and conflict to the community--especially for young widow, Rachel Brenneman. The unwelcome “outsider” needs a safe place to recuperate before continuing his secret role as an Underground Railroad conductor. Neither he nor Rachel is prepared for the forbidden love that threatens to endanger a man’s mission, a woman’s heart, and a way of life for an entire people. 

Review: This is the first Amish historical I've read. It definitely was a different style of story from what I'm used to with Amish fiction/romance, and I have to say, it was a really enjoyable read.

Like most  Amish stories there's a lot of drama involving the characters and the Englischers. In this case, an Irishman is shot and seeks the help of Rachel and her family. Jeremiah Gant is a conductor on the underground railroad, that in itself brings a whole new spin one what to expect in Amish fiction.

A lot of the story deals with the persecution of the Amish in the Riverhaven area. Rachel's husband was a victim of a violent act of hatred. When the violence starts again, families are torn apart, because the Amish believe in forgiveness and not revenge.

B.J. Hoff does a wonderful job describing how the Amish live and their beliefs. I also loved the two romances that bloom in this story, although only one comes to anything so far.

It was really easy to get wrapped up in the lives of the characters, each had something special that is brought to the story, whether it is Asa, the free man of color, helping Jeremiah with the Underground Railroad, Doc Sebastian and his secret love for Rachel's mother Susan,  Fannie,  Rachel's sister and Gideon her brother. These are character's you really feel like you know. 

I look forward to reading the next two books in this trilogy!

Rating:  5 flowers