Review: The Promise of a Letter by Kathleen Fuller

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

A letter brings him back to Birch Creek. Can one feisty woman make him stay?

Roman is on the verge of leaving the Amish church. He feels confined by the strict rules and longs to do something more with his life. But when his brother is gravely injured, Roman receives a letter from his sister-in-law, begging him to move to Birch Creek to help the young family.

Leanna Chupp as always made her own way in her small community of Birch Creek. Though some may call her unconventional--strange, even--Leanna is passionate about her faith. Her unique outlook on life has meant she’s never had many suitors pursuing courtship, but she is happy being single and believes she always will be.

But when Roman and Leanna find themselves working together again, everything changes. Neither of them fit squarely within the strictures of the Amish faith, but could their differences be the one thing that helps them form a deeper connection to their faith . . . and each other?


My Review

I absolutely loved Leanna! She is a unique character that owns her eccentricities and enjoys her independence. I admired her confidence, yet in this story her confidence is deeply shaken when her life is turned upside down in more than one unforeseen way. The manner in which she deals with her new circumstances and new friendship with Roman shows her compassion and ability to forgive. I enjoyed seeing Roman's journey as he is searching for his place and purpose despite being the black sheep of the family. We also see the struggles of Roman's brother Daniel and his wife Barbara which are heartbreaking but also full of hope and God's grace. Even though Roman and Daniel's grandmother has passed away, she is a major influence in the book and the lives of these men as she encourages them via letter to reconcile and support each other. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and connecting with the characters! I can't wait to see what's next in the series!

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

Extras

Check out the author's special Pinterest boards focused on the themes in the book:

The Promise of a Letter: Journal Ideas

The Promise of a Letter: Be Unique

The Promise of a Letter: Scripture

Link-up: Free / Bargain Books

Sharing the Love of Books
Enjoy our selection of New Releases / Free & Bargain Books this week

Authors please feel free to add your own books
Readers please free to add your own finds
(any genre except erotica welcome)

This weekly link up is hosted by Beck Valley Books & these awesome book loving blogs...
Monday
 Leels Loves Books | IrishdaisylovesRomance | Book Babble | Traci Hayden
Tuesday
Celticlady's Reviews | First Time Mommy Adventures 
Wednesday
Beck Valley Books | Jude Ouvrard
Thursday
Miki's Hope | Heidi Reads...
Friday
Ebook Addicts | I Love Romance | Colorimetry | J.C. Clarke
Saturday
3 Partners in Shopping | I Create Purty Thangs | Wishful Endings 

Sunday

Ali - The Dragon Slayer | Deal Sharing Aunt | Magic of Books Book Blog

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(Strictly no Erotica please.  Steamy romance is fine but watch those covers people, incase any underage child is viewing it!)

Here is this weeks awesome selection!

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Review: Written in Love by Kathleen Fuller

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

When a postal error creates pen pals of two young Amish people, can they put behind their past mistakes to see the bright future God has written for them?

Jalon Chupp has a past he isn’t proud to claim. He’s worked hard to overcome his youthful mistakes, and he has recommitted himself to his faith. When he receives a sweet note included in a piece of misdirected mail, he can’t help but write back. Soon, the letters he receives from Phoebe are the highlights of his days, and with a hopeful heart, he suggests they meet in person.

Phoebe, too, looks forward to every single one of Jalon’s letters. Living with her overbearing aunt, Phoebe doesn’t have too much to look forward to. But when Jalon suggests they meet, she panics—although she has shared some of the deepest longings of her heart with him, she hasn’t been entirely truthful about her past. But when Jalon shows up at her aunt’s doorstep, everything is revealed. And she can only pray he’ll forgive her for holding back the truth.

In order to reach beyond the errors of their pasts, both Phoebe and Jalon must put their faith in something—or Someone—bigger than either of them could pen.

My Review

I love letter writing, so the meet-cute via postal service was one that caught my attention and was so sweet! For the amount of communication Jalon and Phoebe do in the beginning through letters, they have an awful lot of miscommunication once they meet in real life. Jalon is a private person and finds it hard to verbalize his feelings, which is probably why letter writing was easier for him than face-to-face interactions. Despite his reticence, Phoebe can see his compassion, kindness, and strength, especially with her son. I liked that neither of them are perfect, but they draw close to each other even though their flaws create conflict that they must overcome. I loved being back in Birch Creek from the author's previous series- it has a wonderful sense of community and Phoebe finds herself finally welcomed and not condemned for her past. The family members and neighbors of Jalon play a big role in working together to support Jalon and Phoebe and resolving many of the challenges they face. I'm looking forward to getting to know them more and seeing where the series takes them!

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

Romance Awareness Month Giveaway #2

Happy Romance Awareness Month! 

I'll be giving away FOUR print books from the Proper Romance line, courtesy of Shadow Mountain Publishing! Giveaway #1 for Edenbrooke by Julianne Donaldson is going on until August 18th, ENTER HERE. 

Today's giveaway is for a print copy of Blackmoore also by Julianne Donaldson. I love this one just as much as Edenbrooke, but it has a more Gothic feel with an interesting style of telling the story. It's one I love to re-read! Enter below!

Synopsis

Kate Worthington knows her heart and she knows she will never marry. Her plan is to travel to India instead—if only to find peace for her restless spirit and to escape the family she abhors. But Kate’s meddlesome mother has other plans. She makes a bargain with Kate: India, yes, but only after Kate has secured—and rejected—three marriage proposals.

Kate journeys to the stately manor of Blackmoore determined to fulfill her end of the bargain and enlists the help of her dearest childhood friend, Henry Delafield. But when it comes to matters of love, bargains are meaningless and plans are changeable. There on the wild lands of Blackmoore, Kate must face the truth that has kept her heart captive. Will the proposal she is determined to reject actually be the one thing that will set her heart free?

Set in Northern England in 1820, Blackmoore is a Regency romance that tells the story of a young woman struggling to learn how to follow her heart. It is Wuthering Heights meets Little Women with a delicious must-read twist.

Entry-Form