My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing
Ivy Yoder thought she had found the man she would marry, but she returns to her Amish community of Birch Creek with a broken heart. When a family friend asks for her help in cleaning out an attic, she's grateful for the chance to get her mind off the betrayal.
Noah Schlabach is an Amish auctioneer and is eager to get into his aunt’s attic in search of lost treasures. He loves learning about the past, and he has created a thriving auction business for himself. When he meets Ivy, he suspects his aunt is trying to set them up, but all of that is forgotten when they come across a box of old love letters.
While Noah is more interested in potential auction items than love letters, Ivy is swept up in the story of the young couple. She's also fighting her growing feelings for Noah—she can't risk her heart again. But if there is one thing these young Amish people learn from the past, it’s that they must take hold of the gifts of today. With a little help from the letters, and a lot of help from God, Noah and Ivy begin to live in the present, full of love.
My Review
This is a gentle story of growing and overcoming heartbreak to give love another chance. I loved how the author wove several plot elements together for a steady pace that kept me invested in the characters and the choices they made. Ivy learns how strong she is as she recovers from disappointment and earns a newfound confidence in herself. Noah is going the opposite direction- full of confidence and success, but a new obstacle is wearing on him and he is at a loss for solutions. His matchmaking aunt is fun and quirky, and the old love letters they find in her attic bring Ivy and Noah closer together in friendship, with attraction simmering beneath the surface. I enjoyed the mannerisms of Ivy and Noah which made them come to life as I read. Another lovely addition to the Amish Letters series, and don't worry- each book can easily be read as a stand alone or out of order.
(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)
Don't miss the previous books in the Amish Letters series . . .
Book One
Book Two
Don't miss the previous books in the Amish Letters series . . .
Book One
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.
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.
Book Two
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?
