Review: Seasons of an Amish Garden by Amy Clipston

My rating: 3 stars / I liked it

Synopsis

Enjoy a year of beautiful seasons in this new story collection, as young Amish couples manage a community garden and harvest friendships and love along the way.

Spring Is in the Air
As the young people of Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania, plant a garden in memory of their friend, Katie Ann begins to worry that her older brother, Ephraim, is dating her best friend. What if she somehow loses them both? But Christian, a new boy in the community, also works in the garden—and falling for him may be exactly the distraction, and lesson, that Katie Ann needs.

Home by Summer
Clara Hertzler is surprised when Jerry Petersheim, her old friend, comes to the garden to drop off his younger sister—especially because Jerry has been gone for years, and now seems to be living as an Englisher. As the friends get to know each other again, Clara pushes Jerry to examine why he abandoned his Amish beliefs. Will Clara help Jerry renew his faith in God, and will they find love beneath the summer sun?

The Fruits of Fall
Tena Speicher has come to live in Bird-in-Hand after her fiancé left her for an English woman. When a homeless veteran comes to the fruit stand one day and asks for food, Tena is not sure how to respond—but Wayne intervenes and offers to let him stay in the barn. Afraid to trust Englishers, Tena must learn, with Wayne’s help, that everyone is a child of God and deserving of kindness.

Winter Blessings
Ephraim and Mandy have dated for some time and now have plans to marry. But after a series of unexpected events and misunderstandings, they wonder if they should go their separate ways. What will happen when their friends at the Amish garden conspire to bring them back together?

My Review

This collection of stories is based off the novella the author wrote in An Amish Christmas Love, The Christmas Cat. A group of Amish youth are stranded at a widow's home during a storm and they enjoy getting to know her more and reminiscing about her husband. He had a special place in his heart for the local homeless shelter, so the youth decide to raise money to donate in his honor. In this book are four stories revolving around the garden and the young people who come together to take care of it. I love the concept, but some of the relationship drama seems immature and contrived. My favorite parts were with the widow, Emma, and her wisdom that she shares with her young friends.

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