Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Leah's Choice (Hannah's Daughters #4)

by Emma Miller (Goodreads Author)

4.08 of 5 stars 4.08 · rating details · 89 ratings · 23 reviews

With dreams of marrying an Old Order Amish man, Leah Yoder plans on raising children in the peaceful Delaware community. But when Mennonite missionary Daniel Brown arrives to share his story with their church, Leah is fascinated by him. She spends time with Daniel in a forbidden courtship to learn how she truly feels about him. Before long, Leah has a choice to make. Shoul...more

Paperback, 224 pages

Published April 17th 2012 by Love Inspired

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

This book is not yet featured on Listopia. Add this book to your favorite list »

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 200)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Jan 21, 2013 Veronica rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: inspirational-romance

Unlike most readers of this book, I am not a big fan of Amish fiction, I'm just not. Three stars is a pretty high rating for me for an Amish romance.
This book was cute. I have to say the biggest draw was that Daniel was a Mennonite, it was a good twist to the genre.
I loved Daniel's character. He was awesome. He made me want to marry him and go live in the jungle. Well maybe not quite that far but I really liked his character.
I also really enjoyed Leah's character. I liked her outspoken person...more

like · see review

May 14, 2012 Rhonda rated it 4 of 5 stars

Review: Leah's Choice by Emma Miller
4 STARS
Leah's Choice is a good, uplifting, fast read.
Leah is Amish and her family has lived the plain and simple way. No phones, cars ect. Leah has not been baptised in her church even though her little sister at 16 did.
The Menonites invited some of the Amish youth to hear a Daniel speak about his missionary experience and show powerpoint of the different folks and
places he served. Before he could start a call for help went out a six year old boy was lost ou...more

like · see review

Apr 16, 2012 Ausjenny rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: amish

Thanks to netGalley for my review copy.

I have read a couple others in this series of Hannah's Daughters and have enjoyed the stories. If you haven't read the other books you will still follow this book. Leah has come home with her sister Rebecca from helping her grandmother in Ohio. In Ohio she had more freedom in a Amish District which wasn't quite as strict. Daniel is a Mennonite missionary which some of the Amish youth go to listen to. Leah watches the presentation and is moved by the picture...more

like · see review

Apr 02, 2012 Emma Cunningham added it

I have a guilty pleasure: Amish romance.

Sometimes I just want to abandon everything and move to an Amish farm in the middle of nowhere. Then I remember that a) I’m an atheist, b) I’m a technology junkie, and…yeah. But somehow, Emma Miller convinces me, temporarily, that I want to go live on an Amish farm.

So then what happens when one of the girls on said Amish farm thinks about converting to the Mennonite faith and moving across the world to be with a Mennonite missionary?

Tha...more

1 like · like · see review

Jul 17, 2012 Robin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Leah’s Choice
Emma Miller

Book Summary: Falling for an Englisher. With dreams of marrying an Old Order Amish man, Leah Yoder plans on raising children in the peaceful Delaware community. But when Mennonite missionary Daniel Brown arrives to share his story with their church, Leah is fascinated by him. She spends time with Daniel in a forbidden courtship to learn how she truly feels about him. Before long, Leah has a choice to make. Should she stay with her community...or leave with the man she bel...more

like · see review

May 14, 2012 Andrea Guy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-reads, amish, amishfictionreadingchallenge, christian, ebook, netgalley

This is one of the books in Miller's series Hannah's Daughters. It is a little slow moving in comparison to the others. I kept wishing Leah would make her choice or at least admit to her feelings about the young Mennonite (Daniel).

I actually enjoyed the side story of Johanna and Wilber over Leah and Daniel. There was more intrigue there, and the outcome at the end of the book between these characters. Their story had more substance, domestic abuse and depression. In the case of Leah and Daniel i...more

like · see review

May 21, 2012 Danica Page (One Page at a Time) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley, asked-to-review, amish, christian-fiction, romance, young-adult, adult-fiction, out-in-2012

This is a condensed version of my review. The extended version can be found here.

Disclaimers: I received an e-galley of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

My Overall Thoughts/Impressions: First off, this is the first book I've read by Emma Miller and I can assure you it won't be the last. This book was definitely one of my favorite Amish fiction novels of the year.

This was in large part due to how much I adored the character Leah and Daniel. I also just loved the m...more

like · see review

Mar 21, 2012 Leanne Bell rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: adults, general-romance, kindle-read, read-2012, read-march-2012, young-adult, blue-green-grey, net-galley-arc

I requested this off Net Galley because I was in the mood for a relatively easy read with a bit of romance (guess I was looking for comfort at the time). What strikes me as weird is that despite being Agnostic myself I could still relate to Leah on some scale and Daniel and whereas to me the choices presented to them would have been simple, to Leah it really wasn't and that came across really well throughout the story.
I admire courage in heroines in whatever story I read, no matter what shape th...more

like · see review

Jul 05, 2012 Chrissy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley, read-in-2012

I must admit that I have a guilty pleasure for reading novels about the Amish, one that started when I discovered my first Beverly Lewis series. So when I saw that LEAH'S CHOICE by Emma Miller was available to read at Netgalley, I jumped at the chance to take another peek into the world of the Amish.

Now, I didn't realize at the time that this was a part of a series, but luckily for me it works perfectly fine as a stand-alone novel. And, I can't deny that the pink cursive "Love Inspired" font at...more I must admit that I have a guilty pleasure for reading novels about the Amish, one that started when I discovered my first Beverly Lewis series. So when I saw that LEAH'S CHOICE by Emma Miller was available to read at Netgalley, I jumped at the chance to take another peek into the world of the Amish.

Now, I didn't realize at the time that this was a part of a series, but luckily for me it works perfectly fine as a stand-alone novel. And, I can't deny that the pink cursive "Love Inspired" font at the top made me a bit nervous. I tend to run screaming from romance novels, afraid that they'll be too gushy or too sexual or too unrealistic for my tastes.

I was pleasantly surprised all around with this little gem!

Our main character here is Leah, a devout young Amish woman who has never quite questioned her stance upon the plain people. That is, of course, until she meets Daniel, an enthusiastic Mennonite missionary who shakes her world, challenges her believes, and forces her to make very difficult decisions about her life.

In this story, we learn that the Amish tend to see themselves as a people set apart, believing that the truest expression of God's Word is to live a completely separate life free from the taint and trouble of the outside world. On the other hand, the Mennonite believe that they are called to share the Gospel, maintaining that the purest expression of the Faith is a life that reaches out to help the needy and the unbelieving beyond themselves. As an Amish woman, Leah knows that a decision to marry Daniel would be a decision to leave her family and her faith forever. As a Mennonite missionary, though, Daniel feels that he could never fit the mold of a plain man, content to isolate himself from the traveling life of ministry that has been his calling.

While I was a bit put off by the insta-love, which is only slightly more appealing in Christian fiction than in the young adult novels that seem to abuse it so frequently, I was surprised to find a delicate level of depth and warmth behind the story. The characters were likeable, their decisions were relatable, and the overall message was inspirational without being overly saccharine to the common reader.

For any fans of Amish fiction, romance, or Christian literature, definitely give LEAH's CHOICE a fair chance. I'm interested to find the other books in the series to get a bit deeper look at the other sisters mentioned in this novel.(less)

like · see review

May 18, 2012 IrenesChristianReviews rated it 5 of 5 stars

First let me acknowledge that this is number four in the series called Hannah’s Daughters. I have not read any of the other books in the series but still enjoyed this story on its own.

Leah Yoder is at a crossroads in her life. She is not ready to commit and join her local Amish sect but is not sure what she is yearning for. A Mennonite missionary comes to speak and Leah is drawn to him. Daniel Brown is between missionary trips when he stops by the Delaware community. Meeting Leah changes his lif...more

like · see review

Aug 23, 2012 Shari Larsen rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is book #4 in the Hannah's Daughters series. It works as a stand alone book, but recommend reading the first 3 of the series first.

Leah Yoder is an Amish woman, who always thought she'd marry an Old Order Amish man, but when she meets Mennonite Daniel Brown, she is fascinated by him. She spends time with him in a forbidden courtship to learn how she truly feels about him. Before long, she has a decision to make; stay in her community, or leave it behind to be be with Daniel, who she believe...more

like · see review

Oct 12, 2012 Mercedes Cordero rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian-fiction

After watching her sisters get married, Leah Yoder wondered about her future husband, the Amish man she was going to spend the rest of her life with, and raise their children while living in their Amish community close to her family. However, when she meets Daniel Brown, a Mennonite missionary, she is taken aback. She is attracted to him, finds him fascinating, and starts questioning her Amish ways.

On his part, Daniel is awestruck by Leah, this beautiful Amish girl who is strong, independent and...more After watching her sisters get married, Leah Yoder wondered about her future husband, the Amish man she was going to spend the rest of her life with, and raise their children while living in their Amish community close to her family. However, when she meets Daniel Brown, a Mennonite missionary, she is taken aback. She is attracted to him, finds him fascinating, and starts questioning her Amish ways.

On his part, Daniel is awestruck by Leah, this beautiful Amish girl who is strong, independent and always prepared. They spend time together and begin a forbidden courtship behind her family’s back. But when their feelings for each other get stronger, Leah faces a decision that will affect her life forever: Will she leave her family and follow her heart to be with the man she loves or will she stay with her family and forsake the love of her life?

Leah Yoder is not afraid to speak her mind; she is very outspoken, smart, a natural born leader and a free spirit (well, sort of. I don’t know how free spirit you can be in the Amish community). She is a great character, as well as Daniel. You see their instant attraction and it’s not hard to see why. She is beautiful, independent, resourceful, strong and smart; he is sweet and exciting, full of interesting stories and with a heart committed to God and His work.

It’s easy to love these characters, to be interested in their story, in the blossoming romance. However, their romance is not well developed. They go out on a non-date (Leah refuses to call “date” that which is obviously one), and is cute and you know they loved it, they loved being with each other, but the next thing you know, a few days have gone by, they have been seeing each other, but the reader is not privy to what happened during those dates. It sometimes felt as if we were being told parts of a story instead of the whole story. It felt somewhat segmented. And the romance is not the only thing affected by this: each time a problem appeared, it was solved rather quickly, and uneventfully. It’s like this happened, and this is how it was solved. This way of telling a story is disappointing to me because there was no tension. The author creates some sort of anticipation with a few problems here and there, but then, as quickly as the problems appeared they went away; so as soon as some tension began to built, it was pulled back, and that made the story rather flat.

I did like the fact that the author showed different sides of the Amish, including some domestic violence, and alcoholism. Also, I loved to read about the differences between Mennonites and Amish, and the differences from one Amish community to the next.

The story is sweet, the characters are very likable, cute; they are what made the story interesting and worth reading for me. Leah’s choice will not come as a surprise, but, although expected, it is a nice, and satisfying ending.

3 out of 5 stars

*I received a copy of this book from Harlequin-Love Inspired through NetGalley in exchange of an honest review. (less)

like · see review

Feb 03, 2013 Carolyn rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book gets 5 stars plus. Leah's Choice is the fourth book in Emma Miller's "Hannah's Daughters" series and is, in my opinion, the best one so far. Next, I will be reading the fifth book in this series, Redeeming Grace, which has also gotten excellent reviews. I believe a sixth book will be released in May, 2013; am looking forward to it.

I would recommend this series to everyone.

like · see review

Apr 23, 2012 Barb Klein rated it 4 of 5 stars

"Leah's Choice" by Emma Miller was a very good rainy day book. I was interested in the differences between Mennonite and Amish cultures. This was brought to light in this book. Leah is Amish. Daniel is Mennonite. The attraction between the two was instantaneous. Brought together by an almost-tragedy, Leah and Daniel continue to find strength and hope and love together. I was left in suspense until the end, trying to determine whether or not Leah would accept Daniel even though their families wer...more

like · see review

May 07, 2012 Maureen Timerman rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

This is a great feel good read. Yes there is some hard things that happen, but I love reading about Hannah Yoder's Daughter's! This being Leah's story, but great visits with the rest of the family.
Leah is going to meet a great Mennonite man named Daniel, and she is going to have to make some major life changing decisions. Of course her Grandmother, and Aunt Martha are back, and delightful Aunt Jezzy.
You do not have to have read the other books in this series to read this one, although I highly r...more

like · see review

Jun 18, 2012 d rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is a short romantic story, but so much more that that. It is one heart calling to another across the Amish and Mennonite communities. Young Leah wrestles with the concept of love versus a crush on one handsome young Daniel. A family crisis arises and is Leah to choose family over her heart's stirrings? Can she leave her community to join him in the Mennonite world? Can faith and love in God be found in both worlds?

I am already looking for the other books in this inspiring and thought-provok...more

like · see review

Jun 18, 2012 Abbie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, amish-fiction, netgalley-read, love-inspired, blog-reviewed

4.5 Stars!

Leah is going along in her Amish life with no thoughts of ever leaving but once rainy night a Mennonite missionary starts to change all that. Daniel is a missionary in the USA waiting in his next mission field and while he is waiting he is going around to churches giving presentations. The night he gives the presentation to the group Leah is attending its pouring down rain and he walks in with a little Amish boy who's brother is missing. Daniel ends up helping in the search and is pair...more

like · see review

Sep 28, 2012 Rachel Brand rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: kindle, amish, romance, christian, harlequin-category-romances, harlequin, love-inspired, net-galley, emma-miller, 2012, contemporary

GENRE: AMISH ROMANCE
PUBLISHER: LOVE INSPIRED
PUBLICATION DATE: APRIL 17, 2012
RATING: 3.5 OUT OF 5 – GOOD

PROS: Interesting details about Mennonite missionaries; good continuity about the Yoder family from previous books; sweet romance

CONS: Romance moves very fast; Leah isn’t as developed as previous characters in the series

After having spent some time away from her conservative Amish community in Delaware, Leah Yoder is struggling to fit back in again. Although she’s long beyond the typical age fo...more GENRE: AMISH ROMANCE
PUBLISHER: LOVE INSPIRED
PUBLICATION DATE: APRIL 17, 2012
RATING: 3.5 OUT OF 5 – GOOD

PROS: Interesting details about Mennonite missionaries; good continuity about the Yoder family from previous books; sweet romance

CONS: Romance moves very fast; Leah isn’t as developed as previous characters in the series

After having spent some time away from her conservative Amish community in Delaware, Leah Yoder is struggling to fit back in again. Although she’s long beyond the typical age for joining the Amish church, Leah still doesn’t feel ready to make that sort of commitment, especially with family members and neighbours watching her every move and pointing out her mistakes. She particularly struggles to heed her family’s advice when she meets kind and charismatic Mennonite missionary, Daniel Brown. The two bond while looking for a missing Amish boy, and soon their lives are fused together. Yet in spite of Daniel’s best efforts to prove to Leah’s family that his intentions are honourable, her mother and sisters are disapproving of their friendship. Leah’s mother knows firsthand the heartbreak of marrying someone from a different faith, and would never wish that sort of hurt upon her own daughter. But the more her family warns her against a relationship with Daniel, the more she feels drawn to him. Is there any hope for Leah and Daniel’s relationship, or are the restrictions of their different faiths too complicated?

Love Inspired novels can often be hit or miss for me, but Emma Miller is one author that I know will never disappoint. I’ve been following this series ever since the first book, Courting Ruth, was released in 2010, and I love that Emma makes an effort to let readers know how characters from previous books are getting on in their lives. That’s one thing that makes the Hannah’s Daughters series so enjoyable to read. By the time I got around to reading Leah’s Choice, I had a firm vision in my head of what the Yoder house looked like, as well as the surrounding area. But as much as I enjoyed visiting with these characters, I didn’t find Leah’s story quite as compelling as that of Ruth or Anna’s. Leah was only introduced in the third book in the series, so perhaps this explains why I didn’t relate to her character quite so much.

At times, Leah seemed quite immature for her age, and I wished I had been able to read about her rumspringe years in order understand how she’d become the woman she was in Leah’s Choice. But, all things considered, she and Daniel were a good match. Despite having worked as a missionary for years, Daniel was still scatter-brained and constantly forgetting to do essential things, such as putting gas in his car or leaving his passport behind before driving to the airport. I won’t deny that Leah and Daniel made a good couple, but I did wish their relationship hadn’t moved quite so fast. The first chapter of this book leapt right into the action, with Leah and Daniel heading off to look for a lost child. Their relationship seemed to move by leaps and bounds, rather than the relaxed pace that you often come across in Amish novels. I wished I had had time to get to know Leah and Daniel as separate characters before being thrown into the midst of their blossoming relationship. Their romance was incredibly sweet, and I especially loved the epilogue to Leah’s Choice, even if everything did seem to move so fast for this couple.

As I said before, one of my favourite aspects of this series is the continuity. I love catching up with Ruth, Miriam and Anna, even though they’ve moved out of the Yoder household and started families of their own. Leah’s grandmother, great-aunt and two younger sisters also featured in this novel, often spouting advice about Leah’s relationship and whether she should join the church. I was also pleased to see that an overarching storyline about another Yoder sister, Johanna, was concluded in this book. When we were introduced to Johanna in the first book in the series, it was clear that, although she was married with two children, her marriage wasn’t a happy one. Several sisters have already voiced their concerns about Johanna’s husband over the course of previous books, and the situation comes to a head in Leah’s Choice. Abuse within the Amish community isn’t a topic I’ve come across in this genre before, and I think Emma Miller dealt with it quite well. It was certainly difficult to read about Johanna’s situation, but I felt that the end of the novel offered hope for her.

Since this is a series I’ve followed since its beginnings, it’s hard to decide whether or not Leah’s Choice can be read as a standalone novel. All of the characters are introduced in such a way that a new reader won’t feel too confused if they start with the fourth book in the Hannah’s Daughters series, but I think readers will appreciate the secondary characters and overarching plotlines more if they start with Courting Ruth.

Although Leah’s Choice is definitely not my favourite novel in the Hannah’s Daughters series, it was a relaxing, easy read, and I enjoyed catching up with characters from previous books. I did wish that Leah’s character had been a little more developed and that her romance hadn’t moved so quickly, but I was pleased with the conclusion to the novel. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series, Redeeming Grace, later this year.

Review title provided by Love Inspired.(less)

like · see review

May 28, 2012 Rebecca rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, amish-fiction, net-galley, series

I kindly thank the publishers for my free netgalley review of Leah's Choice by Emma Miller. This is my second experience with her books and I am always pleased after reading her books to have it be such a wonderful expereince.

The storyline is written with such ease and the reader will experience the joys, conflict, doubt, fear right along with the character as well as learn much about about the Mennonnite and Amish cultures.

I was worried that I had not read them in order of the series, but I...more

like · see review

Mar 18, 2013 Jenny rated it 5 of 5 stars

I like this series with Hannah's daughters. I am really enjoying them.

like · see review

May 01, 2012 Harlequin Books added it · review of another edition

Shelves: largeprint, 2012

Miniseries: Hannah's Daughters
Category: Inspirational Romance

like · see review

May 01, 2012 Harlequin Books added it

Shelves: love_inspired, 2012

Miniseries: Hannah's Daughters
Category: Inspirational Romance

like · see review

Aug 17, 2012 Ann added it

Shelves: nook

Ior

like · see review

May 20, 2013 Julie rated it 3 of 5 stars

May 19, 2013 Marcie Frank rated it 5 of 5 stars

May 18, 2013 Sue1958 marked it as to-read

May 17, 2013 Jennifer marked it as to-read

May 16, 2013 Lisa Ann marked it as to-read

May 12, 2013 Phyllis marked it as to-read

May 12, 2013 Melissa marked it as to-read

Shelves: amish

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 next »

Christian Fiction

6 users

Christian Fiction > Amish Fiction

4 users

Romance

4 users

Christian

4 users

Young Adult

2 users

Inspirational

2 users

Category Romance > Harlequin

2 users

See top shelves...

Books by Emma Miller

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About Leah's Choice

No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »

title link	preview: Leah's Choice
avg rating	preview: Leah's Choice Goodreads rating: 4.08 (89 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13261342-leah-s-choice?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1331243737l/13261342.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13261342-leah-s-choice?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Leah's Choice by Emma Miller[/url]

Leah's Choice (Hannah's Daughters #4)

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (3)

Genres

Books by Emma Miller

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About Leah's Choice

Leah's Choice (Hannah's Daughters #4)

Friend Reviews

Lists with This Book

Community Reviews

new topicDiscuss This Book

combineOther Editions (3)

Genres

Books by Emma Miller

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website

Trivia About Leah's Choice

new topic
Discuss This Book

combine
Other Editions (3)