An Amish Love

Mar 17, 2013 Tima rated it 4 of 5 stars

Every once in a while I don't have very much time to read and I enjoy picking up a novella. If written well, I still get the pleasure of a good book without the frustration of having to put the book down while in the middle of the story. So I picked this book up because I'd read books by Beth Wiseman before and enjoyed them.

Each story was unique. I certainly wasn't expecting the mid-life crisis plot from Healing Hearts. It was unusual and a fun change from the typical Amish fiction. A Marriage...more

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May 11, 2011 Tiffany rated it 3 of 5 stars

An Amish Love is a collection of three Amish novellas. I occasionally enjoy reading these collections to experience different authors while reading shorter stories. It’s a wonderful way to sample an authors writing style. This set of novellas was not a disappointment. Each story tells the tale of a different Amish couple though reoccurring themes of love, forgiveness and redemption ring true for all three.

The novella set includes many typical yet wonderful aspects of Amish literature, such as re...more

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Mar 21, 2011 Jo Linsdell rated it 4 of 5 stars

Title: An Amish Love
Authors: Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller & Kelly Long
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
ISBN: 978-1-59554-875-7

Reviewed by Jo Linsdell

An Amish Love is a collection of three Amish novellas. Each story is well written and clearly shows the Amish way of life and beliefs.

In the first tale, A marriage of the heart, author Kelly Long takes us into the lives of Abigail Kauffman and Joesph Lambert. Abigail is a young woman trying to escape from living with her father. Joesph is a newcomer to...more

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Feb 20, 2011 Laverne Ombadykow rated it 4 of 5 stars

An Amish Love is a book which is comprised of three short stories that were all set in the same location with some of the same people intertwined in the stories.

The first story is about a marriage which is begun because of a lie and continues with the spouses discovering the truth about one another. This truth includes traumatic childhood experiences and a past drug addiction. As time passes the couple begin to fall in love and trust one another, while growing in their relationship with family...more

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Feb 20, 2011 Maureen Timerman rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-read

This is my kind of book! I loved it and never wanted it to end! The three stories take place in the same Amish community and some of the characters appear in the other stories. The book is written by three great Amish story tellers, Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller and Kelly Long. The first is about a hurting girl who tricks an newly baptized Amishman into marriage. Loved how this story unfolded and how love and forgiveness abounds. The second story is about a tragic accident and death. Again this...more

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Jan 21, 2011 Margaret Metz rated it 3 of 5 stars

I was confused at first by the summaries. Goodreads listed them in reverse order from what you read in the book and on the back cover it is actually last, first, and then second. I don't understand why they would do it that way - specially since the stories do relate to each other. Characters overlap from one story to another and the changes from the first story are referred to in the third.

As for the stories themselves, one of the things I liked about them was that there was the kind of ending...more I was confused at first by the summaries. Goodreads listed them in reverse order from what you read in the book and on the back cover it is actually last, first, and then second. I don't understand why they would do it that way - specially since the stories do relate to each other. Characters overlap from one story to another and the changes from the first story are referred to in the third.

As for the stories themselves, one of the things I liked about them was that there was the kind of ending you expect in a romance novel and none of them were cliff hangers - making you wait for another story to see what happened. Although I appreciate this genre, I've read some that were so sad it turned me off the series - or they didn't resolve the story for our main characters until the entire series was over. So you had to wait three or four years to find out if your leading lady found love. Realistic maybe, but I read romances for... romance. :o)

These keep that wonderful atmosphere and feeling you get from Amish fiction without cliff hangers or depressing endings. Having said that, my favorite story was the first one. I think it was the most romantic. Abby, her father, and Joseph start off in a relationship based mostly on manipulation, self-preservation and distrust. They don't realize how badly they all need each other - and how much better life will be when they stop acting like a family and truly become one.

The story of Ellie and Chris was my least favorite. I don't think I really bonded with the characters as well as I should have. There was a lot of character growth and change that had to happen in a short amount of time. Some of the change was so sudden and I don't think I totally believed it. It was still a nice story with good themes about forgiveness.

The last story also dealt with forgiveness. It was confusing to me for a while because Naaman never seemed to give any good motivation for leaving home. He never seemed to understand it himself. I could relate very well to his children who resented his coming back after so long with no explanation and just picking up where he left off. Regardless of that - his love story with his wife and how they worked to re-build their marriage was very touching. I also liked the bit of mystery that was worked into this story.

If you like Amish fiction, it's a good bet that you'll enjoy this anthology. It was provided to me by Thomas Nelson as part of the Book Sneeze program with the understanding that I would give an unbiased review. I thank them for my copy. (less)

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Jan 02, 2011 Laura rated it 5 of 5 stars

Title: AN AMISH HEART
Authors: Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller, and Kelly Long
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
December 2010
ISBN: 978-1-59554-875-7
Genre: Inspirational/Amish

Romance is in the air, old-fashioned courtship is alive and well, and love is an eternal promise… (from the back cover)

AN AMISH HEART is a collection of three novellas written by three different Amish authors.

A Marriage of the Heart – by Kelly Long: Abigail Kauffman told a lie. Angry that Joseph Lambert ignored her beauty, she lied abou...more

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Dec 29, 2010 Raya Whitehouse rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: booksneeze

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. An Amish Love
There is a page in front of the book the tells what some Amish words are that are found in the book, they are in alphabetical order. While reading the book those words are italicized. There are 3 different stories in the book. Healing Hearts, A Marriage of the Heart, and What the Heart Says.

First Story - A Marriage of the Heart
At the beginning a girl, Abigail Kauffman, is annoyed by a guy (by his casual dismissal of her beauty), Joseph Lambert, and to pay him back she says that "he...more An Amish Love
There is a page in front of the book the tells what some Amish words are that are found in the book, they are in alphabetical order. While reading the book those words are italicized. There are 3 different stories in the book. Healing Hearts, A Marriage of the Heart, and What the Heart Says.

First Story - A Marriage of the Heart
At the beginning a girl, Abigail Kauffman, is annoyed by a guy (by his casual dismissal of her beauty), Joseph Lambert, and to pay him back she says that "he . . . well . . . just made me feel a little uncomfortable with the way he was kissing me . . . and touching . . . and I . . ." Her father then says he will talk to him and they will be married, but that wasn't what she wanted, but her father said to dress in blue (which is the color for marrying). Now she will have to face his scorn.

This story, when read in full, warms the heart. It made me smile in a lot of different parts of the story. Great story that is well written.

Second Story - A Marriage of the Heart
A blind woman, Ellie Chup, who was in an accident 5 years ago, has learned how to cope with being blind. She has a buisness going called Ellie's Jellies. The jelly is in full demand, one person even wants 4 cases made up. She believes no one will ever want her, since her last fiance didn't want to be with her.

Chris is a guy who blames Isaiah (Ellie's Cousin) for the accident that took his fiance's life (the same one from where Ellie was blinded. He moves away 5 years and finally comes back thinking he may be able to forgive Isaiah, until he finds out his sister is marrying him in 2 weeks.

This was a neat story to read, it captures your interest right from the start with the nightmare mentioned.

Third Story - What the Heart Says.
This is about a middle-aged couple who has no children in their house no longer and sets out to rediscover the love that had brought them together before their children. They have been an upstanding members of the community

All in all good reads but i would say my favorite was the first story, then the second and last (but not least) third.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson publishers as part of their book review bloggers program. All opinions expressed are my own, and I was not required to write a positive review. (less)

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Dec 26, 2010 Ellen rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian-fiction, from-publisher, amish-fiction

An Amish Love includes three novellas written by Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller, and Kelly Long. Each story stands on its own, yet each is set in the same place and time. Because of this, the three novellas are tied together by a thread including references to other characters, especially the Bishop.

Healing Hearts, by Beth Wiseman, draws us into a marriage which has had a rocky year. How do Levina and Naaman pick up the pieces of the marriage after Naaman returns after an 11-month disappearance?...more An Amish Love includes three novellas written by Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller, and Kelly Long. Each story stands on its own, yet each is set in the same place and time. Because of this, the three novellas are tied together by a thread including references to other characters, especially the Bishop.

Healing Hearts, by Beth Wiseman, draws us into a marriage which has had a rocky year. How do Levina and Naaman pick up the pieces of the marriage after Naaman returns after an 11-month disappearance?

A Marriage of the Heart, by Kelly Long, introduces us to a young woman who has been raised soley by her father. Her mother passed away when she was 5 years old; and now, Abby seeks to leave the close-knit community. Suddenly, she finds herself married to a newcomer to the community. How do they both learn to love without expectations? Is she able to find peace and love in the Amish lifestyle she was hoping to leave?

What the Heart Sees, by Kathleen Fuller, draws us into Ellie's life 5 years after a tragic accident has claimed her eyesight. She longs for life before the accident and wants only to become a wife and mother; yet, she feels that she is no longer capable of having her dream. Only when a her best friend's brother returns to the community is she able to see past herself. Through helping Christopher come to terms with the accident and his loss, the two begin healing.

I love the way the 3 stories are interwoven! Each is a reminder of the forgiveness we are to show others, Christian or not. In Ellie's case, we are not bound by our disabilities. We can find assistance and make a way to serve others.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars.

I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com book : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 (less)

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Jul 29, 2011 ஐ Briansgirl (Book Sale Queen)ஐ rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: library-books, christian, romance, books-with-recipes

Bit confusing that the three stories in this anthology aren't in the order they're listed on the back cover. A little annoying that the authors of each story aren't listed on the contents page either. Or that in one of the story descriptions, they got a characters name wrong. That's why it took me quite a while to realize just which story the book actually started with!

A note before you start reading. The Amish speak Pennsylvania Deitsch. It's not strictly German, as it's changed over the years...more Bit confusing that the three stories in this anthology aren't in the order they're listed on the back cover. A little annoying that the authors of each story aren't listed on the contents page either. Or that in one of the story descriptions, they got a characters name wrong. That's why it took me quite a while to realize just which story the book actually started with!

A note before you start reading. The Amish speak Pennsylvania Deitsch. It's not strictly German, as it's changed over the years while they've been in America. Think of it as a mix between German and English. There is a 3 page Glossary/dictionary at the front of the book of the Pennsylvania Deitsch words used throughout all three stories. Also all three stories take place in the same Amish community and several characters from different stories occassionally cross paths like in town at Yoder's Pantry.

A Marriage of the Heart by Kelly Long
"A Marriage of the Heart" by Kelly Long: Rachel Yoder is tired of her Amish lifestyle and her domineering father's ways. When handsome Joseph Lambert comes back from the Englisch, she lies to force a marriage of convenience, providing the perfect means to escape her father's rule. But Rachel never imagined she'd fall in love with Joseph so quickly or irrevocably.

I liked this story although hated that the marriage started with deception. Felt really strange that a young Amish woman wouldn't know how to do anything around the kitchen or house. They explain why, but it still doesn't make sense. Think about it... for 15 years they ate burnt meals and inadequate food? Liked the romance story though. Bone to pick here though, in the book description quoted above... the amish woman who is the main character in this story is named Abigail (Abby) Kauffman, NOT Rachel Yoder. 4 stars

What the Heart Sees by Kathleen Fuller
"What the Heart Sees" by Kathleen Fuller: A tragic accident rocks a peaceful Amish community, leaving Ellie Chupp blinded and Christopher Bender's future shattered. But they find love and forgiveness in a place they least expect.

This was a very lovely story. It does have a romance in it, but it's mostly a story about forgiveness. However, I have a problem with the story, in how the author got it wrong. This book is about an amish family and how someone who is shunned is finding his way back home. My understanding of how the amish treat the shunned person, the meiding, even if they are family is that they are to turn their back to them, and are not allowed to touch them, or even talk to them. They also are not allowed to sit at the same table with them. This would make helping the shunned person come back to god and forgiveness difficult, to say the least, so I can understand why she ignored the Ordnung rules for her story. However, by doing so, she misrepresents the correct Amish way of life. For that reason, I have to downgrade this to 3 stars. She could easily have set the story somewhere else, without violating the Ordnung rules, pehaps even a Mennonite story.

Healing Hearts by Beth Wiseman
"Healing Hearts" by Beth Wiseman: Levina Lapp and her husband Naaman are alone for the first time in 30 years. When Naaman left to visit cousins in Ohio, Levina wasn't expecting him to be gone a year. Now that he's back, will they be able to move beyond this estrangement and fall in love again?

Something bugs me about this story. Amish are plain people. They don't even use buttons, but hooks and eyes instead. They don't drive cars but use buggy's. The one big difference between Amish and the Mennonites is that the Mennonites embrace electricity whereas the Amish refuse to use it. They use oil lamps instead, for instance. So how can Levina Lapp have a refrigerator and a freezer if the Amish don't use electricity? Just saying. Now, in Chapter Ten, Freda is sewing buttons on a shirt she made for Jake. *shakes head* This just isn't correct unless this group of Amish lives different. Buttons is a stretch, but electricity is a big no-no for Amish. All these mistakes ruin the story, at least to me, because they are such obvious errors. Different Amish groups in different areas of the country have differing traditions, so perhaps some now use buttons. I know some have phones in the barn, etc. but I've never heard of any Amish group allowing electricity for the refrigerator. The story itself wasn't bad, but I just found it odd that after 30 years a man would up and leave his family for no apparant reason and that when he did come home, his wife forgave him so easily. 3 stars(less)

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Jan 26, 2011 *Babs* rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-asked-to-review, amish, romance

I loved all 3 stories in this book. Out of all 3, I would have to say What the Heart Sees is my favorite. I will start with that one first.

Eliie is blind by a car accident which also took her best friends life. She copes and after a while she even has her own business of making jellies from any kind of fruit. Christopher Miller left the Amish community after his fiance' passed away. Ellie's cousin is going to marry Christopher's sister which makes everyone happy, but Christopher. He can not get...more I loved all 3 stories in this book. Out of all 3, I would have to say What the Heart Sees is my favorite. I will start with that one first.

Eliie is blind by a car accident which also took her best friends life. She copes and after a while she even has her own business of making jellies from any kind of fruit. Christopher Miller left the Amish community after his fiance' passed away. Ellie's cousin is going to marry Christopher's sister which makes everyone happy, but Christopher. He can not get passed that Ellie's cousin was the one driving the car 5 years ago that killed his fiance'. He can not understand why his sister is betraying him by marrying this man. Everyone else has forgiven this man it has been 5 years and life must move on. To Christopher however he can not get passed it until he spends time with Ellie. What happens next is magical.

A Marriage of the Heart is a remarkable story. Rachel tells her father that Joseph Lambert has kissed her and touched her. They go right away over to where Joseph lives and her father demands they get married it is the Amish way when this happens. Joseph tried to deny it at first until the Bishop explained to him he will get thrown out of the community. Joseph rethinks the idea and confesses he did indeed kiss Rachel. They were married in 5 minutes. Rachel was happy to get away from her fathers house that is until Joseph ask her father if they can stay there with him. He can help out with the farming and chores. Rachel was not happy at this news and regretted telling such a wild story. She is stuck now. I loved the humor in this story. Joseph sleeps on the floor by Rachel's bed until she is comfortable in their marriage which takes a while. He picks at her just to see her blush. The story is really cute and the ending is perfect.

Healing Hearts was a nice read about true love. Naaman abandons his family and goes to see his cousin in Ohio. After a year of being gone he just shows up at his home and acts like nothing ever happened. He has shocked his poor wife Levina when he walks through the door. She wants answers and Naaman slowly tells her some of his reasonings for being gone for so long. A few of their children, 2 to be exact are not thrilled at all he is home after what he put their mother through. The other 3 are happy their father has returned. Will his reasons be enough to mend their marriage and get forgiveness from his children?

The big reason I loved theses stories was they all mingled together so to speak. Each story took place in the same town and community and the other characters were mentioned in the next story. It was like reading the lives of 3 couples in the same town who knew the same people. ( That makes better sense ). I really enjoyed this read and did not want to put it down.
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Dec 30, 2010 Amber French rated it 4 of 5 stars

Three stories are wrapped into one book, all taking place in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. In “A Marriage of the Heart,” Abigail Kauffman can’t believe that Joseph Lambert isn’t as taken by her as the other men in the community. In an attempt to get back at him, she tells her father Joseph tried to kiss her. Outraged that Joseph would try to take advantage of his daughter, Abigail’s father demands a marriage between the two. When an old friend comes to visit Joseph, Abigail learns of her husba...more Three stories are wrapped into one book, all taking place in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. In “A Marriage of the Heart,” Abigail Kauffman can’t believe that Joseph Lambert isn’t as taken by her as the other men in the community. In an attempt to get back at him, she tells her father Joseph tried to kiss her. Outraged that Joseph would try to take advantage of his daughter, Abigail’s father demands a marriage between the two. When an old friend comes to visit Joseph, Abigail learns of her husband’s past, putting their growing love to the test.

Ellie Chupp loses her sight in a car accident in “What the Heart Sees.” This same accident kills Christopher Miller’s fiancée and he leaves the community, angry that the one responsible wasn’t punished. Five years later he returns only to find out his sister is engaged to the man who was driving the car. Can Christopher learn to forgive as Ellie has done?

In “Healing Hearts,” Naaman Lapp decides he needs to take a break from his family. After thirty-one years of marriage, Naaman leaves to visit some family, not knowing when or if he’ll return. Levina doesn’t understand why her husband left and is further confused when he returns eleven months later. The Amish faith requires her to forgive but can she truly forgive Naaman? When a sheriff comes looking for her husband, Levina wonders if he returned on his own or came seeking refuge. Can she trust him again?

Out of the three stories, “A Marriage of the Heart” was my favorite. I liked how even though each story was written by a different author, all mention characters from the others. I felt like there was too much background with “What the Heart Sees.” It seemed to me that the story kept building and building and then quickly ended with Christopher asking Ellie on a date at the very end. The story seemed to be more about each of them separately and their internal struggles than their growing relationship. “Healing Hearts” was my least favorite of the three but not for any specific reason. This made for a good read and I overall enjoyed it.
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Feb 11, 2011 aobibliophile™ rated it 5 of 5 stars

Blessed are the hearts that can bend; they can never be broken. - Albert Camus

Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. town of Paradise. the lives of three Amish couples and the people around them will never be the same again:
* A Marriage of the Heart by Kelly Long - Abigail Kauffman lost her mother when she was five years old. she grows up under her father's stern supervision. she wants out of the farmhouse and live a new life. when Joseph Lambert comes to their community, she devises a plan that mig...more Blessed are the hearts that can bend; they can never be broken. - Albert Camus

Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. town of Paradise. the lives of three Amish couples and the people around them will never be the same again:
* A Marriage of the Heart by Kelly Long - Abigail Kauffman lost her mother when she was five years old. she grows up under her father's stern supervision. she wants out of the farmhouse and live a new life. when Joseph Lambert comes to their community, she devises a plan that might make her desire to finally leave her father come true.
* What The Heart Sees by Kathleen Fuller - a car accident damaged Ellie Chupp's eyes. it also killed her best friend Caroline. not only did she lose her vision and friend but also her boyfriend to another woman. after five years of living with the Englisch (non-Amish) and adopting their ways, Christopher Miller returns home. his heart, though, is still heavy with grief over the death of his girlfriend Caroline. when he meets Ellie again, things start to change.
* Healing Hearts by Beth Wiseman- Naaman Lapp leaves his family to find himself. his wife Levina and their children feel so abandoned and are uncertain how to treat Naaman when he comes back a year later. Naaman knows he must make amends or he could lose them all forever.

once again, i had the opportunity to read about the Amish and their way of life. it is a glimpse into a different world far from my own and what i am used to. one thing though stands clear to me that deep inside the human genetic makeup, people everywhere are the same regardless of race, creed or color. we all have the same capacity to laugh, to love, to be angry, to be afraid and to conquer our fears.
the stories speak about human frailty and its consequences. they talk about ordinary people doing the best they can to cope with the circumstances they deal with everyday. they show how faith in one another and in God can make a huge difference when faced with adversities or setbacks.
though the novellas can stand alone, each one is linked in some way with the other. some characters in the other novellas are mentioned and are even part of the story. i strongly suggest that each story be read in the order that it comes if only to avoid spoilers.
it is also noteworthy that the authors have included a glossary of Amish terms at the beginning of the book. two other plus factors are the Reading Group Guide and the Amish recipes found at the end.
An Amish Love - Three Amish Novellas is an excellent collaboration by three brilliant writers . the characters are well drawn and thought of. it is a perfect read not only for this month of love but also for the rest of the year. if you wish to be inspired, to laugh or have a good cry, take this book with you. be prepared to fall in love as well.

Disclosure of Material Connection: i received a copy of An Amish Love - Three Amish Novellas from Thomas Nelson through BookSneeze.com's book review bloggers program.i did not receive any payment in exchange for this review nor was i obligated to write a positive one. all opinions expressed here are entirely my own and may not necessarily agree with those of the author, the book's publisher and publicist or the readers of this review. this disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.(less)

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Jan 07, 2011 Lydia (Overweight Bookshelf) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Recommended to Lydia by: Thomas Nelson/Booksneeze

Over the Christmas holidays I reviewed another Amish Anthology where I explained why I am not fond of short stories or completely on the Amish fiction bandwagon. When this book appeared in my mailbox I buried it in my "to-read" pile for a few weeks before I picked it up one evening before bed. Well, was I ever surprised!

The first story, "A Marriage of the Heart" by Kelly Long, pulled me in with no looking back. The thought that kept running through my mind was, "Is it possible that there is suc...more

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Mar 29, 2011 Kathy Chung rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: religious, romance

reviewed at : Mama Kucing Books :An Amish Love By Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller & Kelly Long

I have read books about Amish community before. Thus, this did not come much of a cultural shock for me.

Generally, I like this book. The love there is so innocent and sweet. The way the stories were written also very captivating. Especially the twist at the end of the tale. Something like Jeffrey Archer books.

And most of all, the fonts are of standard size. Not those tiny size. I really dislike readi...more

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Jan 02, 2011 Laura rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Title: AN AMISH HEART
Authors: Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller, and Kelly Long
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
December 2010
ISBN: 978-1-59554-875-7
Genre: Inspirational/Amish

Romance is in the air, old-fashioned courtship is alive and well, and love is an eternal promise… (from the back cover)

AN AMISH HEART is a collection of three novellas written by three different Amish authors.

A Marriage of the Heart – by Kelly Long: Abigail Kauffman told a lie. Angry that Joseph Lambert ignored her beauty, she lied abou...more

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Jul 12, 2011 Trisha Turner rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book came to me in the mail MONTHS ago and I have just now had the opportunity to read it. I'm glad that it didn't get lost among all the other review books I have because it really is a treasure of a book! The three novellas in this book are each their own story, but the characters from each story intertwine among all the stories. It gives the reader the feeling of congruency.

Each of these stories is beautifully written. Having grown up just a short distance away from several different Ami...more This book came to me in the mail MONTHS ago and I have just now had the opportunity to read it. I'm glad that it didn't get lost among all the other review books I have because it really is a treasure of a book! The three novellas in this book are each their own story, but the characters from each story intertwine among all the stories. It gives the reader the feeling of congruency.

Each of these stories is beautifully written. Having grown up just a short distance away from several different Amish communities, I was familiar with the look of the characters and that really helped make the characters real to me.

My favorite thing about this book, however, is how it kind of caught me off guard. I was really hit hard by the unconditional love that these characters felt towards one another. There were many times I was teary eyed simply because of a heartfelt gesture or phrase that one of the characters would use. It made me take a look at the way I treat those around me (especially my hubby)and to cherish those things. I think it also makes me long for the type of relationship and romance that you see throughout this book. It's like once you're married, the romantic part drifts away. I miss the small things my husband would do for me to show me he cared. Now we are all so busy with the kids and such that life just gets in the way.

I really like that this book is broken down into three separate stories. By doing this, each of the stories has its own significant impact, but at the same time the reader meets new characters and sees how their lives fit into the lives of the characters they met in the previous story.

As an added bonus feature of the book, the authors have included several Amish recipes for treats found throughout the stories as well as a Reading Group Guide to help with discussions about the book once finished. The authors even state that the "guide contains spoilers, so don' tread before completing the novellas". This group guide allows the readers to delve deeper into their relationship with Christ. What a wonderful addition to be used at the readers' discretion.

Word of advice: If you are going to read this book, don't do it near your time of the month otherwise you will need to buy several boxes of tissues! Otherwise, I highly recommend this book! :D (less)

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Mar 07, 2011 April rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: amish-faith-inspirational-contemp

AN AMISH LOVE by Beth Wiseman,Kathleen Fuller, and Kelly Long is a delightful Amish romance.It is a novella of three short stories."Healing Hearts" by Beth Wiseman,"What the HeartSees" by Kathleen Fuller, and "A Marriage of the Heart"
by Kelly Long. These three authors have compiled three stories of love,faith,hope,
forgiveness,community,marriage of convenience, redemption,family, leaving the past
behind,moving on to the future with witty banter between some of the characters.
They have also compil...more

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Mar 03, 2011 Literary rated it 4 of 5 stars

Cover

The Amish women's kapp laying slightly over top of the Amish men's wide-brimmed hat seems so sweet and romantic. The simple, but charming, photograph is a subtle portrayal of the quietness of Amish relationships.

Plots & Characters

In Healing Hearts, Levina is of a stronger character than I could be. With her husband gone for almost a year and then suddenly, he's back ... that would take a spiritually big person to be able to forgive. I don't know that I could do it. I did appreciate the...more

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Feb 11, 2011 Gina Hott rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian, galley-arc, paperback

“Healing Hearts" by Beth Wiseman
This book made me so angry! After all those kids and 30 years of marriage he just up and walks out saying he's going to visit relatives? I think not!
Anyway, it was a good story and I ended up liking him in the end - though I still thought they were too easy on him.

"What the Heart Sees" by Kathleen Fuller
How enthralling! This was such a sweet book but you could feel the secrets and anger. It's a reminder that we must forgive to move on -- and that we're not always...more

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Jan 03, 2011 Abbie rated it 4 of 5 stars

The first story of the book was “A Marriage of the Heart”. Rachel lies to her father saying Joseph was inappropriate with her which leads to a rush wedding. It was a fun read and I really like the characters. It was fun to read as the two first disliked each other and then fell in love.
The second story was “What the Heart Sees”. Ellie was blinded in a car accident years ago and her best friend killed. Christopher was engaged to Ellie’s best friend and he was devastated and left the community and...more

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Jun 27, 2011 Tillie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: amish-fiction, netgalley-review

This book had three novellas in one so I'm going to review a little on each one. I will say that with each story I wished would continue on. Every time I started a new story I inwardly groaned because I didn't want the last one to stop.

"A Marriage of the Heart" by Kelly Long - I cried. Seriously cried like a baby when I read this one. My heart was so full of love for these two characters that had marriage "forced" onto them. When Rachel has a talk with her dad later in the book the emotions are...more

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Feb 13, 2011 Cheri rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, amish

There are three stories that connect with each other. My favorite by far was the first story, A Marriage of the Heart.

A Marriage of the Heart: Abigail has always felt that her Father was cold towards her ever since her Mother died when she was five years old. Abigail just wants to escape her Father's house. Joseph Lambert is a new arrival to her community and she sees him as a way to escape from her Father. But Abigail is in for a big surprise.

What the Heart Sees: is the story of Ellie Chupp who...more

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Jan 30, 2011 Jodie rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: ALL Amish Fiction fans

Shelves: 2011, amish-fiction, booksneeze, favorites, kelly-long, net-galley, kathleen-fuller, beth-wiseman

A Marriage of the Heart by Kelly Long
Abigail falsely accuses Joseph of being too forward with her. This makes her father angry and he makes them get married immediately. Though the marriage was quick and unexpected, both Abigail and Joseph slowly learn more about each other. Through these experiences, they learn to appreciate each other's faults, sense of humor, and love for each other.

At first I thought how in the world could Abigail do that, but then I found myself completely in love with bot...more A Marriage of the Heart by Kelly Long
Abigail falsely accuses Joseph of being too forward with her. This makes her father angry and he makes them get married immediately. Though the marriage was quick and unexpected, both Abigail and Joseph slowly learn more about each other. Through these experiences, they learn to appreciate each other's faults, sense of humor, and love for each other.

At first I thought how in the world could Abigail do that, but then I found myself completely in love with both Abigail and Joseph. "A little spice mixed with the taste of love could make for a sumptuous life." I got so wrapped up in the story, I was laughing and crying right along with them. I must say my favorite line in this story was "Yes, but you see, I'm not very good at being Amish...so remember what I say." Oh, I laughed when I read that and shouted "You go girl!" Such a true romance, a great read for Valentine's Day!

What the Heart Sees by Kathleen Fuller
Ellie lost her sight in car accident over five years ago and her world is turned upside down. She doesn't think anyone could love her again. Christopher Miller lost his girlfriend in that same accident. After trying to throw Isaiah, the Amish driver of the car, in jail, he is banned from the community and moves to Ohio. Now, upon his return to Paradise, can he learn to leave the past in the past, or will he allow his anger to not only ruin his life but also his sister's and Ellie's?

A good story on forgiveness. The one thought that kept running through my mind while reading this was that God never promised it would be easy, but He did promise that it would be worth it. I really enjoyed watching these characters unfold and work through their feelings from the tragedy that changed all their lives. I also really liked how Kathleen switched from one character to another, within a single conversation. It wasn't confusing at all, but it did provide more depth for the characters and made them more realistic. Many times the authors switch after a conversation is over between two characters. I enjoyed being able to hear their different thoughts as the conversation was going on.

Healing Hearts by Beth Wiseman
Namaan Lapp left his wife, children, and grandchildren to find himself. In his absence, his wife learned to do it on her own. Now, eleven months later, he returns to his home. But his wife doesn't trust him and his two oldest children are mad at him for leaving. Will they be able to work things out and have stronger bonds than before, or will a mystery from his eleven months away keep them separated for good?

My husband and I have talked about this issue so many times. When a couple is young, they have dates, parties, and hang out for "good" times. Then children come along and all the focus is put on the children and trying to give them the best possible start that you can possibly give them. A lot of husbands and wives grow apart, unknowingly. When the children start their own lives, the husband and wife look at each other and say "Who are you?" It's imperative to keep your love life going even while raising your children. I absolutely loved the way Beth portrayed this story and the realities of marriage and children.

If you are an Amish fiction fan and haven't read these three novellas yet, you don't know what you are missing out on!! Three great stories to warm your heart for Valentine's Day! I absolutely loved them ALL!

I was graciously provided a free copy of this book from BookSneeze in partnership with Thomas Nelson and a free digital version of this book from NetGalley, to review it. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own.(less)

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May 03, 2011 Anastacia Knits rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, christian, fiction, romance

This is a book with 3 shorter novels within, that are loosely related. I'm not sure why it took me so long to read this book, but once I started I did read it quickly. I'm not a big romance fan, but I greatly enjoyed the light romances within. My favorite by far was "A Marriage of the Heart", I got wrapped up within the characters & wanted to know what happened next to them.

I would have liked to have seen a little bit more negative things happening in the book - everything just seemed a lit...more

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Dec 20, 2011 Kristin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: amish, romantic-fools

Originally posted on These Pretty Words

“Healing Hearts” by Beth Wiseman
This book is a compilation of three novellas all centered around the love lives of a group of intertwined Amish women. The first story, Healing Hearts, takes a look at a couple who’ve been through marriage, raising their children, and a difficult separation when Naaman leaves for an extended visit with his cousins. This story tore at my heart in such a beautiful fashion. Levina’s grief and mistrust in her husband, the uncerta...more

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Feb 15, 2011 Rachel Brand rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: booksneeze, short-stories, amish, romance, christian, 2011, kathleen-fuller, kelly-long, beth-wiseman, thomas-nelson, almost-favourites

Best-selling authors Kathleen Fuller and Beth Wiseman are joined by Kelly Long, who entered the Amish genre last year with her debut Sarah’s Garden, in this romantic novella collection. An Amish Love features three interlocking stories of love, starting with an accidental marriage in Kelly Long’s A Marriage of the Heart and moving on to broken hearts embarking on a new relationship in What the Heart Sees by Kathleen Fuller. The anthology finishes on an optimistic note for the future with a late...more Best-selling authors Kathleen Fuller and Beth Wiseman are joined by Kelly Long, who entered the Amish genre last year with her debut Sarah’s Garden, in this romantic novella collection. An Amish Love features three interlocking stories of love, starting with an accidental marriage in Kelly Long’s A Marriage of the Heart and moving on to broken hearts embarking on a new relationship in What the Heart Sees by Kathleen Fuller. The anthology finishes on an optimistic note for the future with a late in life couple falling in love all over again in Beth Wiseman’s Healing Hearts.

From a glance at the front cover and the synopsis of this collection, one can be forgiven for assuming that this is a light, predictable selection of stories about the Amish. Even I expected this, and I’ve been an avid reader of Amish romances for almost two years now. So I was pleasantly surprised to see that each author was bringing something new and original to the genre.

Kelly Long, whose debut novel I absolutely adored, places her protagonist, Abby Kauffman, in an unusual situation and shows us how love can blossom in the most unexpected places. After a newcomer to the community, Joseph Lambert, fails to give Abby the attention she believes she deserves, she accuses him of misbehaving with her. But the joke is on her when her father forces them into a marriage of convenience in order to protect her honour – and much to her shock, Joseph agrees to this arrangement! While I’ll freely admit that the premise of this novella is a bit unbelievable, I loved watching Abby and Joseph’s relationship develop. Kelly brings something unexpected but most welcome to the Amish genre with the undeniable attraction and chemistry between her characters. As much as I’m a fan of “sweet” romance, I’m often disappointed by inspirational authors who fail to acknowledge this important aspect of relationships – bravo to Kelly for doing the opposite! 9/10

Kathleen Fuller’s story is definitely my favourite in this collection, especially as she shows us the flawed side of the Amish. While we uphold the Amish as being people of forgiveness, Kathleen dares to admit the obvious – that forgiveness doesn’t come easily or painlessly. Christopher Miller left the Amish after his fiancée was killed in a car accident, and he still holds a grudge against the driver of the car when he finally returns five years later. So it doesn’t sit well that his younger sister is engaged to be married to this man. Through the help of Ellie Chupp, who lost her eyesight in the same accident, he slowly learns to let go of his deceased fiancée – and to forgive and ask for forgiveness himself. While this story focused more on the developing relationship between Chris and Ellie, rather than romance, there was something simple and beautiful about the flawed nature of all of the characters that really appealed to me. Kathleen is a new author to me and I will definitely be looking out for more of her work. 10/10

I wasn’t quite so fond of Beth Wiseman’s addition to the collection. I found that it became a bit over-the-top and cheesy towards the end, but I truly appreciated the fact that Beth decided to focus on an older couple. Too many romance novels focus on young couples in their prime, and it often makes us forget how important it is to keep romance alive within marriage. Levina and Naaman Lapp have been married for over thirty years, but once all their children have left home they realise that they’ve drifted apart. Naaman takes a trip to visit family in Ohio and doesn’t return for almost a year – and when he does, their relationship needs even more work. Slowly, they learn to fall in love again, and Naaman is able to regain his wife’s trust. As someone who is currently reading a pile of marriage-preparation books, it was encouraging to see someone acknowledging the strain that raising a family can put on marriage and how important it is to set aside some time just for the two of you. However, there was a subplot about the possibility of Naaman being in trouble with the law that just didn’t seem to fit with the feel of the novella and spoiled this story a bit for me. 8/10

This collection is perfect for anyone who is already a fan of Amish fiction, but would also suit those who want to experiment with this genre but don’t know where to start. An Amish Love features three of the best authors of this popular genre, and I highly recommend it to anyone wanting to discover new stories about our beloved Plain folk. Overall rating: 9/10(less)

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Jan 07, 2011 Diane U rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: amish

"A Marriage of the Heart" was a very touching story about a couple who entered into marriage for the wrong reasons and found love in their companionship. It shows that first you should be best friends before becoming man and wife and that a strong friendship builds the basis for a strong marriage.

"What the Heart Sees" tells a story about some friends who have had to deal with a terrible car accident that took one of their lives. Someonw was banned, someone died and someone is blind ... who is to...more

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Jan 21, 2011 Cheryl/Aradanryl rated it 4 of 5 stars

Recommended to Cheryl/Aradanryl by: First Reads program

Shelves: religion-amish, romance, anthology-collections, anthology, first-read-arc-giveaway, review-bn

This is the first time I've read Amish Romance so I wasn't sure what to expect. I liked Harlequins as a young teen until they started leaving nothing to the imagination so I thought I might enjoy this as well. Delightful book of three novellas.

Right from the start, having the definitions up front helped and I appreciated whoever's idea that was. Each story stands alone with a few common people/places.

A Marriage of the Heart – by Kelly Long Overall, I enjoyed it. I felt like I was dropped abrupt

...more

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Jul 13, 2012 Reena Jacobs rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley, 2011-reads, reviewed

Expect my full review October 21, 2011 on Ramblings of an Amateur Writer: http://wp.me/pPz8s-1R5

I particularly liked the first story, A Marriage of the Heart. An Amish man (Joseph Lambert) returns to the community after a bann and is forced into marriage in order to protect the honor of a deceitful young Amish woman (Abigail Kauffman). The first thoughts which came to mind was this couple was unequally yoked. Early, I worried Abigail would lead Joseph astray. It was beautiful the way love and pa...more Expect my full review October 21, 2011 on Ramblings of an Amateur Writer: http://wp.me/pPz8s-1R5

I particularly liked the first story, A Marriage of the Heart. An Amish man (Joseph Lambert) returns to the community after a bann and is forced into marriage in order to protect the honor of a deceitful young Amish woman (Abigail Kauffman). The first thoughts which came to mind was this couple was unequally yoked. Early, I worried Abigail would lead Joseph astray. It was beautiful the way love and patience transformed the couple so they both ended up pulling in the same direction. 4.5 – 5 out of 5 stars. Definitely my fave of the three.

What the Heart Sees was quite enjoyable, though the ending was a bit rushed. Still, it held my interest throughout though. In this story, we have an Amish man (Christopher Bender) wanting to reenter the community after a bann but his inability to forgive another member interferes with his desires. Helping him through his journey is blind Amish woman (Ellie Chupp) who believes her blindness makes her undesirable for marriage. I think this work would have been much stronger if so much information weren’t withheld from the reader. The information was doled out in a way that left me (as a reader) in the dark but offered no suspense. But like I said, the over all story kept me interested. 3.5 – 4 out of 5 stars.

The final work, Healing Hearts started out wonderful. I absolutely loved the idea of an older couple falling in love again. Though I’m far from their age, I could truly relate to their situation. My biggest issue is the story dragged out too long, and the characters got a little silly stupid toward the end. Partway through the story, a side character (Larry) was introduced with minimum information. Though he played a significant role to keep the story moving beyond the happily ever after, I knew so little about him, I lacked interest in his story line. 3 out of 5 stars.

One thing interesting about this collection, all the stories were in the same setting. Not just an Amish environment, but in the exact same town so that characters from on story mingled with characters in the other stories. Now isn’t that cool?

I received this work from the publisher in exchange for a review.(less)

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