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Colorado Amish Courtships #2
His Amish Choice
He came back home…but will he stay?A Colorado Amish Courtships novelWhen Lizzie Beiler’s fiancé cast her and his Amish faith aside to pursue an Englisch education, she vowed never to marry. Now he’s back and helping on her father’s farm. And though Lizzie’s unsure she can ever forgive him, she finds their love still lingers. But is Eli finally ready to build a familye with Lizzie…or will he return to his Englisch life?
224 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 1, 2018
41 people are currently reading
103 people want to read
About the author
Leigh Bale
60 books107 followersLeigh Bale is Publisher's Weekly best selling author. She won the prestigious RWA Golden Heart in 2006 and was a finalist for the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, the Write Touch Reader's Award and the Bookseller's Best Award. She is the daughter of a retired U.S. forest ranger, holds a B.A. in History with honors and loves spending time with family, weeding the garden with her dog Sophie, and watching the little sagebrush lizards that live in her rock flowerbeds. You can reach Leigh at www.LeighBale.com.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
December 12, 2021
If you are just reading this book for fun and are not a Christian then this story won’t concern you the way it did me. When I read a Christian romance I want to know it is sound Biblically so I can pass it on to my daughter or another woman. I use inspirational romance books to share my faith and encourage others. This is not a book I will pass on to a non Christian. Somewhere towards the end of the book, the author shares how sad Lizzie is because Eli may leave the Amish church and in doing so, he will lose his salvation and be rejected by God. A church doesn’t make us a Christian. We are saved by grace, not by works. We can leave a church and seek another church that preaches the Word if God and still be a believer. I know there are some Amish and other churches that believe this false doctrine, but a true Christian knows they can’t lose their salvation or their soul in the way the author has Lizzie believing. The story is good and I have read other books by this author that I enjoyed. I love to pass my books along to another person. I won’t pass this one on because I don’t want a child of God questioning their own faith and salvation through Jesus Christ because they decide to leave one denomination and go to another. Ephesians 2:8-9.
October 23, 2019
Eli returned to his Amish community after losing his fiancé in Denver. His secret of being a paramedic became evident as he assisted various members of his community with health issues. This is a story of finding new beginnings, forgiveness, and opportunities that might be the answer to why and how things transpired that brought a stronger faith to characters.
December 10, 2020
when Lizzie's dad hires her old Love that has just returned from the English world. Lizzie is scared that Eli may leave again and so she feels she must guard her Heart against falling in love with him.
January 8, 2019
English vrs Amish
Lizzi bee loved Eli. They were to eventually marry. However Eli left his home to peruse becoming a paramedic. He wanted Lizzie to leave the Amish and join him. Her dad was concerned Eli would try to coax her to join him so her dad intercepted all Eli’s letters to Lizzie. Eli eventually gave up and mourned his loss and built an English life with a new girl friend and by becoming a good para medic. Eli lost his girlfriend and went home to visit his family.He saw Lizzie again and the spark he had for her kindled. Lizzie is even more determined to stay Amish and tries to resolve her own feelings. Will Lizzie and Eli find a way to make their growing attraction work or will the pull of Eli’s career be too strong.
Lizzi bee loved Eli. They were to eventually marry. However Eli left his home to peruse becoming a paramedic. He wanted Lizzie to leave the Amish and join him. Her dad was concerned Eli would try to coax her to join him so her dad intercepted all Eli’s letters to Lizzie. Eli eventually gave up and mourned his loss and built an English life with a new girl friend and by becoming a good para medic. Eli lost his girlfriend and went home to visit his family.He saw Lizzie again and the spark he had for her kindled. Lizzie is even more determined to stay Amish and tries to resolve her own feelings. Will Lizzie and Eli find a way to make their growing attraction work or will the pull of Eli’s career be too strong.
January 5, 2019
Not my usual fare but enjoyed it.
February 8, 2019
This was such a fun story of forgiveness and learning to trust God w/ your future. It's a great read for any Amish fiction fan!
April 2, 2022
MUCH better than the first book.
Lizzie and Eli were childhood sweethearts. He proposed to her when he was 14, but to him that was more a 'declaration of a dream'. He had many of those. He dreamed of a rumpspringa (time away from the Amish), he dreamed of higher education, as he wanted to learn and to grow as a person.
Which, by the way, is FAR more Biblical thinking than most of what the Amish do. We're to love and grow in the Lord in heart, in soul, in MIND, and in strength. When Solomon asked for wisdom, he was doubly blessed. Philippians 1:9 says we should increase in knowledge so that we might be able to approve what is good. More, (and this is the BIGGIE that I have against the Amish), the Bible says "Be ye not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND"... not by the way you dress or shun technology or create a sect or look down on others whose heart condition you have NO knowledge of.
Eli lives four years among the Englisch, becomes a paramedic, but when his 'worldly' fiancée is killed, he returns home to decide which direction to take his life. There he re-acquaints with Lizzie, and an accident ties him to her farm as her 'helpmeet' of a sort, for six weeks while her father heals. Of course they fall in love again.
I had a couple of issues with the story. First is that he's even GIVEN a 'worldy' fiancée from during his time in Denver. It paints him as fickle, for one thing. Lizzie couldn't move on, but *BAM!* he does? Yikes, Eli. For another, it never mentions that Shannon had faith of *ANY* kind, which paints HIS faith as peripheral - after all, what kind of a man not only walks away from his family8 and his community, but WORSE walks away from his God by marrying someone with NO faith, at all? This is never covered, and I took half a star, for that.
Another half star was taken for the lack of descriptive writing. I get that action and dialogue drive a story, but we have NO idea what anyone looks like. We don't know if Lizzie favors her mother, if her father is a big man and how his size affects getting him around, we don't know if they had to use a leg pump to prevent clotting (is that why Jeremiah's in the hospital for literally WEEKS for a broken leg?)... I hate it when I'm even in question as to what color hair people have.
But mostly (my few complaints aside)? It's a very good story, and ends in a compromise that... well, it's hypocritical as hell, but what does anyone expect from the Amish? "We hate your knowledge and education and electricity, but we have metal pans formed in a plant that runs on electricity and sold in a store with electric lights just down the aisle from plastic tubs that we buy that are made with electricity and synthetics which are all fake and man-made and borne out of 'hochmut'... but WE'RE set apart from the heathen Englisch", which in itself is 'hochmut'.
Don't get me STARTED on adding to scripture with their 'Ordnung'. That is expressly against the Bible.
And having a gas-powered fridge means NOTHING
if the gas is refined with that evil electricity
and purchased from the Englisch.
The story is well-done. I just have deep-seeded Amish issues, as I've been treated like utter crap by them when I lived in Amish country for eight years. Not to mention the electrical wires they ran UNDER the ground, to hide that they had electricity at their farms. But don't mind me. This is still definitely worth reading.
Lizzie and Eli were childhood sweethearts. He proposed to her when he was 14, but to him that was more a 'declaration of a dream'. He had many of those. He dreamed of a rumpspringa (time away from the Amish), he dreamed of higher education, as he wanted to learn and to grow as a person.
Which, by the way, is FAR more Biblical thinking than most of what the Amish do. We're to love and grow in the Lord in heart, in soul, in MIND, and in strength. When Solomon asked for wisdom, he was doubly blessed. Philippians 1:9 says we should increase in knowledge so that we might be able to approve what is good. More, (and this is the BIGGIE that I have against the Amish), the Bible says "Be ye not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed BY THE RENEWING OF YOUR MIND"... not by the way you dress or shun technology or create a sect or look down on others whose heart condition you have NO knowledge of.
Eli lives four years among the Englisch, becomes a paramedic, but when his 'worldly' fiancée is killed, he returns home to decide which direction to take his life. There he re-acquaints with Lizzie, and an accident ties him to her farm as her 'helpmeet' of a sort, for six weeks while her father heals. Of course they fall in love again.
I had a couple of issues with the story. First is that he's even GIVEN a 'worldy' fiancée from during his time in Denver. It paints him as fickle, for one thing. Lizzie couldn't move on, but *BAM!* he does? Yikes, Eli. For another, it never mentions that Shannon had faith of *ANY* kind, which paints HIS faith as peripheral - after all, what kind of a man not only walks away from his family8 and his community, but WORSE walks away from his God by marrying someone with NO faith, at all? This is never covered, and I took half a star, for that.
Another half star was taken for the lack of descriptive writing. I get that action and dialogue drive a story, but we have NO idea what anyone looks like. We don't know if Lizzie favors her mother, if her father is a big man and how his size affects getting him around, we don't know if they had to use a leg pump to prevent clotting (is that why Jeremiah's in the hospital for literally WEEKS for a broken leg?)... I hate it when I'm even in question as to what color hair people have.
But mostly (my few complaints aside)? It's a very good story, and ends in a compromise that... well, it's hypocritical as hell, but what does anyone expect from the Amish? "We hate your knowledge and education and electricity, but we have metal pans formed in a plant that runs on electricity and sold in a store with electric lights just down the aisle from plastic tubs that we buy that are made with electricity and synthetics which are all fake and man-made and borne out of 'hochmut'... but WE'RE set apart from the heathen Englisch", which in itself is 'hochmut'.
Don't get me STARTED on adding to scripture with their 'Ordnung'. That is expressly against the Bible.
And having a gas-powered fridge means NOTHING
if the gas is refined with that evil electricity
and purchased from the Englisch.
The story is well-done. I just have deep-seeded Amish issues, as I've been treated like utter crap by them when I lived in Amish country for eight years. Not to mention the electrical wires they ran UNDER the ground, to hide that they had electricity at their farms. But don't mind me. This is still definitely worth reading.
October 28, 2018
His Amish Choice by Leigh Bale
Book 2 of 2 in Colorado Amish Courtships
He came back home…but will he stay?
A Colorado Amish Courtships novel
When Lizzie Beiler’s fiancé cast her and his Amish faith aside to pursue an Englisch education, she vowed never to marry. Now he’s back and helping on her father’s farm. And though Lizzie’s unsure she can ever forgive him, she finds their love still lingers. But is Eli finally ready to build a familye with Lizzie…or will he return to his Englisch life?
This is Lizzie Beiler and Eli Stoltzfus's story.
Elizabeth Beiler set her last crate of honeycrisp apples into the back of the buggy-wagon and took a deep breath. Picking the fruit was hard work but she could never get enough of its fresh, earthy-sweet smell.
Brushing the dust off her rose-colored skirts and black apron, she adjusted the blue kerchief tied beneath her chin. Because she was working outside, she’d left her white organza kapp at home. She arched her back, her gaze scanning the rows of apple trees.
Finally, they were finished. Not that Lizzie begrudged the work. It brought her a sense of accomplishment and security. She was just tired and feeling jittery with Eli Stoltzfus’s constant presence.
At that moment, Eli emerged from the orchard, carrying two heavy crates of fruit in his strong arms. His plain broadfall trousers and work boots had dust on them. Wearing a straw hat and black suspenders, he looked unmistakably Amish. His clean-shaven face attested that he was unmarried. Lizzie was dying to ask if he’d had any girlfriends during the four years he’d been living among the Englisch, but kept her questions to herself. It wasn’t her business after all. Not anymore.
His high cheekbones and blunt chin gave him a slightly stubborn look. With hair black as a raven’s wing and gentle brown eyes. Not that Lizzie also was interested. Not in this man. Not ever again.
As he approached, she turned away, conscious of his quiet gaze following her. She often found him watching her, his intelligent eyes warning that there was an active, gifted mind hidden beneath his calm exterior.
I highly recommend reading.
His Amish Choice by Leigh Bale is a wonderful well written 5 star book.
I am looking forward to reading more books by Leigh Bale.
Runaway Amish Bride (Colorado Amish Courtships Book 1)
by Leigh Bale
His Amish Choice (Colorado Amish Courtships Book 2)
by Leigh Bale
Reunited by a Secret Child (Men of Wildfire)
by Leigh Bale
Her Firefighter Hero (Men of Wildfire)
by Leigh Bale
Wildfire Sweethearts (Men of Wildfire)
by Leigh Bale
The Healing Place
by Leigh Bale
The Forest Ranger's Return (Love Inspired)
by Leigh Bale
The Forest Ranger's Christmas (Love Inspired)
by Leigh Bale
Book 2 of 2 in Colorado Amish Courtships
He came back home…but will he stay?
A Colorado Amish Courtships novel
When Lizzie Beiler’s fiancé cast her and his Amish faith aside to pursue an Englisch education, she vowed never to marry. Now he’s back and helping on her father’s farm. And though Lizzie’s unsure she can ever forgive him, she finds their love still lingers. But is Eli finally ready to build a familye with Lizzie…or will he return to his Englisch life?
This is Lizzie Beiler and Eli Stoltzfus's story.
Elizabeth Beiler set her last crate of honeycrisp apples into the back of the buggy-wagon and took a deep breath. Picking the fruit was hard work but she could never get enough of its fresh, earthy-sweet smell.
Brushing the dust off her rose-colored skirts and black apron, she adjusted the blue kerchief tied beneath her chin. Because she was working outside, she’d left her white organza kapp at home. She arched her back, her gaze scanning the rows of apple trees.
Finally, they were finished. Not that Lizzie begrudged the work. It brought her a sense of accomplishment and security. She was just tired and feeling jittery with Eli Stoltzfus’s constant presence.
At that moment, Eli emerged from the orchard, carrying two heavy crates of fruit in his strong arms. His plain broadfall trousers and work boots had dust on them. Wearing a straw hat and black suspenders, he looked unmistakably Amish. His clean-shaven face attested that he was unmarried. Lizzie was dying to ask if he’d had any girlfriends during the four years he’d been living among the Englisch, but kept her questions to herself. It wasn’t her business after all. Not anymore.
His high cheekbones and blunt chin gave him a slightly stubborn look. With hair black as a raven’s wing and gentle brown eyes. Not that Lizzie also was interested. Not in this man. Not ever again.
As he approached, she turned away, conscious of his quiet gaze following her. She often found him watching her, his intelligent eyes warning that there was an active, gifted mind hidden beneath his calm exterior.
I highly recommend reading.
His Amish Choice by Leigh Bale is a wonderful well written 5 star book.
I am looking forward to reading more books by Leigh Bale.
Runaway Amish Bride (Colorado Amish Courtships Book 1)
by Leigh Bale
His Amish Choice (Colorado Amish Courtships Book 2)
by Leigh Bale
Reunited by a Secret Child (Men of Wildfire)
by Leigh Bale
Her Firefighter Hero (Men of Wildfire)
by Leigh Bale
Wildfire Sweethearts (Men of Wildfire)
by Leigh Bale
The Healing Place
by Leigh Bale
The Forest Ranger's Return (Love Inspired)
by Leigh Bale
The Forest Ranger's Christmas (Love Inspired)
by Leigh Bale
March 4, 2019
His Amish Choice is the second book written by Leigh Bale in her Colorado Amish Courtships series. This book continued with the story of Abby but started Lizzie's journey as well. I loved the storyline and the well developed characters.
Eli is a very interesting character and I was routing for him throughout the entire story. Lizzie, whose heart was broken, still carries a lot of ill feelings toward Eli. The journey that these two take is amazing but it may not turnout the way the reader would like.
I did not receive a complimentary copy of this book to read and review. I was not approached by anyone to post a favorable review. I have rated this book with five stars for meeting my expectations of a wonderful story that I can highly recommend to others.
Congratulations to Leigh Bale on writing another fantastic story for her readers to enjoy. I will be watching for more fantastic releases from this author in the future.
Eli is a very interesting character and I was routing for him throughout the entire story. Lizzie, whose heart was broken, still carries a lot of ill feelings toward Eli. The journey that these two take is amazing but it may not turnout the way the reader would like.
I did not receive a complimentary copy of this book to read and review. I was not approached by anyone to post a favorable review. I have rated this book with five stars for meeting my expectations of a wonderful story that I can highly recommend to others.
Congratulations to Leigh Bale on writing another fantastic story for her readers to enjoy. I will be watching for more fantastic releases from this author in the future.
August 20, 2022
The story line was good and well thought out. What I didn't like was that the author threw in Penn Dutch sentences or words that the average reader wouln't understand.
For instance, "ne?" It's "nee". "Gmay?" You pick up the meaning after a while, it's the "people" of the community. Never heard it before, and I've read a LOT of Amish books. The author also used, I can't remember exactly, along the lines of "maedel." That's an old maid, and the author used it in reference to young children.
Does the author understand the language, the basic words that are already used in Amish books so people can understand and follow, or did she just read a few books, get a dictionary and write an Amish story?
For instance, "ne?" It's "nee". "Gmay?" You pick up the meaning after a while, it's the "people" of the community. Never heard it before, and I've read a LOT of Amish books. The author also used, I can't remember exactly, along the lines of "maedel." That's an old maid, and the author used it in reference to young children.
Does the author understand the language, the basic words that are already used in Amish books so people can understand and follow, or did she just read a few books, get a dictionary and write an Amish story?
January 2, 2019
His Amish Choice
I loved Eli so much. He lived away from the Amish for a while in the English world. He studied and became an paramedic. Loved how he was able to help the Amish with his training. Some really awesome parts in the book.
Lizzie and her family was in an accident. Her father broke his leg. Eli took over the farming duties when her father was recovering.
Lizzie and Eli was engaged before he left, she was hurt and scare of getting hurt again. Will Eli decide to stay and become an full pledge Amish?
This is part of my monthly reader service books. I was not required to write an review.
I loved Eli so much. He lived away from the Amish for a while in the English world. He studied and became an paramedic. Loved how he was able to help the Amish with his training. Some really awesome parts in the book.
Lizzie and her family was in an accident. Her father broke his leg. Eli took over the farming duties when her father was recovering.
Lizzie and Eli was engaged before he left, she was hurt and scare of getting hurt again. Will Eli decide to stay and become an full pledge Amish?
This is part of my monthly reader service books. I was not required to write an review.
June 1, 2020
This is the 2nd book I read by Leigh Bale. I enjoyed this book's storyline. I really liked the Christian theme in this story. I really liked Eli's character. Lizzie's character was okay. Lizzie got on my nerves in the story. I really liked the ending.
February 12, 2019
Story was good but seemed to drag out. Not really sure I could read again. Sorry.
March 31, 2019
Another sweet story
February 2, 2020
Eli and his struggles of being judged and where to belong,l could relate too.
Read
March 9, 2020Love the book.
December 16, 2022
"I believe in the doctor. Explicitly."
No. Just no. Ms. Bale, it's IMPLICITLY!
No. Just no. Ms. Bale, it's IMPLICITLY!
May 31, 2023
Took Lizzie long enough to forgive Eli, and find her happiness with him - took Eli long enough to make the right decision, too!
May 16, 2025
very good book
July 9, 2025
ngl i was crazy into this
Read
November 2, 2018Miniseries: Colorado Amish Courtships
Read
November 2, 2018Miniseries: Colorado Amish Courtships
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews