The Story of Love

The Amish Bookstore #2

by Beth Wiseman

When Yvonne Wilson’s Amish friends, Jake and Eva Lantz, offer her an opportunity to run their bookstore in Montgomery, Indiana, Yvonne jumps on the opportunity for a change of scenery. She leaves her home in Texas to take on her new job as manager of the bookstore. A spark is rekindled unexpectedly when the move brings her back into contact with Abraham Byler. But Abraham is now dating a woman named Brianna, and the last thing Yvonne wants is to interfere in their relationship.

Abraham grew up Amish, but he chose not to be baptized, eventually entering a career as a sheriff in the hopes of bringing justice to his community. But when a high-stakes situation on the job arises, he begins to question his decisions and contemplate a return to his Amish roots. Meanwhile, he finds himself drawn to Yvonne—casting doubt on his current relationship with Brianna. Brianna herself is keeping secrets . . . and some of those secrets might be dangerous.

As tensions rise, both Yvonne and Abraham will have to choose the best path for themselves—even if it puts their romance at risk.

Genres: Amish, Amish Fiction, Romance, Fiction, Christian Fiction, Audiobook, Adult

336 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2022

About the author

"I wish I had the time to review books and chat with you here, but my writing deadlines just don't allow it. Please like my Fans of Beth Wiseman Page on Facebook where I try to post any news and interact with readers."
Beth is the best-selling and award winning author of the Daughters of the Promise series - Plain Perfect, Plain Pursuit, Plain Promise, Plain Paradise, and Plain Proposal. She is contracted with HarperCollins Christian Publishing. Her other series--the Land of Canaan Novels--begins with Seek Me With All Your Heart, then The Wonder of Your Love and now, His Love Endures Forever. Seek Me With All Your Heart is the first Amish fiction book selected as a Women of Faith novel in 2011. Beth has also written three contemporary Christian fiction novels, Need You Now published in 2012 and The House That Love Built in 2013. In The Promise, (2014) Beth jumps way outside the box. This story takes readers far away from Amish Country and small Texas towns to a dangerous place on the other side of the world. Inspired by a true story, Beth believes this is the book she’s been working toward for a long time. 2015 brings Beth back to the Pennsylvania Amish with her new series, Amish Secrets. She is currently working on book #2 following much success with book #1, Her Brother's Keeper.

You can also follow Beth on Twitter: @BethWiseman

Reviews

[Tina Loves To Read · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an Amish Romance, and this is the second book in the Amish Bookstore series. I have read and reviewed the first book in this series before picking up this book, but I do think you can read this book as a standalone. I do feel that you will get a better feel for the characters if you read the first book before this book. In this book we are following Yvonne who was one of the characters we followed in the first book. I grew to love her character in the first book, and I am happy we got her romance in this book. I love how much her character has changed. There was a little suspense and mystery in this book, but there was not enough that I would call this a Romantic suspense. The mystery in this book was really interesting, and it kept me guessing. There was so much going on in this book, but it was done in a way it did not feel overwhelming or hard to follow. I really loved the ending so much, and I cannot wait for the next book in this series. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Zondervan) or author (Beth Wiseman) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

[Dale Harcombe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yvonne Wilson has no reason to stay in Texas. She takes off for Montgomery Indiana.
Though he is no longer part of the Amish community Abraham Byler, who has become a policeman, finds his relationship with girlfriend Brianna Stone is moving way too fast for him. Plus he still has feelings for the woman he met briefly some time before at a wedding of friends, Jake and Eva, but the woman was still mourning her love who died and not ready for a relationship. That woman is Yvonne and when she moves into town to take on the position of manager at the bookstore, those feelings fan back to life for Abraham. But there is Brianna., his girlfriend of three months dating.
But then a violent police incident has Abraham questioning his choices and whether he should return to his Amish roots he left as an older teen. That, in turn, would also affect his relationships, as neither Yvonne or Brianna are Amish.
The characters of Yvonne and Abraham are both well drawn and easy to empathise with. Brianna, on the other hand, came across as very one dimensional. The plot is predictable in some ways. Although I enjoyed aspects of this book, some things in this book just didn’t ring true to me.
Again this is book 2 in a series about The Amish Bookstore and I had not read book 1. No worries. This stands alone fine. To be fair others have loved it so maybe it’s just me.

[Rose | Adventurous Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good story. I started listening to the audiobook and didn't stop until I finished it.
Brianna was a piece of work, let me tell you. That said, I am glad her story ended as it did.
Note on the audiobook: There were many editing errors with sentences being repeated twice in a row. One more listen-through before release could have improved it greatly.

4 Stars

Content: domestic violence, gunshot wounds, stalking, kissing (fyi, Brianna tries her best to seduce Jake)

[Kelsie Maxwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Story of Love by Beth Wiseman is book two in her The Amish Bookstore series.

Yvonne Wilson has recently moved to Montgomery, Indiana from Houston, Texas in order to manage the bookstore owned by her Amish friends Eva and Jake. Hopefully, she’ll run into Abraham Byler, a local cop she met previously. Abraham Byler hears that Yvonne is moving to Montgomery and hopes to see her in town. There are a few complications, but love conquers all. Right?

I’ve read, and enjoyed, other books by this author but haven’t read the first in this series. Though I missed the series opener, I was able to completely follow the previous storylines through the backstory provided. The book works well as a standalone. The characters are great, good or bad, love or hate. There are religious themes throughout, which I found inspirational. The plot provided some unexpected suspense and interesting twists. All in all, The Story of Love is a 5 out of 5 star read, and I highly recommend it to all readers of romance, especially Christian romance and/or romantic suspense.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Zondervan through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yvonne is a Texas gal, used to living in a fairly large city, but it’s time for a change after the death of her fiancé. She is moving to Montgomery, Indiana(1) to manage an Amish-owned bookstore for her friends, Jake & Eva.

Former Amish, Abraham Byler has been a police officer for some years having left his Amish community at age 19. He met Yvonne at her friends’ wedding and was immediately attracted. Three months ago, he began dating Brianna, a very attractive but “pushy” woman. But now that Yvonne has moved to Montgomery … And Brianna is determined to keep Abraham to herself.

Then he is involved in a domestic dispute shooting and his world changes even more.

My review …
Brianna is the type of woman that men can usually see through and promptly run away from. She’s like that old joke about the dog who chases cars but hasn’t thought about what he would do if he actually caught one. Abraham is a Godly man and Brianna is — well, whatever it takes to get her way she is willing to do. And frankly, Abraham lacks the dating skill set to tell her to get lost.

“The Story of Love” has an Amish setting but could be considered a clean contemporary romance. It takes place in around Christmas. It’s a sweet story about two people who meet and are attracted to each other but the timing is off.

There’s a mystery here too. As the story moves along, someone is definitely stalking Yvonne.

So – the plot is a bit different in neither of the two main characters are members of the Amish community. And the characters – well, having a “Brianna” adds a distinct change as she dresses like she is going to an affluent country-club function. She looks good, and probably smells good, but don’t trust her.

I did appreciate this story and its twists and turns. I believe you will too. Okay, okay, okay. There is a dog in it who worms his way into Yvonne’s heart. I’m a sucker for dog-in-the-book.

Oh — here’s what the fine print at the bottom of the cover says …
“This compelling unpredictable romance between two strong characters with complicated lives plays out beautifully, one unexpected turn after another.” —Patricia Davids, USA TODAY bestselling author of Amish romance.

I am finding it hard to pinpoint why I am not rating the book with 5 stars, but I’m pretty sure it has to do with Abraham’s change of heart about his vocation.

I received a complimentary e-ARC copy of “The Story of Love” via NetGalley from the publisher, Zondervan Fiction, Zondervan. A positive review was not required; the opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Rating: 4 stars
#TheStoryofLove #NetGalley #BethWiseman

1. Montgomery, Indiana is a real town with a population of 343 as of the 2010 census. And yes, the Amish do live in the vicinity. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montgom....

[Deana Dick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited to receive the latest book in this series because I absolutely adore Yvonne. She captured my heart with her love of books and how she tracked down very rare books for clients. That would be such an exciting job and what wonderful treasures you would find. Yvonne has decided to move from Texas when she is offered a job running a bookstore. She finds herself in Montgomery, Alabama where her new friends Jake and Eva live. She is so excited to start this new job and is thankful that Jake and Eva have hired her. I would love to be in a bookstore all day surrounded by stories waiting to be read. Yvonne is hoping that she can heal her broken heart after losing her fiancé.


Abraham has grown up Amish but decided to not be baptized so at times it may be hard for him living near the community. He is still welcomed but his job as a police officer keeps him pretty busy. He also has a girlfriend who I’m not sure is suited for him. He still enjoys the simple life but his girlfriend loves to dress up and drives a fancy car. I thought it was funny when Abraham finds out that Yvonne has moved to his town because he still has a major crush on her. I can see trouble heading his way once his girlfriend finds out he still has feelings for Yvonne.

I did enjoy Yvonne describing why she is happy that she has moved. She loves the simple life and slow pace the Amish live. One thing she points out is that there is no competition between women. They all dress the same so that takes away women being jealous of how others dress. But be careful about that thought Yvonne. Women can become jealous of others if they think you are showing their boyfriend or husband attention.

When a dog adopts Yvonne I found it be comforting. They both seem lonely and I think they will be good for each other. I’m a big animal lover and anytime I read a story with a dog in it it melts my heart. I couldn’t wait to see if this relationship would turn out to be a happy ending. I did find myself wrapped up in a thick blanket as I read the book after the author describes the dog shivering on the porch. Weather in the winter can be harsh and Yvonne can’t let that poor dog stay outside. It is a nice scene when the dig finds comfort in her home.

The story does have a frightening moment when Abraham is shot in the line of duty. He never thought in the quiet area he patrols that something like this would happen to him. But what is more alarming to me is his girlfriend Brianna at the hospital and Yvonne shows up. Talk about awkward. Why does Yvonne mention that Abraham got her a Christmas tree in front of Brianna? Let’s just say I think a line was drawn in the sand as Brianna explains that Abraham will be staying with her as he recovers. Oh my have the claws come out or what.

The author has written a story that explores relationships, forgiveness and most of all standing together in faith. I was very surprised at who had been stalking Yvonne and it saddened me to learn this person did it. I loved how the author handled the relationship between Yvonne and Abraham. They both have decisions to make about continuing and a bigger decision will be about their faith. I loved how these two asked God for direction in their lives and waited on Him for direction. The ending leaves readers hanging a little and I’m excited to see if the author will continue the series.

I received a copy of this book from the author and publisher. The review is my own opinion.

[Chautona Havig · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I'll continue the series when the next one comes out. Still pondering...

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the series, The Amish Bookstore series. This was such an enjoyable read with quite a few twists and turns. After reading the first in the series "A Booksellers Promise" and falling in love with the characters I was eager to read this follow up book, however this book could be read as a stand alone. Beth does a wonderful job creating her characters and engaging you right away.

"The Story of Love" follows the lives of Yvonne Wilson and Abraham Byler.

Two people from two different worlds. Yvonne is a young lady from Houston, Texas who moves to Montgomery, Indiana after a difficult year where she lost her fiancé in a tragic accident. She is looking for a simpler life and to reconnect with her friends Jake and Eva, whom she met the year before when she came to Montgomery Indiana where she worked for clients in search of rare hard to find books. Jake is the owner of a bookstore and he offers Yvonne a job to run his bookshop. Yvonne hopes to also reconnect with Abraham too, as they met when she was in town the year before. Abraham was fascinated by Yvonne and after she lost her fiancé he tried writing her letters but she never wrote back. The timing just wasn't right.

Abraham is a young man who grew up Amish but left the faith at a young age to become a police officer, following an incident that led him to that job decision. When Yvonne comes to town he is in a relationship with Brianna, but he still finds himself drawn to Yvonne and would like to spend time with her. Abraham's life is in turmoil and he is faced with several decisions that he has to make about his life and future.

I found myself eager to keep turning the page to find out what would happen.

This book wasn't typical Amish fiction, it had faith, love, manipulation, mystery. Most definitely a page turner. The ending has me waiting to read the next in the series.

I received an advanced copy from the publisher. A positive review was not required; the opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

[Jennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the series about Yvonne and Abraham. It was a wonderful book and it ended the best way it possibly could. Abraham had a very cunning girlfriend named Brianna, and most of the book was him trying to get rid of Brianna so he could date Yvonne. Abraham was born Amish, but decided to leave the religion and lifestyle to become a policeman.

[Melmo2610 · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable story. I really liked Yvonne and Abraham but will admit Brianna’s brand of crazy detracted from my overall enjoyment of the story a bit. Good read.

[Jeanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not your ordinary Amish Romance but more of a fatal attraction Amish. Or more recently an Amber Heard head games. The first book The Bookseller’s Promise, Yvonne Wilson had not only made a business deal in finding a rare book but had developed a special friendship with the Amish bookstore owner Jake Lantz. Now that Jake is married and his wife Eva are expecting their first child, Jake has offered Yvonne a job at the bookstore. Moving from Texas to Indiana was a big step for Yvonne. She had lost her fiancé to a terrible accident but in her brokenness, drew near to God in faith.

Coming back to Indiana she was looking forward to a friendship with a former Amish man turned police officer Abraham Byler. A man that she had briefly connected with when she had first met the Lantz.

Abraham knew his connection with Yvonne was bad timing due to the loss she suffered. He had written her a letters when she had went back to Texas and never received a reply. Even though he could not get Yvonne out his mind, he knew he probably would never see Yvonne again and moved on with Brianne.

Brianne left New York suddenly to have a new start and she was determined to have this start with Abraham and she would make sure the new manager at the Amish bookstore knows that Abraham is off limits.

I would say that if you are a die hard Amish reader, this may put you off. Brianne is psycho, forward, and seductive. Abraham is in another bad timing place in his life. Growing up Amish, he has instilled the values that they live by. The contrast between that is what makes this book work for me. He is very much attracted to Yvonne and wants to be her friend. Helping her and keeping that balance of being taken, and knowing what is wrong and what is right. Yvonne does not want to the girl that takes someone else's boyfriend so she too is trying to find the balance.

There is so much underlying issues that included manipulation, faith, redemption, and a sweet dog that saved the day. I hope there is another to the series.

A special thank you to Zondervan and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

[Lucy · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was hard to put this down after becoming immersed in Yvonne’s life story in book one. I left the bookshop wondering what turn her life would take. Although this could be read as a stand-alone I recommend reading book one so you get the feel for Yvonne’s faith journey and how she became acquainted with the Amish community. This story has many aspects going on and leaves you scratching your head as to what, who, why. Abraham has a lot of turmoil going on in his life with choices to be made that can be life altering. I love his open and honest relationship with Yvonne. You can see God at work in their lives leading them to where they belong. I love that we get snippets of my favorite characters Lizzie and her sister Esther as they always invoke a chuckle. I especially enjoyed the ending and how it leaves you with a clue for book three. Anxiously awaiting to read. You can always count on a great read from Ms Wiseman.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher/author. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.

[Barbara Dougherty Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beth Wiseman is one of my favorite authors of Amish romance novels. I was so excited to be able to read and review this book.

It is the second book in a series, but is able to be read as a stand alone book.

I fell in love with Yvonne is book one, The Bookseller’s Promise. If you haven't it, I highly recommend, but it is not necessary to follow our character's story.

The love triangle between Yvonne, Brianna, and Abraham is full of twists and turns that are eventually resolved.

The side story about Yvonne's adoption of a stray dog that lands on her doorstep is a heartwarming and beautiful addition to the story.

Highly recommend this one!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, the publisher (Zondervan) and author (Beth Wiseman) for granting me a copy of this book in return for my honest opinions.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

7.5/10

CW: Toxic Relationship, Domestic Violence, Gun Violence

So I only read this one because I was gifted and enjoyed the first one. One Yvonne and Abraham deserve their happy ending. Yvonne’s journey has been a tough one. Eva and Jake are sweet and lovable just as in the first book. Some plot twists and turns as expected but a great read overall.

[Angela (Kentuckybooklover) Brocato-Skaggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a sucker for a book about books and/or bookstores. They make me happy and The Story of Love was no exception.

I was on the edge of my seat for the mystery running though it and was shocked by the who. I never thought much about that character.

A great holiday book with Christmas and Valentine’s Day represented.

Eagerly awaiting book three!

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Amish romance.

[Marieke · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet and easy!
Beth Wiseman is my fav Amish novel author 💯

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book with complicated characters and situations. I have yet to read the first book in this series, but enough of the backstory was provided that I did not feel lost. It does make me want to go back and read the first one. Three main characters - Yvonne, Abraham, and Brianna - are involved in a love triangle. In the previous book, Yvonne met Abraham when she visited the town and attended her friends, Jake and Eva's wedding. Yvonne and Abraham connected there, with Abraham developing feelings for her. He wrote to her after she returned to Texas, but still grieving the death of her fiancé, Yvonne never answered his letters.

Months later, Yvonne moves to Montgomery for a new start. Jake and Eva hired her to manage the bookstore while Eva is on bedrest and Jake works the family farm. She looks forward to a quieter and simpler life and the possibility of seeing Abraham again.

Abraham is a former Amish man who left the community to become a police officer. He likes his work but occasionally wonders if he made the right choice. In other decisions, after not hearing from Yvonne for three months, Abraham starts dating newcomer Brianna. Brianna is a modern city woman, making me wonder why she latched onto a former Amish and still very conservative Abraham. Brianna is very intense, possessive, and controlling. When she hears about Yvonne's arrival in town, she quickly stakes her claim on Abraham.

I loved seeing the relationship develop between Abraham and Yvonne. She is conscious of his relationship with Brianna and unwilling to break them up, puts him firmly in the "friend zone." Abraham is happy to renew his friendship with Yvonne but quickly realizes that he is much more attracted to Yvonne than Brianna. He finds frequent reasons to help Yvonne, from helping her with her house to providing her with a Christmas tree. It was easy to see that Abraham and Yvonne have much in common and are very suited to each other.

Brianna is intense and tries to push Abraham faster in their relationship than he is willing to go. The Amish values he was raised with are still integral to who Abraham is, and he has made his position very clear to Brianna. When he is injured in the line of duty, Brianna moves in to help him, putting her own spin on the situation. Her methods of getting her way are dishonest and manipulative. It doesn't take long for Abraham to realize that it is time for them to part ways, but his soft heart worries about hurting her. There were some scary moments with Brianna, but I ended up feeling sorry for her.

With his relationship with Brianna sorted out, Abraham was free to spend time with Yvonne. I loved watching their connection grow and strengthen as they shared their beliefs and dreams. The incident that ended with Abraham's injury has caused him to question his future as a police officer and his decision to leave his Amish faith. But returning to the Amish would mean leaving Yvonne behind. Both need to look deep within their hearts to find the right answers. I loved their honest communication about the pros and cons. The ending was terrific, with a sweet twist.

There were a couple of mysteries running through the book. One was creepy and scary. Not long after Yvonne moved into her house, she began having problems with an apparent stalker. Someone tried to break into her home, and there were nights when Yvonne's dog would bark an alert that someone was lurking. The resolution of this issue was intense and heartbreaking. The second mystery was simply intriguing. Jake told Yvonne of an old story involving the bookstore and a rumored cache of valuable coins. With the number of renovations the building has gone through over the years, with no one finding them, Jake and Yvonne suspect that it's all talk and no substance. Then an unexpected discovery lends credence to the rumors. I hope that there will be more about this in the next book.

I can't end this review without talking about the dog. One night when she came home, Yvonne found a dog curled up on her porch. She is terrified of dogs after an incident when she was a child. The dog is a pitiful specimen - very thin and dirty but not aggressive. Over the next few days, Yvonne's kind heart overcomes her fears, and the dog wriggles his way into her life. I loved watching the tentative bond grow between them. Yvonne won my heart when she brought the dog inside on a snowy night. Her decision to keep him was not unexpected, and I loved the comfort and companionship he gave her. He was also protective, which gave Abraham a few worrisome moments but was a good thing in the end.

#netgalley

[Cortney · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5⭐

I really did feel like the two MCs had a chemistry from the start and they were cute. It WAS obviously from the start they would end up together and that they would be transitioning back to Abraham's Amish life, but it was still a good love story and progression.

The reasons that I gave this such low rating were because:

* Personally I really don't enjoy seeing two characters come together/go behind their current relationships back as they did with Brianna. They kept SAYING they weren't doing anything wrong and that it wasn't cheating, but you knew it was wrong the whole time. Even though Briannas character had her own issues/instability, she didn't deserve that. And it made Abraham and Yvonne unlikable in those moments. And those moments were when we were apparently supposed to feel all warm and fuzzy feelings about their developing feelings/relationship. I had a hard time feeling good about their developing relationship when I felt it was wrong the way they were going on about it.

* Abraham and Yvonne were portrayed as these God fearing, kind, caring people, BUT neither of them tell Bruce about the current issues and her history. Even if I wanted my friend to make his own choices on who he has a relationship with, I would at least let them know so they could be prepared. Be a good friend, good grief.

* Other cringey parts of the book that bothered me was when Brianna or Yvonne were around any of the Amish gentlemen they apparently couldn't help but "ogle" them the entire time...and that just set bad with me...there's a difference in being curious about other people and your differences in culture/appearance and observing as opposed to obviously having some kind of issue controlling your behavior and can't help but "ogling" them. I admit I don't know about Amish Culture/Persons, but I guess I just don't picture them being this way.

Take away the "not cheating" and Briannas distracting off the wall behavior and this was a cute cozy little romance.

[Eunice Chin · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Amish tradition always holds a fascination for me and this book being in a semi-Amish setting held enough interest for me to want to read its pages. The most stand-out feature of the Amish way I gleaned from this story was that of close-knit community, which also has its advantages and disadvantages. However, this is portrayed in a more positive light in this Story of Love.

Speaking of 'love'...this is most definitely a romance novel and rather involves a love triangle of sorts with Abraham, Brianna and Yvonne. Extricating himself was not an easy feat for Abraham and it did produce a misleading, conflicting result. The aftermath of this, co-mingled with an aftermath from an incident of his on-the-job police work, also threw a diverting wrench into the works.

I did experience disappointment however, that there were a bit of "too thirsty" goings on between Abraham's alliances with each girl, although it remained 'clean'. It seemed somewhat 'un-Amish' unless I don't know much. It was not quite as 'chaste' as I would have expected. Of course, that may just be me. Overall, it was ok, for a romance novel.

~Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger~

August 2022

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Rebekah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was driving through Pennsylvania last week, and I thought it would be fun to read (listen to) an Amish romance. I didn't really like this story. Here's why:

--The two main characters, Abraham and Yvonne, met previously and didn't date. Yvonne moves to the Amish town permanently to run a bookstore. Once she moves to the town, Abraham is already dating someone. There's an odd level of justification with cheating in this story that I really disliked between Yvonne and Abraham. There's so many repeated feelings and inner dialog about this cheating that it drove me nuts.
--Brianne is the girlfriend and she's a mess. I felt like her messiness just got swept under the rug and it all felt very surface. Brianne decides at the end that she wants to change but she needs serious counseling and that's never addressed

I just can't recommend this story.

Content: G, but there are triggers with cheating and stalking
Language: No language
Religious: This is about the Amish community, and it is quite religious.

Happy reading!

[Ashley : bostieslovebooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yvonne’s fiancé has died and there’s not much reason for her to stay in Texas. Leaving her home state, she takes a job as manager of her friend’s Amish bookstore in Indiana and hopes that the move will be the change she needs. Yvonne finds herself back in touch with Abraham, someone she’d met a year ago and briefly spent time with as friends but did not pursue a relationship as her fiancé had just passed away. Abraham has a girlfriend but their relationship is not unfolding as he’d like and his feelings for Yvonne have resurfaced. An incident leaves Abraham questioning his faith and career. Yvonne questions why Indiana feels so comfortable, especially her time spent with Abraham. As they each work out their feelings about their respective lives and faiths, will they be drawn together or pushed apart?

THE STORY OF LOVE is a wonderful Amish fiction book filled with charming characters. As the second book in Beth Wiseman’s An Amish Bookstore Series, it can be read as a stand-alone though I’d suggest reading the first book in the series beforehand for maximum enjoyment so that all of the background for each character is fully understood. Character development over time will be clearer.

I really enjoyed seeing Yvonne’s personal growth. It was great that Jake and Eva were included in this book as secondary characters since they had been a focus of the first book. What surprised me was how many times and how it was presented that despite not being baptized into the Amish community, Abraham still followed the faith with regard to abstaining from premarital sex and how his girlfriend was trying to seduce him. I don’t recall typically seeing so many mentions of sex in Amish fiction. It ultimately fit in with where the story line was going but seemed strange to me for this genre.

A glossary of Pennsylvania Deitsch terms is included at the beginning of the book. This was much appreciated. I’ve read other Amish fiction books that heavily included Pennsylvania Deitsch language and it interrupted comprehension to a point of hindering enjoyment. THE STORY OF LOVE has an excellent balance of the limited number of terms used so the feeling of being in the Amish community is conveyed without being a burden on the reader. I liked the overall writing of the book.

The story takes place during the Christmas season which I did not know upon beginning to read. I found that to be lovely as I’m just starting to pick out some Christmas reads for this year. There were some little twists here and there that made things exciting, added some mystery, and kept the plot moving along. The ending wrapped up nicely in a way that if you were to only read this one book out of the series, it would be satisfying, yet there’s still a touch of openness that will lead into the third book. If I didn’t have other things to attend to, this is a book that I would have read in one sitting. It certainly kept me turning pages.

I’d recommend THE STORY OF LOVE to fans of Amish fiction/romance. I will definitely be watching for the release of the third book of the series due out in Spring 2023 and am also interested in checking out some of Wiseman’s other series.

Thank you to Zondervan for the finished copy.

[Megann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed in the United States on October 19, 2022
In book one we meet two young people Jake and Eva, Jake owning his family bookstore and Eva a friend from their Amish community has been in love with Jake since meeting him and starting to work in the bookstore. They also are introduced to a woman named Yvonne who is a collector and searcher of rare books for her clients. She has found one of the rare books she really wants to sell in Jake's store. We follow the story and learn more about this situation.
Now we have moved on to a second book more about Yvonne. In the first book Yvonne is engaged to the man of her dreams and they are arranging their wedding. But like so many situations tragedy strikes and
Yvonne is thrust into a tumultuous situation. After coming to grips with all that is going on she decided to accept Jake's offer to run the bookstore and move from Texas to Indiana. Jake and Eva are now married and Eva is pregnant with a high risk term and so she is required to stay in bed. Jake's father has taken a turn for the worse and so he is required to run the farm and take care of the family. Their dream of running the bookstore together is put on hold. But, they know that Yvonne needs a change in her life so they ask her to run it.
At their wedding Yvonne meets Abraham the local police officer. He has left the church due to a childhood incident where he thinks as an adult he can provide more for his community as a police officer. He has written to Yvonne but she was not ready to become involved with anyone even as a friend.
When she arrives she finds out that Abraham has moved into a relationship with Brianna, who is nothing like the person you would think should be with Abraham. She is controlling, demanding and wants everything on her timeline and in her way.
Although they are just friends Abraham and Yvonne start up their friendship again much to Brianna chagrin.
So this is where I leave this story and tell you that you will find this book an easy read. I completed it in one day and could not put it down. Beth is a very talented writer and moves her stories along at a perfect pace as not to loose you but bring you along at just the right speed.
I can't wait for the next installment.

I did receive an advanced copy of the book as one of her team and promised I would right a fair and HONEST review.

[Pam Graber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 2 in Beth Wiseman's Amish Bookstore series has a love triangle surrounding former Amish man, Abraham Byler. Also returning from book 1 is Yvonne Wilson, who befriended bookstore owners Jake & Eva in her quest to buy a valuable book from Jake.. She failed in her quest due to Jake's promise to his grandfather, but in the process made strong friendships.

Following the death of her fiancé, Yvonne Wilson has nothing holding her to Texas so she takes Jake Lantz up on his offer of a job in his family bookstore. She loved her time in Montgomery, IN, and has the added incentive of seeing Abraham Byler again. Even though they 'clicked', Yvonne's loss was too fresh. Is there still anything there with Abraham, or has she returned too late.

Abe fell hard for Yvonne when he met her and it was a blow to learn she was engaged. When her fiancé dies in a plane crash, Abe tries to be the friend she needs while keeping his heart under wraps. He writes letters to her after she returns home to Texas but when she doesn't respond, he finally gives up and begins dating Brianna Taylor. They've only been dating about 3 months, and Brianna is pushing for more. When Yvonne returns, he is torn. Will he break things off with the possessive Brianna, even if there isn't a guarantee that Yvonne will agree to even date him?

This story moved surprisingly fast, and let me tell you, Brianna was a little scary. I can't imagine someone coming from the Amish being able to comprehend the lengths she went to in order to keep Abe. I was impressed with Abe's strength of character, as Brianna put him in numerous very compromising positions. I was also impressed with Yvonne. Even though she was interested in exploring a relationship with Abe, as soon as she knew he was seeing someone else, she backed off and kept him firmly in the "friend zone."

Readers who enjoy Amish fiction will enjoy "The Story of Love". Be warned, though, Brianna leaves no doubt that her goal is to get Abe into bed with her, and she aggressively pursues that goal. I loved the story, and I believe others will, too.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yvonne Wilson has left her home in Texas and moved to Montgomery, Indiana to work for her Amish friends in their bookstore. Eva has been put on bedrest while waiting for the birth of her and Jake's first child. Jake is busy taking care of the farm, and Yvonne running the bookstore is a blessing to them.
Yvonne feels less pain now over the death of her fiance'. She had met Abraham Byler on an earlier visit to Montgomery, and felt his interest in her, but it was too soon for her.
Abraham left the Amish life before he was baptized so his family can still see/visit with him, for which he is very grateful. Abraham is now a police officer hoping to do good. He, now realizes what he had previously believed regarding the police there was untrue. They are fair to everyone.
Abraham heard Yvonne was back in town and went into the bookstore to see her. He is now dating a very beautiful woman who is attempting to push the relationship faster and further than he would like. She, also heard about Yvonne and paid her a visit in the bookstore to stake her claim on Abraham.
Abraham ends up 'running into' Yvonne quite a bit, and helping her at her house. His 'girlfriend' Brianna, has a very bad temper which is beginning to come out. She tries to temper it but wants what she wants more than anything, and what she currently wants is Abraham.
Abraham wants to break things off with Brianna, but doesn't want her or anyone to think it has anything to do with his feelings for Yvonne. He doesn't even know if Yvonne feels the same way. He does know he doesn't wish to pursue a relationship with Brianna.
A stray dog shows up at Yvonne's house, and what transpires there is very sweet and unexpected.
I fear if I continue to type that I'm going to give the entire story away. This is a very warm and sweet story.
I was given an advanced ecopy by the publisher, Zondervan through Netgalley. I was under no obligation to leave a positive review.

[Lghiggins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yvonne moves from her house in Houston to live in Amish country in Montgomery, Indiana. Her friend Eva has been ordered to bed during her pregnancy, and Eva’s father-in-law is confined to a wheelchair leaving the farm management to Eva’s husband Jake. Yvonne, a rare book dealer, had met the couple at their bookstore, and now she steps in to help her friends at their store.

Abraham is a police officer who left the Amish church on friendly terms hoping to be useful as an intermediary between the Amish and the Englisch. He met Yvonne shortly after her fiancé died and hoped that at the right time he would be able to get to know her better.

The Story of Love is a sweet story of two people trying to sort out priorities and relationships. When the tale begins, Abraham is dating a very attractive woman who is as shallow as a mud puddle. With Yvonne and Abraham trying to make honorable choices, it takes a while for the romance in the story to progress. There is the further complication of Abraham’s family’s attitudes toward both women and their continuing discomfort with Abraham leaving the Amish faith. It is a problem for him too. Interesting and important subplots center on a homeless dog and a case of domestic violence.

I really enjoyed reading The Story of Love and am looking forward to reading the next book in the series, Hopefully Ever After, to discover what lies ahead for the characters. It is a gentle book but also has some action and confronts some serious issues. The characters use some Amish terms, and through the plot I learned how the Amish celebrate Christmas and Valentine’s Day.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

What I read: The Story of Love by Beth Wiseman

Why I picked it up: I picked up the first in this series last month and really loved it, so I reserved book #2.

How I read it: On hardcover in two days.

What it’s about: Yvonne has spent the last 18 months grieving her fiancé’s death and now she’s looking for a new adventure. She moves back to the place where she found her faith, Montgomery, IN, to run the bookstore for Eva (who’s on bedrest) and Jake (who’s taking care of the farm since his father got sick). She was hoping to run into Abraham again – she hasn’t been ready to think about anyone else until now – except he’s dating the beautiful Brianna when she arrives.

What I liked: I appreciated the tension of each of the characters within their own backstory. They were wrestling with who they were deep down as they grew in relationship (friendship or romantic) with each other.

What I disliked: The cover said “an unpredictable book” – and while there were a few twists I wouldn’t have guessed throughout, I could have told you the ending within the first five minutes of reading the book. Not so unpredictable.

Genre: Chaste romance, amish, Christmas, books about books.

Rating & Recommendation: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and yes, I think this series is cute – but I do think you need to read the first one before this one, so much of who Yvonne is we learn in the first book.

[Eileen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Story of Love by Beth Wiseman is a sweet story about of a non-Amish woman who moves to a small Amish community to help her friends at their bookstore. The prior year, while searching for a special book, she met Jake and Eva, became friends and attended their wedding. At the time of the wedding she met a local policeman, Abraham, who had grown up Amish but wanted to be a policeman. She had just lost her fiancé and was not ready to move on with another man. Now recovered a bit from her grief, Yvonne decides to leave her Texas home and returns to Montgomery, Indiana to help Jake and Eva and manage their bookstore. With Yvonne’s return, it isn’t long before Abraham knows she’s back. The problem is that Abraham now has a girlfriend which could interfere with his desire to renew his friendship with Yvonne; until it ends. I struggled putting this book down, wanting to know what happens and then I didn’t want it to end because I wanted to know more about Abraham and Yvonne's life together. I highly recommend The Story of Love to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Story of Love is Beth Wiseman's second book in the Amis Bookseller Series. Yvonne, a finder of rare books who we met in book one, moves to Montgomery, Indiana, where she helps Jake run the book store she met him and his wife Eva at, since Eva must stay on bed rest during her pregnancy. Abraham was raised Amish, but then went on to become a police officer. He and Yvonne had clicked when they met, but life was complicated for Yvonne and the timing was off. Now that she is back, she is excited to see Abraham again, but discovers that he is in a relationship. His girlfriend Brianna is very beautiful and Yvonne doesn't want to come between them. However, something keeps drawing her and Abraham together. As the story progresses, they must decide what is best for them and their relationship. Add in a stray dog, a stalker, and a bit more chaos and things get a bit wild. But, all through the story, Wiseman links faith and life like only she does. What becomes a chance at a relationship also becomes a hope for the future and a leap of faith. Very good book, as always. She is always one of my go-to authors! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher.

[Nyla Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Story of Love is Book Two in the Amish Bookstore Series by extraordinary storyteller Beth Wiseman. This contemporary Christian Amish is captivating. I was invested in the story and characters within a few pages. It may easily be read as a standalone if Book One has not been read yet.

This is the story of Yvonne and Abraham. Abraham grew up Amish, but has not yet been baptized. He joined the police force, which is an unusual professional for anyone raised Amish. I found The Story of Love to have most everything in it that makes a story interesting. There is Amish, romance, mystery, suspense, and and intrigue. The Christian message is woven throughout the book in a beautiful way. Since I am a Hoosier, I appreciated the setting of Montgomery, Indiana.

The author has penned a touching story that readers of Amish and contemporary fiction will both like. It is filled with timeless life lessons. The story is captivating making this a page turning book. I did not want to put it down! It gets a 5 star rating from me. A copy was provided by NetGalley, but these are my honest words.