For social worker Grace Schweitzer, arriving at Ben Hochstetler's farm to pick up an abandoned baby feels like stepping into her past—especially after a blizzard forces her to stay. Helping on the farm reminds Grace of her Amish upbringing…and the reason she left. She's losing her heart to Ben and the faith she once held dear, but has she changed too much to return to this life?
Grace was born Amish but later in her teen years she left her faith for the English world. She went to college and became a social worker. One day she receives a case about a baby being dropped off at an Amish family's home. When she arrives she is greeted by a very handsome Amish man. She's there to take the baby to her office. But a snow storm keeps her there for a few days. This is a wonderful story.
This was a cozy and wonderful winter read! These characters, Grace and Ben, were so right for each other, yet they were facing a pretty big obstacle. Grace had some good reasons for having left her Amish faith and community years earlier. It wasn’t a reckless decision and she felt led by God to do so. I liked that both of these individuals believed in the power of prayer.
Ben was a great character with a complicated situation in his past, as well. I thought the attraction and chemistry between Ben and Grace was very well-written and very believable based on their situation and Grace’s Amish background.
The author set up a nice set of circumstances for these two to be thrown together in. I really liked all of the characters in this story and enjoyed reading about the way they worked together to get through the storm and to also provide for the baby who was dropped off on the doorstep.
I am really looking forward to reading the next book in the series, Blended Amish Blessings. It will involve the baby in this story! I have that book on order and am excited to read it.
Okay, there's something about the shorter days and cooler nights of fall that have me craving certain kinds of reads and stranded in a snowstorm is one of them! Don't ask me why, because it isn't that cold yet! -- but I see the first fall leaves skittering on the ground and my reading heart goes thumpity-thump for an epic blizzardy read. And, woohoo, Patricia Johns delivers an excellent example of what I love most about this kind of novel.
Heroine out of her element. Hero to the rescue. Lots of laughter and hijinks and a snow pile full of romantic tension.
Plus there's the Hochstetter clan -- a small but mighty contingency for laughter and plain speaking. Ben's dad cracked me up! And then he'd say something profound that would give me pause. Love how he kept me (and Ben) on our toes.
The kind of star-crossed lovers romance that makes the happily ever after sooooo satisfying.
Grace was raised Amish but left the community after her sister died. Her leaving upset her family and when she came back to visit anytime her Mother would try to get her to come back to the Amish lifestyle. She doesn't feel that she fits in with the Englishers either but she is using her beliefs to help people.
She has become a social worker and has been sent to an Amish Community to pick up a little girl that was left on a door step. While she is there she encounters a blizzard and has to stay with the Amish family until it passes.
Really enjoyed this story, it will take you through all kinds of emotional feels. I love the characters and the story line. I think you will too.
I got this book out of a little free library, and there is no way that I am the target audience so this review will reflect that. It’s basically a Hallmark movie. The guy proposes after about four days of knowing this person. The social worker crosses professional boundaries, and both protagonists trauma dump on each other, which probably adds to why they ultimately got together. Also, the ending basically leaves the female protagonist completely changed in terms of what her life will look like (she’s going to be Amish again) but the male protagonist simply agrees to go to a doctor once a year. The growth really seems single-sided. There’s no mention of what will happen with the female protanogist’s career, use of electricity, or general lifestyle.
I think ultimately, the book is summed up in the sentence. “I will be your liberal, Amish, praying wife” which absolutely killed me to read 🤣🤣.
This is #4 in a series, but it can *TOTALLY* stand apart from the previous three.
Here's the thing: Patricia Johns doesn't write great stories. She doesn't bother with a whole lot of characterization, much description, or even a whole lot of integrity where the Amish are concerned.
But this woman can write love scenes. Which I have realized is the BIG reason I don't just chuck her stuff in the going away book box. 'Love, Inspired' as a collective doesn't allow for love in its books - I think you're allowed hand holding, a hug or two, and definitely no more than three kisses, PERIOD in your book, per the rules. So an author that has his warm breath on her cheek, who has him cradling her in his arms? It's a RARITY, people.
And Patricia Johns goes there.
It's the *ONLY* thing that has set her apart in the LIAmish genre. I love Patricia Davids, Emma Miller and Carrie Lighte manage some beautiful stories, but you want to feel a little passion? ((And I mean a LITTLE passion - because even this is stunted by LI, with Johns pushing the envelope).
First of all, a baby dropped off on the porch of an Amish home IN AN AMISH BASKET?! The Amish wouldn't call Social Services. They wouldn't. Mostly because they don't like government getting into their business. They would take it to the bishop, who would see the basket and assume that a rumspringa/shunned mother dropped the baby off, and that it was one of theirs. And knowing that Thomas and Patience are in need of children, they would take the baby there.
Oh, and Thomas and Patience WOULD NOT jump thru governmental hoops to adopt a baby, either. They eschew the world, hello. They would go thru Amish channels - seeking out-of-wedlock babies or orphans within the communities.
In this book, Grace (ex-Amish Social Worker) comes to pick up an abandoned baby during a snowstorm that turns blizzard and gets snowed in. The family she's visiting are a bachelor son, a girl about to be married, and their father.
Except in order to get the father and sister out of the way, they have a very convenient 7-hour cold descend on the household. NOT. KIDDING. And since when do cold START with hacking coughs? They typically start with sore throats/drainage, then stuffy noses, then move to headaches, body chills, and THEN the cough, which fades to niggling coughs that won't let go. It's all written so poorly, it's laughable.
And one day of napping, and the sister is right as rain!? Seriously. That's NOT how it works.
Also, Johns unbelievably writes Grace to have left the Amish and be *A.L.O.N.E* - no church friends, no co-worker friends, NOBODY at all in her life... just 'houseplants'. A girl used to community would seek out community. She would never live 'in front of a TV', the way this is portrayed. It's ridiculous. Grasping, and trite.
Fact is, MOST of what happens in Johns' books happens not because it's the next logical thing, but merely because John's says so. There's a LOT of that, and it really ruins it for the reader.
HAVING SAID... I still stand by the fact that the romance in her stories pushes past all the problems, and that while I'm tossing the first two books in this series (haven't got the third one), I'm keeping this (and book #5)... because of the romance, alone. It's worth it to me, just to have some actually LOVE in a 'Love, Inspired' story.
Snowbound with the Amish Bachelor by Patricia Johns First let me start by saying this book is unlike any Amish book I have ever read and I’ve read many books. The story line is so captivating and will catch your attention right from the start and hold your attention all the way to the last page. Dare I say it’s not a typical Amish love story where boy meets girl and they court and fall in love then get married although I’m not saying you won’t be treated to a rare look into the life of a different take on God’s plan for Grace and Ben. What happens when the faith you use to have comes in between with the future you may see for yourself? And what happens when two worlds cross paths and yet it’s hard to see through and trust which way to guide your heart and or trust your faith. Grace Schweitzer has an inner struggle between the past and the present between what she knows now and what’s she once knew and it’s not until she settles her faith that she will know where she will be at peace. Without giving any spoilers I can tell you my favorite saying in this book, and it could very well be up there as one of my all time favorite saying is,”Amish Life has nothing to do with perfection, it has everything to do with community, and that’s because we need each other. Gott takes some who are strong, some who are dedicated, some who are intelligent, some have forgiving hearts, and he sews them all together in a sort of patchwork quilt with the ones that are weaker, who need more support, who are still learning. That’s what a community is. And it’s ordained by Gott.” This book has a special message about healing, faith and true love for family and community. I really really enjoyed this book and look forward to more by this author.
The main issue I have is with the backstory. First of all, I don't generally read Harlequin because most are awful and I don't typically enjoy stories about leaving the Amish faith because of the unpleasant drama it creates. But I gave this book a chance because the premise sounded good. The main character, Grace, blames her parents, family, church and the Amish in general for her sister dying of cancer because supposedly they did not get her treatment soon enough. Think about that. Someone must have a lot of hate in their heart to disown their family and church AND blame them for cancer. Yet for some reason, I'm supposed to have sympathy and root for the main character. IMO the story is actually anti-Amish. In real life, the Amish aren't against modern medicine, so the plot device used here doesn't even make sense. And it's very difficult to predict cancer. Lots of people are diagnosed at late stage. But ignoring that, it's just poorly written all around. For example, who leaves a baby on a random Amish farm in the middle of nowhere to begin with? Maybe a hospital or church (or even dumpster sadly) but a farm? Really?? Then the Amish expect Grace (who is a guest staying at their house) to go out in a severe blizzard to do farm chores requiring a lot of physical labor. It's just so ridiculous and poorly written (like 90% of Harlequins). Idk how this novel gets so many high ratings. Most are probably paid for by the author and Harlequin is my guess.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Today it snowed a wet 2-3 inches and is now turning to rain. I couldn’t sleep last night so I grabbed another @authorpatjohns and read all day. It was a much needed rest day.
Snowbound with the Amish Bachelor has us returning to Redemption. This time we have an ex-Amish turned English social worker, Grace, who has been called to the Hochstetler’s homestead for a baby left on the porch. A snowstorm hits and strands Grace at the home. Ben is preparing for a trip to Shipshewana to find a wife but suddenly his plans are taking a turn.
This was the perfect book to follow Wife on His Doorstep which was a tad bit sad and this one had joy. I love what Patricia Johns said in a note at the end: “the stronger the mom the stronger the daughter.” It made me think of my own mama who was very strong and I like to think I inherited her gumption.
I have read the series in its completion to date. Books can be read as standalone but in order they are:
1. The Nanny’s Amish Family 2. A Precious Christmas Gift 3. Wife on His Doorstep 4. Snowbound with the Amish Bachelor 5. Blended Amish Blessings
Snowbound with the Amish bachelor is an inspiring and emotional story written by Patricia Johns. This story is filled with so many emotions and really makes the reader feel like they are part of the story. The author has done a great job telling her story through realistic and likeable characters. Her descriptions of the blizzard they are experiencing had me chilled to the bones. This story is definitely one that shows the reader that second chances are possible. I enjoyed the storyline very much.
I was not given a complimentary copy of this book to read and review. I was not approached to post a favorable response and all opinions are my own. I have rated this story with five stars for meeting my expectations of a wonderful story that I can highly recommend to others.
This is one of those titles that is pretty much on point with a story. A young woman is indeed snowbound with an Amish bachelor. He's handsome and in need of a wife, she was raised Amish but never baptized, simply there on a social work job to pick up an abandoned baby.
It's certainly a cute enough plot, though the musings in God's plans and the ups and downs of life come to the forefront. It makes for a pleasantly thoughtful read, and one reason I like these novels are those meditations and analyses of morals and spirituality. I just like more of a story.
The blurb on the back of the book caught my attention with Grace being a social worker and going to an Amish home to pick up a baby. It reminded me of taking a baby to a foster Amish home during my career.
This was a quick read with ups and downs for the characters, as well as Grace needing to heal from her painful past growing up in an Amish community with some strict rules. Johns penned a tale that captured me from the beginning to the end with milestones reached for the heroine, hero and secondary characters.
I found this book at our library used book sale, thus a review was not required.
It was an amazing book. I don’t have any complaints. I loved how it brought up real problems, discussions, and point of views, and shows the pros and cons of both sides. The ending was a cute wrap up. I also loved the little insights of an Amish life. Ben was also the cutest man alive, such a green flag. The romance in this book was fun.
I didn’t give it a 5-star because it was more of a simple and casual read for me. There was nothing too intricate about the plot or story telling. Some phrases were also a bit overused. The writing was simple, but very nice.
I recommend giving this book a read, and I’m in love with this books refreshing romance. The story felt very realistic, too.
Stories with Amish characters turned English are always intriguing. What makes that happen? Why do they leave the community? Author Patricia Johns does a really good job of explaining why Grace did. She put such heart into this story that you’ll have trouble putting it down.
Centered around an abandoned baby, we see a social worker who really cares. About both baby and mother. And we see an Amish farmer who is willing to help. Both baby and social worker.
Heartwarming with laughter, exploration, and love, I recommend adding this book to your winter reading.
She is a social worker. She left the Amish at 17, put herself through college. She is successful. She's at the Amish farm to pick up a baby that was left on their doorstep when a blizzard snows them in. Ever been in a blizzard? I have.
Gott moves in mysterious ways.
I loved this short book. This lovely story. And totally understood why she left the Amish. And it took more than a handsome man's love to bring her back.
This book is on Kindle Unlimited. Go ahead...have an enjoyable read.
I seem to be reading these books out of order but Patricia Johns makes it easy to read them as a stand alone so its all good. I really enjoy this series and the descriptions of this town makes me feel like I am there and I can feel the cold of the winter and snowfall. If you love Amish love stories as much as I do then please read Patricia Johns, one of our great Canadian authors!
This is quite a compelling book! Grace grew up Amish until she watched her sister die from cancer, since regular doctor visits were not part of their life. Grace becomes English, becomes educated and helps others with her social work. Her life turns upside down when showbound with an Amish family, especially Ben. The conclusion was quite satisfying!
I absolutely loved this story and my favorite character was Maggie and Neil and the kid Oliver. I loved all the characters tho in story. I can't wait to read more from this author. I loved the cover and the title to fits the story nicely.. I learned that sometimes that faith can be lost but found again. I hope you enjoy this story as much I had.
What a great story line! It drew me in & captured my attention, plus warmed my heart! I would highly recommend this book to anyone that wants to enjoy every page! Thank you! I loved it!!!
Very good. A not so typically Amish story of conflicting emotions between traditional Amish practices (such as avoiding medical care) and more liberal, but still God-centered views surrounding home, family and community. An excellent read!
This is # 4 in the Redemption Amish legacies series and I loved it! Grace left the Amish and had her reasons but she gets stuck in a blizzard on an Amish farm and is growing attached to Ben. But she wants to stay English. Well written, I would definitely recommend!
Because of current world events, looking for something positive. This was light, and motivational with scripture. However, I found the ending disappointing. So very easy to read, predictable, light, interesting to learn more of the Amish culture. but only 3 stars.