When this book opens we learn that Seth had lost his first wife and now is happily married and expecting a baby, but this world is not about to last, and a tragic accident happens and he looses his second wife.
We travel in Seth’s shoes as he goes about his everyday life, and trying to avoid what his family and the community wants, him to remarry, he just can’t do it as he blames himself in a way for the demise of his loved ones. How is he ever going to be able to settle down and have a family, and he decides he isn’t.
A chance meeting with a potter and a new course in his life is set, and a young man shows up in his family’s yard one day looking for a job. Robbie soon becomes Seth’s driver, now from this point on I realized or speculated on who he was, and you will have to read to find out if I’m right.
We also have another struggling soul, the potter’s granddaughter Leah, a former Amish woman, and now struggling, and these two have a lot in common, they need to forgive. Easy to say, but hard to do, and will they ever be able to be at peace without it?
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Harvest House, and was not required to give a positive review.

I've read several of Virginia Smith's Amish fiction works and thoroughly enjoyed every single one of them. I was pleased when The Amish Widower came up on my list because I knew it would be a good read.

Seth Hostetler has been widowed twice and plans to never marry again, first because he has suffered too much pain, and second, because he can't see that God would give him another chance. He lives on his father's farm with his parents, grandmother, and two brothers and all the assorted family members. He felt a bit out of place and taking up too much room. The farming work is fine but it doesn't hold the excitement for him that he wishes he could have from his work.

When his sisters-in-law want him to drive them to town, they take him to a pottery shop on the far side of town and the owner of the shop gives him a lesson in throwing pottery and captures his imagination.

When a girl from his district runs away because her boyfriend started dating someone else, Seth is called in to try to bring this girl back to the district. When she does return, she thinks Seth has feelings for her that he doesn't really have. As the pressures mount for him to take another wife, he decides to move closer to the pottery works where he's been apprenticed to the potter.

At the prologue of the book and at the very end, my eyes flowed with unrelenting tears. My nose got stuffed up, the whole works. Virginia truly writes believable Amish fiction and puts the warts on the Amish instead of writing perfect characters who never step out of line. This is a five-star book, with two thumbs up and a beautiful, one-of-a-kind piece of pottery.

My thanks to Harvest House Publishers for allowing me to read and review this book.

Just plain good! (Sorry pun wasn’t originally planned, but it works!)

This is the fourth in the Men of Lancaster series, but written by a different author than the previous three. I only read book three, The Amish Clockmaker, which was wonderful. This story was very different than the previous one. But very good none the less. From the opening pages it was easy to love Seth and to feel his pain at the loses he had experienced.

Beyond the excellent story, the author reinforces the truth about the danger of unforgiveness and bitterness. Such a sweet, enjoyable story!

Those of you who enjoy Amish should enjoy this one.

I give it 4 stars!

Disclaimer: I received this book from the author, but I was not required to leave a review. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.

This book has it all, great characters and a storyline that pulled me in from the first page. The pace is steady and describes the grief that Seth is going through and how it affects much of his life. It was hard to imagine anyone suffering so much loss at the age of 26 as Seth did.

I loved the excitement he felt when he first took a seat the pottery wheel and how he used that as a form of therapy to help him cope with his loss and the many changes in his life. There were plenty of changes within his family. Siblings getting married, his parents having decisions to make and his aging grandmother's health. I absolutely loved his grandmother! She and Seth were my favorite characters, although there wasn't a single character that I disliked.

There are a few twists in the book which added the perfect touch to The Amish Widower.
I recommend this book to readers of both Amish and Christian fiction.

I received a complimentary through Netgalley and have given an honest opinion.

This is the fourth book in the Series of The men from Lancaster County. The first was The Amish Groom,second Amish Blacksmith, the third The Amish Clockmaker and now the fourth The Amish Widower. This story is about overcoming grief and guilt. Seth Hostetler Has lost his first wife to child bearing and then remarries. Hannah is his second wife whom he losses in a buggy accident and she is bearing his child. Seth believes he will never marry again and blames himself and the boys who caused the accident. Seth moves back with his family but struggles with grief and anger. Robbie is a young teen struggling with his actions and can not forgive himself. Robbie becomes a driver for Seth and they become friends. Seth's family and bishop is trying to set him up to marry a young Amish girl who has left the Amish and has came back. He fights his family and friends and bishop that this is not what he wants. Seth finally is forced to drive his family to pick a wedding gift out. He gives in and finally drives a buggy which he had not done since the accident. He meets a Amish man that makes pottery and becomes interested in the craft. This is a story of forgiving and going on with their lives.

The Amish Widower is about newly widower, Seth Hostetler, having no hope to ever find love again. While with his family, he sees an Amish potter working. He was able to learn the skill and takes pride in it. But the leaders disapproves. How can he do something that he loves and have the approval of his Amish leaders?

To be honest, I am not quite sure what I think about The Amish Widower. Seth was an okay character and the story was okay. It is worth a read but not one I would want to read again.

3 stars

I received this book from NetGalley.com. My his review is 100% my honest opinion.

I read Amish Fiction when it very first became popular with Beverly Lewis but lost interest many years ago as the stories all seemed to be very similar. This book surprised me. I very much enjoyed it. I liked that it was told from his point of view. You do not often get a good glimpse into Amish life through the man's eyes. It was unique in that Seth had lost two wives already. I do believe that the book should have been longer to develop the relationship with Leah even more. The end seemed a bit rushed. Highly recommended!

One of the most beautiful aspects of the Amish faith that I love to read about is their focus on the importance of forgiveness. This is also important in the Torah, and a focus of the holiday of Yom Kippur. I respect and admire the insistence of the Amish in living out this value each day. In "The Amish Widower", this value proves extremely difficult for Seth Hostetler- he struggles with self forgiveness, regarding the deaths of both his wives, and also forgiving the teens whose car killed his second wife and unborn baby. In "The Amish Widower", Seth is fortunate to have the support of a large and close knit extended family. Often he feels like a "fifth wheel" though, living with his parents, and married siblings and their children. He finds support and understanding from his grandmother who also lives with the family. When he unexpectedly discovers a nearby pottery shop and Amish potter, Elias, Seth feels like a door opens to a possible whole new life for him. He quickly bonds with Elias, an elderly Amish potter, and forms an uneasy friendship with Elias granddaughter Leah, who left the Amish community. Seth also forms an unusual friendship with his new English driver, a troubled young man named Robbie. Woven throughout this beautiful and compelling story, is Seth's insistence that he will never remarry, and his frustration with well meaning family and community members who attempt to find a match for him. He is also increasingly concerned about his anger and inability to control his anger and sadness, and eventually seeks counseling at his bishops' recommendation. This is a book I highly recommend to avid readers, especially those of the Amish genre. You will not want to put it down. I was sad when it ended!

THE AMISH. WIDOWER by Virginia Smith. Continuation of the series by Mindy Starns Clark and Susan Meissner. Having read the series by Clark, was delighted to see this as the 4th in the Men of Lancaster series
This story had a depth, unlike other Amish stories I have read. Showing the emotions of Seth, the Widower, who has lost 2 wives, both had been expecting. Wasn't his fault, but feels guilt anyways. Amish men must exercise strict discipline, over their emotions.To learn the skill of working with clay, and of the release of emotions. By crafting them with the designs of quilts, in his mind. Being delegated by the bishop for the group to bring a girl home that was on rumspringa. Learning, a new craft, new joy, and that love is stronger than fear. Would he be open to a 3 rd wife. A power story that deals with family, finding a place for one's own life, and doing what God wants you to do. Given ARC by Net Galley for my voluntary review and my honest opinion.