I'd already ready Spring and, after this book, am looking forward to the close of the series in Autumn. We continue to follow the story of Jennie Troyer, who struggles with caring for her seven children alone. She's got a teenager who is being a typical teen...pushing boundaries...as well as younger children who need better supervision; but what's a single (widowed) mom to do? Enter two men, both who want her affection, and you have a love triangle on top of everything else! It's not a light-hearted book, though; in spite of the tone of this review, the author tackles some serious subjects, such as domestic abuse, hardened hearts, and the struggle for forgiveness.

Beneath the Summer Sun is the second book in Kelly Irvin’s An Every Amish Season series.

We returned to Jamesport, Missouri to follow Jennie Troyer, another woman in the close-knit group of widows. Jennie lost her husband, Atlee, four years ago and has been struggling to be both mother and father to her seven children. Jennie did not have as happy a marriage as her other widowed friends. She is faced with nightmares and memories that seem to flood her thoughts at all times. Her oldest child, Matthew, is facing his own set of issues due to his father. He starts his Rumspringa earlier than intended and Jennie is left with trying to address not only her memories but that of her son. Nathan, a traveling book salesman, and Leo, a long-time friend, both take an interest in Jennie. She is left to decide if her heart can handle trying again or if the memories of an angry husband will run her change at a second hope.

Ms. Irvin touches on a very hard topic in this story line, domestic abuse. The author presents this topic with grace. The characters were all easy to love and befriend and the storyline keep me from wanting to put the book down.

I received an advance reader copy of this book from netgalley in return for my honest opinion of the book. All opinions and statements expressed are strictly my own.

https://www.rtbookreviews.com/book-review/beneath-summer-sun

It has been a while since I've read a new story by Kelly Irvin, and this was definitely a fresh new style for her. In most novels about the Amish genre, women who are widowed young quickly remarry. Yet Jennie, the main character in Beneath the Summer Sun, is in no hurry to find a new husband and father to her seven children. And she keeps her reasons under very tight secrecy.
There are two men who are determined to change her mind- Nathan, a very progressive Mennonite who adores her and her children, and then Leo, who she briefly dated years ago before marrying her husband. Leo feels he is not good enough for anyone yet he has never stopped caring for Jennie.
As Jennie's reasons for resisting a new relationship come to the surface, I was extremely touched to see how she slowly lets one of her interested suitors into her life, and to see the strong support her friends show her as she manages to care for her children. The many beautiful aspects of an Amish community are definitely featured in this story. I highly recommend Beneath the Summer Sun!