An Amish Family is actually an anthology, made up of four Amish Romances that also deal with family issues. Building Trust centers on Grace Miller and Joel King. They are in love and plan to get married. For some reason her father is totally against it. Joel needs to figure out why Mr. Miller is against him as well as win him over. A Heart Full of Love is the story of a young mother, Ellie. She gives birth to twins and her mother tries to take over raising the girls. You see, Ellie is blind and her mother won't believe that she can take care of her twins. Surprised by Love is a fake dating story that goes through some angst until both Emily and Reuban realize they have feelings toward one another. The final story, A Gift for Anne Marie is about a pair of BFFs. Anne Marie and Nathaniel have been best friends since they were kids. Things are evolving slowly, but when Anne Marie's mother announces that she is getting remarried and moving out of state, time is running out. Will Nathaniel finally tell Anne Marie that he loves her and wants her to stay? Four sweet, romances that all deal with love as well as their families.

I enjoyed all of these stories, but probably liked A Heart Full of Love the least. It angered me that Ellie's mother treated her the way she did. Although it all works out in the end, there are too many people in the world that think someone is less due to a disability. Because these are novellas, there is not a lot of character development, but enough to get to know the characters. A good book to read over a few days, with a story a day. I love happily ever after endings and these stories all left me smiling.

Novella collections are always a lot of fun to read and the four stories in An Amish Family by Kathleen Fuller are no exception. If you have read some of Kathleen's previous novellas, this book contains two that were previously released (A Heart Full of Love and A Gift for Anne Marie) and also contains two that were not previously released (Building Trust and Surprised by Love).

This was a great collection for fans of Fuller, Amish Fiction, or those wanting to give Amish Fiction books a try.

4 delightful stories by 4 great authors. The story lines in each story shows how each characters has to have faith. Loved each story and the way I was pulled into each characters conflict.

AN AMISH FAMILY is a wonderful collection of four novellas by Kathleen Fuller. I loved all four stories. These were sweet, easy stories to spend the afternoon with and enjoy.



The first story is Building Trust. Grace and Joel are in love and can’t wait to marry. When Joel proposes, Grace doesn’t think she can be any happier. However, when she tells her parents, she is shocked that her father doesn’t want them to marry! She is determined however and she and Joel work hard to convince her father that they would be a good match. I really enjoyed this story, especially as it was told from all three viewpoints. We got Grace’s, Joel’s, and her father’s thoughts, which made for great reading.



A Heart Full of Love is the second story. This story is about Ellie and Chris who are about to become new parents to twins. Ellie is blind and her mother, Edna, is having difficulty allowing them raise the twins on their own. Ellie has been blind for sometime and has learned to be independent. She is happily married to Chris and ran a business of her own up until the twins were born.

Edna moves in with the young couple and takes over the care of the twins. Ellie feels that she has no chance to bond with her children and this has a lot of added stress. Edna is being overprotective and she’s whispering a mysterious name near the twins. Why is Edna behaving this way? Ellie thinks it’s because of her blindness. Will Ellie ever be able to care for the twins on her own?



In Surprised by Love, a sudden decision becomes a tangled web. Emily is finished with her mother’s “match-making.” Her move, her job, and her hobby brought satisfaction to the youngest of six children. Unattached meant time for her own life. Would an impromptu statement become a life she wasn’t expecting?
Reuben knew Emily from the market where his family brought their harvest of natural herbs and foods for distribution. On that day, during one of his deliveries, Emily and her mother were in a heated discussion about her availability. Reuben just wasn’t prepared for Emily’s final statement to her mother, “Reuben and I are… we’re going out tonight.” Could he have heard her right? Will an untruth lead to a prophetic blessing?



The last story is A Gift for Anne Marie This story was in a previous novella (An Amish Second Christmas). Anne Marie and Nathaniel have been friends since they were children and they do everything together. He comes over once a week to play board games. Anne Marie’s widowed mother, Lydia has a business where Anne Marie makes candles while her mother makes cookbooks.

Lydia has met Thomas and fallen in love. She wants to marry him and move to his hometown of Walnut Creek, Ohio. Anne Marie does not want to leave her friends, especially Nathaniel. Will Anne Marie realize how much she cares for him? Will she go with the family or stay behind? You must read this story to learn the wonderful ending. It is a surprise!!

A well written and lovely Amish novel by a talented author! I am pleased to have read this 4 star novel. I can't wait for more!

Kathleen Fuller writes the best Amish short stories I've ever read!  They are so well balanced, perfectly paced, and super fun too. I often struggle with short story collections because the stories take so long to develop and then boom they're over just as you feel like you're getting somewhere. This is NOT the case with the stories in this book. They are the perfect length for a quick read. The characters are well developed and the storylines are detailed but simple enough to allow for a shortened story. I didn't feel the endings of any of these stories was rushed. I loved the themes throughout the stories. It helped bring the Amish lifestyle from something we romanticize down to earth. The characters struggled with real challenges, with real emotions, with real reactions to those challenges and emotions... This book is great to pick up and read when you only have a few minutes at a time. The stories are easy to jump into and jump out of. They're easy to remember and when one story is done I feel finality. Sometimes stories in short story collection books tend to blend together and I have a hard time going from one story to the next. This book is not that way! I will definitely be on the look out for more short story collections from Kathleen Fuller.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley. This has in no way influenced my review. All thoughts are my own.

Sometimes when you least expect it, a friendship blossoms into love

A Gift for Anne Marie-A romance of friendship. Anne Marie and Nathaniel have been friends since they were four years old. They have a friendship that has been faithful and true. Now in their 20's, they still have game night every Saturday night. Annie Marie is gifted in candle making while Nathaniel works on clocks. They admire each other as a good friend would. However, when Annie Marie friend Ruth confines in her about her feelings for Nathaniel, Anne Marie knows she must let Nathaniel go. Why is it so hard? When an unsuspected move comes to her family, her feelings become more confused.

A Heart Full of Love Ellie has overcome so many obstacles. Now blind, she and her husband will have their handful with their new baby twin girls. Ellie's mother Edna has offered to help however, tension rises when Edna has a fear for the safety of her granddaughters. Ellie and her mother must overcome that fear in love. Love cast out all fear.

Building Trust Grace and Joel have been secretly dating for months and they are both ready to start their new life together. After asking Grace for her hand in marriage, Joel must ask Grace's father for her hand. At the family dinner, Grace's father is terribly angry at Joel and forbids the marriage. Joel is determined to find the cause of the anger and is willing to do anything to build that trust. A story on reconciliation and the healing it provides.

Surprised by Love Emily Schwartz is in no hurry to get married. However, it is a different story with her mother. Always pushing Emily to socialize, Emily feels the pressure. All she wants to do is study the stars. She knows God will take care of the rest. While running the family store, Rueben who would be considered an Amish player of sorts makes a delivery to the Schwartz store. It is there he saves Emily from her mother's constant nagging. Feeling the pressure from his own family to find a frau, he and Emily agree to have the appearance of dating. A charming romance as they begin to learn about each other and find that their feelings run deep.

Each of these stories give a sweet reminder of love, hope and grace. Loved each one.

A Special Thank You to Zondervan and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review

An Amish Family is a collection of novellas by Kathleen Fuller. It includes two previously published novellas, A Heart Full of Love (also in An Amish Cradle) and A Gift for Anne Marie (also in An Amish Second Christmas). Also, two brand new novellas are included, Surprised by Love and Building Trust.

In Building Trust, Grace and Joel are disappointed to discover that Grace’s father will not give his blessing for their wedding. I thought this novella was interesting in that it wasn’t just a love story—it was a story that involved healing and forgiveness as well. I appreciated how this story played out and love was just icing on the cake.

Surprised by Love was my favorite story in this collection. Emily was a clumsy, adorkable young woman. She reminded me of me—ya know if I were Amish and a bit more adorable. This love story was just pure sweetness. I’d love to elaborate on that but then I’d start gushing and that seems a little strange considering I just compared the main character to myself.

A Heart Full of Love was a story I had read before but I enjoyed reading it a second time. I have a sometimes difficult relationship with my family so I could relate to Ellie. This novella was a bit suspenseful and it wasn’t a romantic love story—which I love. I mean, why do all books have to be romantic? This was a story about the bond a mother forms with her daughter and overcoming hurts and differences.

A Gift for Anne Marie was a sweet Christmas romance that can be read and enjoyed any time of the year. Anne Marie and Nathaniel were destined to be together—so much so that I was annoyed with Anne Marie’s insistence on the whole, “just friends,” thing. I loved this couple together and I especially loved how Anne Marie’s brother was rooting for them.

Overall, all four novellas are well-developed and include characters you will love to spend time with. The cover is absolutely lovely. This book is a must-have for any fan of Kathleen Fuller.

Note: Kristin reads and reviews both Christian and secular fiction on A Simply Enchanted Life. Out of respect for my readers, I am including a content review. This content review will help you decide whether this book is suitable for you.

Christian or Secular: Christian
ASEL Rating: no profanity, violence, bedroom scenes, or other content that could otherwise be considered disturbing.
Themes: Romance, Trust, Love
Suggested Age: 15+

"An Amish Family" is a collection of four of Kathleen Fuller's novellas, short stories, that have the same topic Amish family. Each of the novellas are different from each other of course but they have faith, hope, love and prayers for guidance.
Novella collections are a great way to get to know an author's writing style, especially if the author is new to you.
I have enjoyed Fuller's novellas and novels for year. I look forward to reading Kathleen's next book.

I received a free copy from NetGalley with the promise of leaving an honest review. This is that review in my own words.

Each of the four novellas were well written which I have come to expect from Ms. Fuller. I didn't have a favorite because there was something to like about each and every story and each and every character..


I am always caught up in the characters lives and think that the author cares about them as much as her readers do. The collection is sweet and they seem like full length novels always making me satisfied that I have read something in a short amount of time and go about the day not wondering what has happened in the story.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley and was under no obligation to provide a positive review. All opinions are my own.

This book is comprised of four love stories. Each story has its own problems for the young couples to work through.

In Building Trust, Grace Miller and Joel King want to marry but, her father forbids it. Why? Does he ever see the error of his ways and give his blessing?

In Surprised by Love, Emily Schwartz, at the young age of twenty, was getting pressure from her mother to marry. Rueben Coblentz was also getting pressure from his mother. They decided they’d pretend to be dating. How did that work out?

In A Gift for Anne Marie, Anne Marie’s father had passed and Anne Marie lived at home with her mother and her brothers. They had a good business going. Lydia, Anne Marie’s mother, made cookbooks while Anne Marie made candles. Life was good for Anne Marie until it wasn’t. What happened to upset the household?

In A Heart Full of Love, Ellie and Christopher, after being married for two years, have been blessed with not one baby but twins! The problem this couple faces is Edna, Ellie’s overprotective mother. Ellie is blind and immediately after the birth of the twins, Edna takes charge of their care. This hurts Ellie and makes her think her mother looks at her as uncapable. Which, of course, causes resentment. Why is Edna this way? Ellie thinks it’s her blindness. She doesn’t know her mother holds a horrible secret from her childhood.

You’ll want to read these four well written stories and find out how things worked out for all involved.

A book of several Amish fiction novellas. I enjoyed all of them.
Building Trust is the story of Grace Miller and Joel King. After dating in secret (as the Amish often do), they announce their plans to wed. Imagine their dismay when Grace's father blows up and says he will not allow a marriage between the two. He refuses to give a reason and tells Joel is he not to come on their property again. Joel is determined to prove himself worthy of his daughter's hand in marriage. A sweet story of forgiveness and second chances.
Surprised by Love is a cute and quirky story of Emily, who is quite happy with her life. But...she has a meddling mother who wishes to see her daughter wed. When Emily learns of her mother attempting to pair her up with someone from her past, who hurt her heart, she and her friend, Reuben pretend to have a relationship. I imagine you can guess where this leads. A bit predictable, but a cute, cute story!
A Heart Full of Love is the story of Ellie, a young married, pregnant Amish woman. Did I mention she is also blind? Her meddling and worrisome mother fears Ellie cannot care for her child--which happens to be twins! Ellie, herself, feels quite competent, but twins are a challenge for anyone. Her mother moves in and takes over, which causes problems. Why is her mother so fearful? Why is she so possessive of the infants? Read to find out!
A Gift for Anne Marie: Anne Marie's widowed mother has met a man and fallen in love and wishes to marry and move the family away. Anne Marie and her best friend, Nathaniel, have done everything together. He comes over weekly to play games with Anne Marie and she can't bear the thought of not having him nearby anymore. But, they are only friends, right? Then, why is she upset when her friend wants to pursue Nathaniel? It's all so confusing for Anne Marie. A must read to find out how their story ends.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Zondervan through NatGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

An Amish Family contains a collection of four novellas. I enjoyed all four of them. They were easy quick reads. Once you start reading you can't stop. They are definitely a page turner. They held my attention from the first page until the last.

I received a copy from Net Galley and the publisher Zondervan. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

An Amish Family by Kathleen Fuller is An Amish Novella Collection. Building Trust is the story of Grace Miller and Joel King. They have been dating secretly for almost a year and Joel has proposed. They make the announcement at a family dinner and are shocked when Grace’s father, Vernon forbids the union. When Vernon is asked why, he will not reveal his reasons and banishes Joel from his property. Grace needs to find out what her father has against Joel, so they can move forward with their future.

Surprised by Love has Emily Schwartz in a pickle when she tells people she is dating Rueben Coblentz. She is trying to avoid the latest efforts of her match-making mother. Rueben can see Emily’s distress and agrees to help her out. What happens, though, when friendship turns into love?

A Gift for Anne Marie is set in Paradise, Pennsylvania. Anne Marie Smucker and Nathaniel have been friends since they were little kids. When Anne Marie’s friend, Ruth states she is interested in Nathaniel, it surprises Anne Marie that she feels jealous. Anne Marie looks at Nathaniel in a new light and realizes her feelings for him have changed. But then her mother announces she is getting married and the family is moving to Ohio. Is her budding relationship with Nathaniel over before it can begin?

A Heart Full of Love keeps us in Paradise, Pennsylvania where Ellie and Chris Miller are expecting their first child. Ellie’s mother has been protective of Ellie since she lost her sight in accident eight years prior. Since Ellie announced her pregnancy, her mother has become even more protective. When Ellie gives birth to twins, her mother moves in and takes control of the babies. When it becomes unbearable for Ellie, Chris is forced to act. Will Ellie’s mother finally tell them the reason for her behavior?

The four stories in An Amish Family are well-written, thoughtful, and engaging. I thought each story was just the right length. There are good life lessons included in each novella. It is always important to remember that God is in control. As Christians we need to be faithful to Him and pray for his guidance and assistance. A Heart Full of Love (in An Amish Cradle) and A Gift for Anne Marie (in An Amish Second Christmas) are not new stories, but I liked revisiting these narratives. An Amish Family are lovely, heartfelt tales that are enjoyable to read. I dare you to read just one!

An Amish Family is a book with four novellas by Kathleen Fuller. These stories are all clean, interesting and relaxing to read. I enjoyed all four of them!

The individual titles are Building Trust, Surprised by Love, A Gift for Anne Marie and A Heart Full of Love.

Lots of fun and enjoyable reading is packed into each of these stories. If I was to choose a fave, it would be Surprised by Love. It was just a really fun story and the characters were really amazing. You will enjoy all the stories!

I received an ebook copy from NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.

I enjoyed each of the four novellas in An Amish Family, but I also finished each feeling a bit unsatisfied. In each someone had to overcome adversity, which they did with the love and support of someone else which I really liked. What surprised me was that the four stories were not related in any way, which was what I expected. I was disappointed when each story ended because I wanted to know more about the characters. If the stories had been set among an extended family or in the same community then maybe the people from the first stories would have come into the later novellas.

Building Trust
This is a story with themes of forgiveness and compassion. When Grace realizes that her father is holding a secret grudge, she expects quick forgiveness so she can marry Joel, but it takes compassion on both sides to heal the hurt from long ago. I liked Joel's contrition and patience with Grace's father as he seeks to prove himself worthy of Grace.

A Heart Full of Love
Ellie is a fascinating character, blind and pregnant with twins with a husband who has to work long hours. She has adjusted to her lost eyesight and enjoys her independence and marriage, so accepting help with her new babies is a struggle. Compounding the difficulty is her overprotective and controlling mother. As frustrating as Edna was, I appreciated that the author delved deeper into the mother/daughter relationship and we learned why Edna had her own struggles with trust and letting go.

Surprised by Love
This was my favorite of the collection. Emily is clumsy, wears thick glasses, and is more interested in astronomy than dating. What I loved about her is that she accepts herself and is cheerful and friendly. Rueben is also a friendly guy, and the circumstances they find themselves in give him the chance to get to know Emily better and their friendship quickly deepens even though they both try to ignore the attraction that flares between them. A sweet and lovely romance!

A Gift for Anne Marie
I loved this sweet story of friends who become more when they realize they will be separated. There are other conflicts besides the impending move, including a friend of Anne Marie's who decides to pursue Nathaniel. The friendship they share is lovely, but when new feelings begin to develop confusion and hesitation enters in and disrupts the harmony they had enjoyed. I love when friends fall in love since they have a great foundation and know each other so well. It was funny to see just how well Nathaniel knew Anne Marie and her moods ;)

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

All four novellas in this collection by Kathleen Fuller have some type of life lesson to be learned - whether it is trust your heart, be your own person, be faithful, lean on God. All four novellas are well written and easy to read. Each one is just perfect in length for that story to be read before bedtime. I love the characters and enjoyed reading all of these stories in An Amish Family. Each one shows you just how important family is.

An Amish Family is 4 novellas by Kathleen Fuller. Sweet respectful romantic love is what these young couples find. I enjoyed all 4 stories equally and when done with one story eagerly turned the pages to read the next story.

In Building Trust, Grace and Joel do not have the permission of her father to marry. Her father is not acting like himself and it's not only affecting Grace and the family but his work relationships as well. Will her father come around to her way of thinking and what is causing his dislike of Joel?

In Heart Full of Love, Ellie and Chris are so excited to start their family but is her mother taking over and not letting the young couple do things their way? This was a fun story to read.

Surprised by Love had me laughing out loud at some points. What happens when you tell your Mamm you are seeing someone just so she won't match make for you any more and said person happens to hear you? Great story!
A Gift For Anne Marie was a sweet story too. Lifelong friends Anne Marie and Nathaniel have been friends since childhood. Anne Marie tries to set him up with her best friend but he's not interested. Before it's too late and Anne Marie has to move away since her widowed mother has a new husband will they see themselves as more than childhood friends?

Pub Date 12 Jun 2018
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Zondervan Fiction through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

See my review on my blog here https://cnnamongirl.wixsite.com/website (less)

Four endearing novellas make up this book of family tales with love and struggles and life at its best and worse. I was surprised an Amish man would hold such a grudge since that is not expected from these people who are quick to forgive. The stories portray Amish as ordinary people. The characters seem realistic and the stories compelling. My favorite was Surprised by Love, where Reuben plays along with Emily and they pretend to be courting to thwart their mothers’ efforts at finding them a spouse. I received a copy from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.