This book was good but it seemed like there was a lot going on with the story at times. It was easy to figure out where the story was headed throughout. Some.of the subject matter and story were heavy at times.

I liked this but I didn't love it. I thought it was slow going. It did cover a lot of deep subjects like child trafficking,. Sterility, and cancer. I felt like the whole book was sad until the very end.
I would recommend this book, because it did have a lot of very good lessons.
Thank you netgalley and WaterBrook & Multnomah for allowing me to read this title for an honest review.

Our’s for a Season is such an awesome read. I love that author Kim Vogel Sawyer puts a different twist on Amish and Mennonite stories! Anthony and Marty Hirschler are unable to have children, which is not a good thinking for a couple in the Mennonite  community where having a big family is a way of life. As Marty is longing to leave their community, she rec’ves a letter from her best childhood friend, Brook Spaulding, wanting to contract rebuilding a ghost town out to Anthony. Which would mean leaving their Old Order Mennonite community in Pine Hill for a long while. Will their time away from home rebuild the life and marriage they once had?

This is such a sweet, but yet heartbreaking story. My heart was aching for Marty and Anthony. Two people who clearly loves each other, but the disappointments And pressures of life have slowly pulled the two apart. And their Mennonite friends could really be harsh and uncaring about the remarks they would make because the couple was childless. I was so glad Brook hired Anthony, so the couple could be forever gone from these.

But their new home and surroundings didn’t cure their problems immediately. There were many issues, many twists and turns to this story that made life, as well as decisions so very difficult at times. But as usual, Ms. Sawyer creates awesome, realistic characters, and weaves together every twist and turn the story takes, writing an amazing story for us to read. I love everything about this story. I love that Ms. Sawyer clearly tells the Gospel in this story within the lives of the characters. I highly recommend this story to anyone wanting a good clean fun read. And especially to those who love and enjoy Amish and Mennonite stories!

I received this book from Waterbrook/Multnomah Launch Tours and Netgalley to read and review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal  Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 55.

A compassionate story that focuses on hard subjects: marriage, miscarriage, infertility, teenage trafficking, fostering and cancer. Readers can learn much from this novel about the Old Order Mennonites from this heartfelt story about a couple torn apart by infertility. A chance to start anew in Kansas seems to be the answer to prayer. Will rebuilding a ghost town help to rebuild Marry and Anthony's marriage? Highly recommended!

Ours for a Season teaches us that when God closes one door he opens another one. When we expect things to happen sometimes we are lead in a direction to help others.

Ours for a Season is a slow moving, story but it brings up a very important issue in our society. Marty, a wife that wants children with her husband Anthony, is deeply troubled because they will not ever bear children. This brings unwanted separation between them. Marty has a friend that is wealthy and wants to restore an old ghost town and wants to hire Anthony's construction crew to rebuild it. This friend has also discovered she has cancer and is dealing with surgery and chemotherapy. Good story with a very satisfying ending. Good story!!!

In OURS FOR A SEASON, KIM VOGEL SAWYER has told a beautiful story of hope and restoration, even in the most awful situations. She deals with topics such as broken relationships, broken people, child abuse, sex trafficking and cancer, and shows how the different characters are affected by these things.
There is a strong Christian message running through the story, especially that of bringing lost people back to life, of really "seeing" people, and of the joy that comes from a relationship with the Lord.
Marty Hirschler and Brooke Spalding have been friends since school, and are still best friends, although they haven't seen each other since then. Brooke has had a sad and abusive childhood, but she has always been a fighter and has become a successful business woman. Marty's childhood was very different, with her family being loving and supportive. Marty is married to Anthony, a building contracter, and they live in a Mennonite community. When they join Brooke in her project to bring Eagle Creek ghost town back to life, their lives change.
It is story of trust and lifelong friendship. We are reminded of how God uses all things to bring about His plans and purposes in our lives, and can work all things together for good.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from WaterBrook & Multnomah. The opinions in this review are completely my own.

Ours for a Season by Kim Vogel Sawyer is a beautiful love story; learning to love others as well as oneself. Marty and Anthony, a Mennonite couple, learn they will not be able to have children after she has miscarried and he had mumps. Both are grieving in their own ways; he stays away for work as a contractor and she draws into herself and longs to escape the community that puts a great value on large families. She does pour her heart out to her childhood friend, Brooke, through letters. Brooke is English and owns a real estate development business. She is very driven to meet her goal to retire at forty and relax on a beach somewhere. Brooke buys a ghost town and has plans to turn it into a resort with a casino. She hires Anthony as her general contractor which means they will have to move for at least a year to the new area. Is this the impetus Marty needs to move ahead and forge a stronger relationship with Anthony? Will their love of God encourage others to make a commitment to God?
This was a very well-written story and the characters just jump off the page. The story is woven in with contemporary social issues as well the problems of Marty, Anthony and Brooke. Anthony’s love for God comes through and he an example to all he comes in contact with. Marty is struggling with her anger at God but goes through the motions such as attending church. I give this book 5 of 5 stars. It is a wonderful read!
I received an advance copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

"Ours for a Season" does not fit the idea of a typical Amish novel. However, this seems to be the trend recently with Amish novels, moving away from the past portrayals of idyllic existence. The author deals with some very serious topics in a sensitive way. She provides information to the reader in a way that makes the novel interesting and not preachy.

I received this book from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

I loved "Ours for a Season". The characters were very likable and it was neat to see Marty and her friend Brooke's transformations as they worked through their problems. This book covered a lot of hard topics - cancer, infertility and foster care. When a book makes me cry I know it really touched me. Kim Vogel Sawyer is one of my favorite authors and I'll definitely read more by her in the future.

FTC Diclosure: NetGalley gave me a complimentary copy of this book. A positive review was not required. These are my honest thoughts.

Tender and raw yet oh-so-beautiful, this story is a brilliant display of the yearning and search for peace. With the subjects of sex trafficking, cancer battles, and brotherly (and sisterly) love exquisitely handled by a master storyteller, it completely broke my heart in spots and had streams of tears coursing down my cheeks. This heartfelt story is clearly near and very dear to the author’s heart for many reasons, and it has found a permanent home in mine as well. May we all find the peace only One may grant, and may we all learn to love like the Prince of Peace does.

Content: replacement expletives throughout, skinny-dipping (and nudity associated with that)

Triggers: cancer, miscarriage, infertility, sexual abuse/sex trafficking (talked about but not shown), foster care/group homes (talked about but abuse/neglect not shown)

Note: If radio stations truly label Whitney Houston as “light rock,” somebody goofed. She sang R&B, soul, and pop. I confirmed this with a music-loving friend who knows genres well and has listened to a wide variety of music since the 1990s, as well as doing my own research on the internet to confirm my own memories of Mrs. Houston’s singing style.

Similar to: Priceless (movie by ForKingAndCountry band)

Favorite Moment (one of many): A special encounter with a pair of purple fuzzy socks started my tears running and made my heart flip over.

Mennonite couple Anthony and Marty Hirschler are broken by the fact that they can't have children of their own that it is driving a wedge in their marriage. Marty wants desperately to leave their hometown and everything that reminds her of her pain and constant reminder of large families. Her childhood friend, Brooke Spalding offers the Hirschlers the opportunity to convert a ghost town into a resort community and a new lease on life. However, her cancer diagnosis and plans to include a casino in the reservations put the Hirschlers in a moral dilemma.

Ms Sawyer addresses pertinent issues of cancer and human trafficking in a delicate manner and attempts to give perspectives with the victims and their loved ones. This is my first Kim V. Sayer novel and no doubt I would like to read more from her

If you want a deep, thought-provoking, but slower read, this is the perfect fit.

Content-wise, I can think of nothing negative. Marty and Anthony are in a struggling marriage, Brooke is going through a dreaded disease, and each character has important lessons to learn as they go through difficult—and very realistic—struggles.

Romantically, there are a couple of discreet mentions about intimacy. Since Marty and Anthony are already married and beyond the “honeymoon stage,” there really was not a big emphasis on romantic feelings and physical attraction.

Human trafficking is a subject explored in this book. It is done in, what I feel, a very appropriate manner. It raises awareness, doesn’t gloss over the awfulness of it, but also doesn’t get explicit.

Spiritually, this book was spot on. There was a solid plan of salvation, characters who were real in their doubts of God, truths very clearly displayed, and God’s Word held in high standard.

My only critique comes in the execution of the story. It was really slow, and for the most part, I was ready for a slow read. But it still felt a little jerky with paragraphs of explanation when a chunk of time had passed. But I realize that this is just my picky reader self.

Loved this quote:
“When you drop a pebble in a pond, countless circles grow from that small pebble. Each of those circles represents a life trajectory. If you send one person’s life in a better direction, then the generations that follow will also be improved.”

*I received this book from Net Galley and happily provided my honest review*

This was a really great story. I loved how the writing exposed each characters feelings. My heart went out to Marty and Anthony as they both initially fell into the age old "pity party" for themselves. The story takes on a different look when Marty's best friend employs Anthony's company for her project. This is when eyes are opened to trials and struggles in life so that goodness through faith can prevail. Quite an amazing read!

Anthony and Marty Hirschler, Mennonites in Indiana, find themselves growing apart. The root of the trouble seems to be their childlessness and Anthony’s demanding contractor business which keeps him away from home too much. Marty is lonely and longs to be with Anthony instead of left home to keep things going there. She is unfilled and mad at God for her circumstances. She doubts and chafes in the small community.
Brooke Spalding, a childhood friend of Marty’s, comes to the rescue with an offer for Marty and his company to rebuild a ghost town she has purchased. Somehow Brooke seems to know that Marty needs a change of scenery and asks her to be part of the team and manage meals for the work crew. Brooke sets up the work crew nicely and the situation gives Marty and Anthony much needed time together.
Brooke, though, has just been diagnosed with cancer and reluctantly relies on Marty to help her through treatments. An unbeliever, Brooke is now part of the small community at the work site and she begins to learn about God. There’s an extra story within about runaway teens and how to minister to them.

Kim Vogel Sawyer’s newest novel, Ours for a Season, is an atypical Mennonite story.

Marty and Anthony Hirschler, unable to have children, are floundering in their marriage. Neither knows how to cross the ever-widening chasm that is growing.

Marty’s best friend since childhood contacts her wanting to hire Anthony, who is a general contractor, to rebuild a “ghost” town, thus offering them a change of scenery and pace.

I felt a myriad of emotions during the reading of Ours for a Season. My heart ached for the Hirschler’s and their inability to have children, along with growing antipathy toward each other. The story also deals with some weighty issues, from teenage runaways to sex trafficking, infertility and cancer.

I took a little time to warm up to Marty. I felt she was a little harsh with her husband. I also felt Anthony wasn’t as sympathetic and understanding as he could have been. However, as the story progressed, I came to care for both of them, along with the other characters who are introduced.

The story flows well, from one situation to the next without your feeling as if you’re on a roller coaster ride. There is a lot of insight and spiritual profundity in the story, which will leave you thinking about it for a long while after reading it.

I received this book from WaterBrook Publisher’s, NetGalley and the author. However, I was under no obligation to post a review.

Um--wow!
My friend Joleen mentioned being a wolfer of books last week and I definitely felt like I was emulating her on this one. I started at 6 and finished at 9. This is a regular-length book, but it felt like it only lasted 100 pages, and I wanted it to be at least twice as long! This is the first time I have ever put a book remotely dealing with plain folk (these are Old Order Mennonites) on my favorites shelf, but it most definitely deserves the spot.

It's hard to say much about the plot without spoiling some of the joy of discovering it for yourself, so I'll just say that Marty and her dear friend Brooke are probably some of my favorite characters of the year. And Anthony is plenty fine as well, though the women's friendship is what really makes this story sparkle. If you enjoy meaningful stories of friendship, be sure to add this one to your reading list.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a free ebook copy. A positive review was not required.

I quickly became caught up in the story of Marty and Anthony Hirschler. Their story is an emotional one and had me reading for hours before I took a break. At times I felt sorry for Marty when its clear she desperately wants a child of her own which can never become a reality based on confirmation from a doctor, but then there were times I became frustrated with her and thought she needed to face reality. It was sad but rang true that this would cause distance between the couple.

I loved that Brooke Spalding (Marty's childhood friend) offered the couple an opportunity to move from Indiana to Kansas with the prospect of a job for Anthony. The storyline soon became more interesting as life changing decisions are made.

The author tackles some very tough topics in, Ours For A Season such as miscarriage, homelessness, and a very serious illness and she does so in a respectful and touching manner. There is a lot going on in this book but it is so worth the read. The secondary characters are every bit as strong and important to the storyline.
I loved seeing the changes in the characters lives and that there was no rush in getting them where they needed to be.

I received a copy from the publisher through Netgalley and was under no obligation to write a review. All opinions are my own.

This was an extremely touching story. Having had several friends who struggle with infertility this story took a deep dive into the struggles that couples face as well as the pain a woman feels when she desperately wants a child she knows she’ll never have.

I always enjoy stories that mix different cultures like Mennonites and a worldly woman like Brooke Spalding. I also loved the portrayal of the Mennonites, especially Anthony, sharing their faith and being missionaries to a lost world.

Probably about two-thirds through the book I started getting an idea of where the author was going to take the story. This didn’t diminish my enjoyment reading this story.

If you enjoy stories that delve into the life with the good and the bad this is a story for you. Kim Vogel Sawyer is an excellent storyteller and this story is one of her best.

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

Marty has grown quite discontent, and even angry, with both God and her husband, Anthony. She was a happily married Old Order Mennonite young woman, until the fateful day when the doctor pronounced that Anthony would never father any children due to him having the mumps. Marty stopped commuting with God and her marriage grew distant. Children were all she'd ever wanted. She couldn't bear to see the families in the community or enjoy visiting with family members who had young children. Her arms would never hold her and Anthony's own child.
Marty and her childhood friend, Brooke, have communicated through letters since adulthood. Although, Brooke isn't Mennonite, or even a Christian, the two are very close friends.
After a desperate plea to God to get her out of the community, she receives a packet in the mail from Brooke with instructions it is to be opened with both her and her husband present.
Anthony owns a construction business which often takes him out of the area and away from Marty. She patiently waits for him to return from an out of town job so they can open the letter together.
Much to their surprise, Brooke has purchased an old ghost town and wishes to bring it back to life as a resort. And, she wants Anthony and his team to do the work. This would mean leaving their home in Indiana to live in Kansas for eighteen months. One stipulation is that Marty accompanies him to Kansas. Brooke is aware of the distance in the marriage and realizes them being apart for so long would not be beneficial to their relationship. Marty feels this is what she so desperately needs. After prayer and speaking to the leaders in their church, Anthony accepts Brooke's proposition. He doesn't say anything to Marty, but if all goes well, once the job is complete, they would have the money to try for adoption.
Brooke has just received a diagnosis of cancer and leans on Marty to care for her and take her to and from doctor appointments. Marty, along with another wife who accompanied her husband to Kansas, cooks and feeds the work crew.
A teenage girl is found hiding on the property after they realize food is being stolen and they become aware of human trafficking.
A wonderful story that will get you caught up in the characters, as well as human trafficking and the need for foster care. Characters learned to lean on God in good and bad times. Some turned to God for the first time. And, some learned that what they thought was the only thing that would make them happy and complete was not what God had in mind, and we know that He always knows what we need long long before we do.
Kim Vogel Sawyer is one of my favorite authors.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Waterbrook & Multnomah through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.