I really loved this book. I was hooked from the beginning and didn't want it to end. I recommend it to others.

This story will melt you heart and hope for a miracle for the main characters. Susan Lantz Simpson story brings strength and faith in God.

Timothy and Malinda's love story is sweet and a bit drawn out. Malinda has health issues she wasn't want to saddle anyone else with. Timothy is determined to show her he loves her and will be there for her not matter what. There is a bit of suspense in the story but in the end it was anticlimactic and a bit disappointing. I'm not a fan of too much suspense but if it's built up and then ends the way this one did, it leaves you feeling as though the story was left me a bit deflated. Overall I liked the sweet love story but it was clear the author couldn't decide whether direction she wanted this book to go.

I enjoy Amish romances, and this one was very good. I found the treatment of someone who has a chronic disease very interesting and thought provoking, and the dilemmas that come with such a situation. The romance itself was sweet and convincing. I would like to read more books by this author.

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The Mending by Susan Lantz Simpson is the second book in this series. I really liked it. It deals with an illness and shows that the faithful also have trials. I loved the sweet story and recommend it. If you haven't read the first book, you dont need to have read it to get into this book but get ready to purchase it because you will want to get your hands on it quickly. I WAS GIVEN AN ATLRC OF THIS BOOK BY NETGALLWY. THE REVIEW IS MY OPINION

"The mending " is an Amish fiction book. It is about the challenges Melinda faces with being Amish and also having crohn's disease. She is the only daughter in her family. She has brothers. She goes to help her aunt in the beginning of the book and ends up in the hospital with her crohn's disease flaring up. She had a hard time overcoming the challenges of gaining weight and getting beyond this flare up. An English doctor there in the hospital takes a liking to her and continues to pursue her once she is home. She does not want any connection with him due to her desire to remain with the Amish way of life. She wants to marry and have children but is torn with the feelings that her health issues could be a financial and emotional burden on her future husband. She is pursued by Tim who accepts her health condition and loves her dearly. Will she be able to accept his love and care for her or not? Tim also works for a furniture company and does wonderful work with wood. This book is a wonderful story about the Amish way of life. It will pull the reader away from the cares of busy life in our non Amish world. This book " The Mending" was given to me by netgalley to read and review . I appreciate this opportunity to read this wonderful book.

I like this author and her books. I liked the characters in this book and enjoyed following Malinda and Tim’s story. I thought the author did a good job of portraying Malinda’s struggles with her chronic disease. I felt, however, that the part of the storyline with the doctor and nurse was just a little bit over the top. Nothing involving those two characters, or the way Malinda handled the situation, seemed seem quite believable. I would have left that part of the storyline completely out of the book. But overall, it’s a sweet story and I’d read more about this family and community.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

I've read several Amish books recently, but none that focused so much on the main character feeling bad about herself. The entire book was "woe is me, I have a medical condition." This was literally the premise of the entire book. The "challenging health condition" referenced in the blurb was exaggerated significantly. The "challenge" was every so often she might need to go to a hospital, she MIGHT need surgery in the future and she needs medication. Honestly it was her self esteem that was more challenging then the illness was.

Another interesting read in the Amish series. This one has Malinda, who is suffering from Crohn's Disease, and Timothy, her oldest brother's best friend. Full of rich characters and at times complex issues, this story was hard to put down. A little creepy at times with the doctor from Ohio that wouldn't take no for an answer, but luckily she has brothers to protect her. Highly recommend this book, author and series.

The Mending by Susan Lantz Simpson takes us to St. Mary’s County, Maryland. Malinda Stauffer is finally heading home after helping her Aunt Mary recover and then suffering a relapse of her Crohn’s disease that ended up with her hospitalized. Her physician, Dr. Todd McWilliams flirted with her, but Malinda did not encourage him, and she hopes the doctor took the hint that she is not interested in him in a romantic way. Malinda’s best friend, Phoebe Yoder is engaged to Ben Miller and will soon be getting married. Isaac was interested in courting Malinda before she departed, and she hopes he has not changed his mind. However, one glimpse of Isaac with Becky, Malinda knows it is too late. Malinda yearns for a normal life like the other young women in her district, but she feels her illness will keep men at bay. There is one man, though, that Malinda cannot keep away from her. Dr. McWilliams is persistent, and the added stress is causing her Crohn’s disease to flare up. Plus, someone is not happy with Dr. McWilliams interest in Malinda and they are sending her threatening notes.

Timothy Brenneman works at the local furniture shop with Malinda’s brother, Sam. Timothy noticed the lovely young woman Malinda has become, but he thought it was too late when he saw her with Isaac. Now that Isaac is courting Becky, Timothy wastes no time in letting Malinda know that he wishes to court her. The problem is convincing Malinda that he loves her and that her disease is not a burden. Follow Timothy and Malinda on their journey in The Mending.

The Mending is the second book in this series and follow The Promise (Phoebe’s story). The Mending can be read as a standalone, but I found it helpful to have read The Promise first. I thought The Mending contained good writing, but the pace was slow in some areas. I sympathized with Malinda who must deal with Crohn’s disease. However, I quickly tired of the lengthy pity party. I kept hoping someone would give her a good, long lecture (a reality check). I enjoyed the descriptions of St. Mary’s County and the daily life of the Amish. I cannot imagine living without a regular washing machine and dryer (or without air conditioning). I felt the situation with Dr. McWilliams was serious, but it felt overly dramatic. I never understood why Malinda would not talk with her parents or someone in authority (I know it is part of the story, but it did not feel realistic). For someone who wishes to marry and have children, Malinda failed to act like an adult. The resolution came about abruptly, and it seemed too easy. I thought the romance between Timothy and Malinda progressed at a realistic pace. However, the back and forth with Malinda saying she would be a burden and Timothy saying he loved her (and wants to marry her) and her condition was not a burden became tiresome. Malinda needed to learn that she is not defined by her illness. I felt that Malinda needed to grow as a person as her relationship with Timothy developed. A few tweaks would have made a difference in the story. Some of the Christian themes present are trusting in the Lord, the power of prayer, have faith in God, and that His grace is sufficient. My rating for The Mending is 3 out of 5 stars. For those readers who enjoy a sweet Amish romance, then come along to St. Mary’s County, Maryland in The Mending. There is a preview of The Reconciliation at the end of the book which will be Atlee’s story.

The Mending by Susan Lantz Simpson

Malinda went to Ohio to stay with her aunt while she recovers from a broken hip. While there Malinda
has a major flare-up of Crohn's Disease and is hospitalized. Her dr., Todd McWilliams, seems to have taken a personal interest in Malinda which frightens her. She just wants to go home.

Malinda finally gets home to Maryland. She was greatly missed by her family and friends who were worried about her. It is now summer and love is in the air. Malinda's friends are courting or married. Will anyone want to marry a sickly woman with costly medical bills? Will she ever be a wife and mother?

I liked this book and it kept my attention. I can relate to Malinda and her struggle with life and her disease.

Malinda Stauffer wants more than anything to be a wife and have many children, as that is what's expected of the Amish. But, she has Crohn's disease and worries no man will ever want to take on the responsibilities that comes with her illness. How could she possible run a household during a flare up? Then, there's the expense of her medications.
She traveled to Ohio to help care for an aunt who had broken her hip. While there, Malinda, had such a horrible flare up that it put her in the hospital. Her doctor, Dr. Todd McWilliams, took a liking to her. He made his feelings known to Malinda, and she made her feelings known to him. She did not share his interest. I felt he behaved in 'stalking' and psycho behaviors, as he wouldn't take 'no' for an answer and even showed up at her parents home, once she returned there. He also wrote her letters. It just all seemed too unbelievable. I think I could have given five stars if the entire scene with the doctor having feelings for her had been omitted.
Then, there is Timothy, who works with Malinda's brother, Sam, making furniture. Malinda was so wrong in thinking that he only saw her as her brothers little sister.
Can Malinda ever get past thinking she'll never marry? That her illness is something that will keep her single for life? That she'll have to learn to be content to being an aunt to her brothers children?
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Kensington through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Malinda had went to help her Aunt who had broke her hip in Ohio. Malinda was a Plain person-Amish- but she ended up in the hospital herself after a bad flare up of her Crohn's disease. Dr. Todd McWilliams had asked Malinda to stay and to become English and be with him or he would change and become Amish. Malinda said the doctor had worked too hard to become a doctor and not to give that up. Malinda still felt very weak, tired, and sickly thin but she was relieved to be out of the hospital and on her way back home to Maryland. Malinda had no desire to leave her community. Malinda would never sacrifice her beliefs, her family, and her friends for the luxury of an electric light or jumping in a car to go to the store. Malinda had prayed to God to be healed as she felt no one would want to marry her- she didn’t want to be a burden to anyone. Malinda had a burning desire to have a baby, nurse that baby at her breast. Joining the church, marrying, and having a houseful of children were all Malinda had ever wanted. She had no desire to taste the English world. Not once in three years after sing had a boy asked to take Malinda home. It must be her disease, who would want to take on the expense of ehr medications and doctor appointments. A man wanted a woman who could keep the household running smoothly and could give him strong sons. When in the hospital this time Malinda wondered if she would ever get home again. This had been the worst flare up yet.Tim had cared for Malinda for a long time. Malinda had no idea that Tim was romantically interested in her. Tim made an excuse to see Malinda for himself once he heard she was home he made the excuse he needed to see her brother Sam who he worked with and was good friends with. Tim felt Malinda was beautiful, kind, and caring. But she idd look really thin right now. Nut Tim has to convince Malinda she is worth being with sick or well and he cared for her. Then Dr. McWilliams shows up in her community to see Malinda and did not want to let her go almost like a stalker even though Malinda told him she wasn’t interested in him romantically but her brother took care of that.
I liked this book a lot. I even read it in one day as it kept my attention from the beginning to the end. Also I never read in a book where an english doctor didn’t want to take no from an Amish woman.I liked the plot a lot. It did drag for me at times. I advise you to read the first book in this series to have this run smoothly as you read this. I did get a little frustrated with Malinda at times as Tim wanted to be with her. I loved how the author showed the challenges of having Crohn's disease. And how it affects the person mentally as well as physically and the people around the person with the disease. I did choke up at times while reading this book. I really liked the characters and the ins and outs of this book and I recommend.

The author has given us a story that affects so many people, and many have the same decisions, but this one has a twist the patient is Amish, and she has the same wants and desires that most young Amish woman have, to be a wife and mother.
Add a young man who has secretly cared for her for most of his life, and you will think a quick romance, nope, we wonder right to the end if these two can overcome the obstacles to ever being together.
I loved that we are reunited and updated with some the characters from the first book in this series, The Promise, and yes this one can be read alone, and yet there is another one to come, and I personally cannot wait!
I did find this story a bit scary at times, and wondered what was going to happen, some people just won’t take “no” for an answer.
You don’t want to miss this one!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Zebra, and was not required to give a positive review

This is the first book I have read by this author. I didn't know there was a book before this one within the same story line until about the third chapter. It fills in the details so the reader doesn't have to read the first to understand this book. However, this book is so well written the reader will probably choose to read the first one any way.
In The Mending, Malinda believes her Crohn's disease will keep anyone from wanting to marry her. Not wanting to form attachments to anyone for fear they will reject her. Despite this, her brother's best friend, Timothy, continues to patiently pursue her. Letting her know he will always be there for her. Add in an aggressively persistent doctor and you have a whirlwind of emotions.
Malinda tries to handle all of this herself. Not informing her about the pushy doctor, keeping Timothy at arms length in fear he will one day think she is more trouble than he can handle, and this makes her disease flare up. But this is human nature. Trying to deal with everything on your own.. But just like humans Malinda realizes her family and the grace of God is enough.

Malinda is happy to be out of the hospital in Ohio and heading back home to Maryland. As she settles back in the swing of home life she wonders if she will ever share the joy her friend Phoebe has with her boyfriend soon to be fiancé. Malinda has Chron's disease and feels she is a burden to everyone around her, especially her family.

Timothy has been in Malinda's life for as long as anyone can remember as he is her older brother, Sam's, best friend. Timothy has waited patiently for years for Malinda to grow up and be ready to accept suitors. Now that the time has come can he convince Melinda that she will never be a burden to him?

What a beautiful love story between Malinda and Timothy. The love and patience he has for Malinda would make any girl swoon, young or old, English or Amish. Both of them have a strong faith in God and the way it is portrayed is great. The author uses real life experiences to show how God is in each of our lives. The author writes with such knowledge that one would think you were reading a true story and not one of fiction.

This is the second book by Susan Lantz Simpson I have read and I am eagerly awaiting the next book in the series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Kensington Book through NetGalley and any all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.

This is the second book I've read by this author. This is a continuation to the first I read. Taking place in Southern Maryland,Malinda returns home from a relatives house to find the man she thought she had an understanding with having another girlfriend. She develops an interest in a childhood friend,Timothy who unknown to her has had an interest in her for years. He just wants her to be happy even if it does involve her having another boyfriend. With an illness that can be debilitating at times she doesn't feel deserving of love. In her mind, who would want a fraa who could have a debilitating flare up that could have her bedridden for days ? As an overachiever, Malinda's days are filled with cooking, cleaning and basically anything to prove that she is not sickly despite not knowing when her illness could flare. The tables become turned when her love interest becomes injured on the job and he's unsure if he'll be able to continue what he does to earn his lively hood. She now has to convince him he will be a worthy mate. I love seeing, Malinda's strong,persistent personality. She doesn't let her illness hold her back and she is such an encourager to Timothy when he has his time of need. I am really looking forward to reading the next book in this series as I've enjoyed getting to know this family.
Pub Date 28 Aug 2018
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Kensington Books through NetGalley. Thank you.All opinions expressed are my own.

The Mending, book 2 in Susan Lantz Simpson’s newest series, is about coming to terms with oneself despite the flaws and accepting that sometimes God’s grace is enough. This is the second book by Simpson that I have had the honor of reading and once again I enjoyed it immensely.
Malinda Stauffer wants nothing more than to have the typical Amish fraa’s life, but one thing stands in her way, Chron’s Disease. Malinda struggles with her worth and the realization that maybe God will not offer healing no matter how much she prays.
Timothy Brenneman wants nothing more than to take care of Malinda, but he can’t seem to find a way to get through to her that she isn’t a burden.
I really related to Malinda in that I think we all have something that makes us feel inferior at times, like we are not a whole person. I liked how Simpson added the element of the stalker as this is not something you generally see in Amish Inspirational books. It added a second issue to Malinda’s life and a reason to cause her to have additional flare-ups which in turn caused her to question her worth even more. I loved that she ended up confiding in someone because struggling with those issues is not something one needs to do alone.
For those who have not read book one, fear not as this can easily be read as a stand-alone novel although I do recommend going back and reading Phoebe’s story.
I received an advanced copy of this book from Kensington Books, and netgalley.com in return for my honest opinion. All comments are my own.

The Mending is a beautifully written inspirational romance. I throughly enjoyed reading this book. Enjoyed the story and the characters. Author is new to me and I definitely enjoyed her writing. Fans of Amish romance will enjoy this book. My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my ARC. This is my unbiased review.