Member Reviews

I received an ARC copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion of it. I love to read Amish stories and I really enjoyed the relationship between Laura and Zechariah. It was enjoyable to read a romance book about an elderly couple. However, I did have a hard time following all of the different characters in the story.

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Interesting end of the series. Well-written. Kelly Irvin's books are always delightful and this one continues the trend. Well worth reading!

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With Winter's First Frost is an Amish story that is sweet, charming, lovely, and my new favorite book by Kelly Irvin. Of course, I say that every time a new book is published. This is book 4 in the series but can be read as a stand alone. If this is your 4th book or your first, you will love the tender story of later in life love and all the possibilities of new young love. If you find that you missed the other 3 books in the series, be warned, you will not rest until they are in your tbr pile. Thank you to the publisher for choosing me for an arc of this book, the opinions in this review are my own .

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I thoroughly savored With Winter's First Frost. Ms. Irvin's descriptions placed me right into the middle of a Missouri Amish community. I saw and felt what her characters did. I especially enjoyed watching love unfold between two characters in their 70s. I also feel that the stories of at least two of the characters, Tamara and Hannah, were begun, but not finished. I'd love to find out what comes next for them.

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This is a wonderful, well written book. It will hold your attention from the beginning until the end. I didn't know this was book four in the series, but had no problem except that I want to read the other three books now. I highly recommend this book for everyone. Thank you Zondervan Fiction via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this wonderful book. This is my honest opinion.

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A wonderful contemporary story full of faith, family, friendship and love!

This was a thoroughly enjoyable read, set in the Amish community in Jamesport, Missouri. I felt immersed in the story from the beginning, as the families merged during one crisis and continued to help each other with each new challenge. It was like landing in a family reunion at first, but the main characters were easy to sort out. (The reference in the beginning was helpful too.) Anyone who has experienced caring for older parents while taking care of their own children--the 'sandwich generation'--will understand the dilemmas surrounding the older characters in this heart tugging story.
I loved the banter between Laura and Zechariah, as they went from acquaintances to allies, then a tender friendship. Their struggles with loss, moving on, feeling useless, helpless and disrespected at times, were things many of us older adults could relate to. Their wisdom and faith, backed up with prayer and service, were inspirational. Learning to let go of what we cannot control, and trusting God for guidance, renewed purpose, and looking to Him for help in meeting our needs (both spiritual and physical) were important lessons here. I loved the ending. It was a perfect wrap up. I want to go back and read the other books in this series now!

An inspirational and heartfelt story perfect for readers teenaged and up. Recommend!
(I received a complimentary copy of this book from Zondervan via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

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What a beautiful book about aging. Laura Kauffman lost her husband many years ago on Christmas. Eve. She wonders now what her purpose is in life. Zechariah Stutzman lost his wife two years ago with breast cancer. He suffers from Parkinson's and lives with family. When Laura helps a friend that is expecting twins she comes to live in the house that Zechariah lives in with his family. Zechariah's family does not want him to do things because of his Parkinson's and feels that he needs help with things. This makes Zechariah depressed and feels useless. It is a story that shows how hard it is to age and the feelings you go through when doing so. This is a well written book with lots of emotion. A beautiful story in time for Christmas.

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I didn't know this was the fourth book in a series but it was easy enough to follow along. As in almost every Amish book all's well that end's well and if the path taken is rather convoluted it doesn't matter as long as the one on the path ends up in the right place. Everyone in this book ends up in the right place despite many hardships along the way, A most satisfying read.

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I've had the pleasure of reading all four books in this series, and really enjoyed them all! I love how they bring each season of life to the forefront on the pages of the stories. In this book, we follow Laura through the 'winter' season of life...dealing with issues of loss, grief, health concerns, and the circumstances that come with aging. She tries to share her life's wisdom with some grand and great-grandchildren, but as youth as wont to do, they prefer to learn from their own mistakes. It seems very difficult to be in her situation, but she has a good spirit and makes the most of it. In spite of the season, this story is woven throughout with love interest and romantic couples. It teaches us to watch our elders and learn from them. I'm sad to see the series end, but looking forward to what comes next from this author!

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