Member Reviews
A book that read like M&M’s, you can’t read just one and leave, they draw you in so that you don’t want to leave, and keep on page turning.
Each story offers something different, but all take place within an Amish community, and bring smiles and tears.
With one I was reading a conclusion to a story I had been following and loved being back with old friends.
Four novellas by four of my favorite authors and life is fun, and each of these offer a different read, and a different age group of characters, and I highly recommend them!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Zondervan, and was not required to give a positive review.
I really love when four novellas focus around one theme and one community. Amy Clipston, Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller, and Kelly Irvin are four of my favorite authors. Each has their own way of writing by bringing their characters and storylines to life.
These stories focused on reuniting old lovers and friends. Many times this can happen in real life. We try so hard to move on but just cannot quite make it. Will each of these characters find it in their hearts to forgive? Will they be able to overcome their pasts and their prejudices? I highly recommend this book. Pull up a chair, get comfortable and read the night away. I received a copy through Netgalley. A review was not required.
A wonderful collection of Amish novellas that show you even in the darkest times there is a silver lining but it just may not be the one you were anticipating.
If you have never read Amish fiction/romance and want to give it a try this a great collection to start with. Each novella is short enough to read in a couple of hours. You do not have to worry about letting your teenage daughter read as all are clean romance and language-wise.
I received a complimentary copy from Zondervan Fiction through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.
I enjoy the messages of love and forgiveness the authors weave into each story. I enjoy the tie-ins with past stories. However, each story stands solidly on its own. I also loved Kathleen Fuller’s story of finding love in the senior years proving it’s never too late! That was a fresh, unexpected surprise as usually the Amish characters are young.
Four superstar authors of Amish fiction come together with a collection of stories focusing on reunions. Each story is unique in the situations the characters find themselves in making this a charming set of stories that are sure to delight fans of the genre. My favorite part of this collection is that I got to visit characters from series these authors have written. It was nice to read more about these characters and get to see them have their own stories.
This book is a must-have. The stories are heartwarming and will touch readers hearts. It is a collection I could easily see myself reading again and again. This book would be a perfect addition to someone's Amish fiction collection or a great way to start one. Either way, it's a book not to be missed.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was not required to write a review. All opinions are mine.
This was a great deal if you're looking to get several books by some amazing authors who white Amish romance. None of these will disappoint!
** ARC received from Netgalley **
An Amish Reunion is four stories that are all heart-warming. I liked them all because they are dedicated to family values, discovery of self and others, faith, trusting themselves and others. There is a bit of clean, wholesome romance in each novella.
Amish stories are fun to read for me even though I've studied the Amish way of life, values, traditions and their faith, for several years, and I always seem to learn something from every book. I respect their lifestyle and family values which is sorely needed in our American society but we do not want to give up our cars and electricity, me included!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book and I recommend it highly!
I love these collections! I really enjoy getting to read a little bit from different authors that I might not have read before. Each story was unique and original. I especially enjoyed Amy Clipston’s story. I really enjoy stories about forgiveness. This makes me want to check out all of these authors!
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.
Their True Home by Amy Clipston
This first novella was about two "older" young people finding each other after previous misfortunes with love. The two main characters were nice but both seemed to lack depth. Perhaps that is just due to the short length of the story, but there could have been more detail in overcoming past hurts. The term "their special friendship" made me roll my eyes so many times. Plus, Marlene's dad seemed flaky with his decisions regarding moving. When you have people relying on you (and they are expected to move with you), you shouldn't make a decision without great thought and prayer. That's what is missing from this novella about the Amish! Depth and prayer.
A Reunion of Hearts by Beth Wiseman
Normally, I don't like stories about Amish people who leave the community and then struggle with their decision. This story was different because of the reason they left. The characters were real, and their pain was palpable. Great story of communication and healing.
A Chance to Remember by Kathleen Fuller
This is a sweet story, but not appropriate in an Amish setting. I don't believe that Cevilla would have been allowed to become closewith an Englisher without a visit from the bishop to tell her that she needed to set a better example. I can understand why both charactersare ready to simply spend time together, but Cevilla happily saying that his house looked very Amish "from the outside" when it had electricity and air conditioning inside seems to go against what Cevilla would have been taught her whole life. I didn't like this one because it didn't realistically address this couple's desire to be together within an insulated community.
Mended Hearts by Kelly Irvin
Another sweet novella here. I liked the glimpse back into Burke's and Laura's lives. The reader can relate to the situation Hannah and Philip and Thaddeus find themselves in, even if the resolution was predictable. After two years, Philip's resolution in particular seemed fast. Perhaps not, once he opened his eyes and looked around at what God had put in front of him. Enjoyable story.
There are times you need to sit down with a book that requires no hard thought while you read it. You want to feel as if you are among old friends. An Amish Reunion brings you four stories about couples reconnecting after some time has passed.
Marlene moved with her family away from Bird-in-Hand to Shipshewana after her maam died. After ten years, her father lost his job and moved the family back to Bird-in-Hand. Marlene is on her way to the market when she sees a "help wanted" sign in the window of the hardware store. Inside the store, she reconnects with Rudy, first by asking to take on the job that's open.
Ruth and Gideon have suffered one of the most devastating losses a couple can. Neither of them handled their grief well and each moves to a different part of the country. After five years, they come back and wonder if there is something more to find than the few possessions left in their house when they ran.
Cevilla has been the town matchmaker for a long time. Now an old flame has shown up on her doorstep just to reconnect. It's a mystery how this reconnection will turn out.
Hannah is single, living with her grandparents, and raising her 21-month daughter, working at the cafe to support them all. She has lived through the shunning, but still lives with the whispers and gossip. She has a man interested in her, but one day, while she's at work, the source of all her trouble walks in.
All four of these stories have the comfort of revived relationships and the company of old friends. The authors of this olio of stories are the best of the best in Amish Fiction. Five Stars, Two Thumbs Up, and Kaffi and kichlin to go with an afternoon visit.
My thanks to Zondervan and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.
This is just such a lovely compilation of four short Amish stories. These books and its characters are filled with doubts, love , forgiveness and the desire for home. I truly liked all four books but my favorite was the second book.
I had never read two the authors before but that will change ASAP. I am not usually a fan of short stories but these were well crafted with believable and intriguing characters plus the added bonus of finding a couple new authors.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for a honest review.
This is a book of four novellas written by beloved Amish writers Amy Clipston, Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller, and Kelly Irvin.
Each novella touches on a reunion that leaves the characters wondering if the past occurrences in their relationships can be resolved. Will they be able to bring reconciliation, love, forgiveness and permanent reuniting to these relationships? We see how each one works toward that goal and how lives are changed.
I really enjoyed each book and would have loved for each one to be a full-length novel.
I highly recommend this book. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Zondervan through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
An Amish Reunion : Four Stories
By: Amy Clipston, Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller, and Kelly Irvin
An Amish Reunion is about four Amish authors writing Amish stories about reuniting with those you love.
Their True Home
By: Amy Clipston
This is a story about Marlene and her dedication to her family. Will she ever have a home and love? I really loved this story.
A Reunion of Hearts
By: Beth Wiseman
A Couple is faced with a tragic event in their lives that you don’t hear about much in the Amish.
Will their love overcome everything else? Do they have a future together? I really enjoyed this story very much.
A Chance To Remember
By: Kathleen Fuller
This story was so sweet. Is second chances real ? Can they happen when you are older.
Mended Hearts
By: Kelly Irvin
Forgiveness and second chances. Another story that you don’t hear much about in the Amish.
Will there be a second chance? Loved this story and felt so sorry for Hannah.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book, but was not told that I had to give a positive review. All opinions are my own.
Readers that are familiar with these authors will be excited to read about known characters and catch up with their lives. Each story tells of a reunion, some surprising. Faith, family and forgiveness is the recurring theme in each novella. The stories and characters and very relatable. Each is a sweet, wholesome tale and very enjoyable. For those readers who are unfamiliar with these authors, these novellas will be a great introduction. Highly recommended!
“An Amish Reunion” includes four short stories by different authors. Each story deals with some form of reunion, including two elderly friends finding love; estranged spouses reuniting; a family returning to its place of origin; and a couple settling their past to create a future together.
The author names will be familiar to readers who frequently read Amish romance or family novels. However, these four stories are by no means all sweetness and light. While each story is wrapped up in the end, there are conflicts and problems along the way. Facts must be faced and life-changing decisions must be made. The authors tackle issues of pregnancy out of wedlock, death of a spouse or family member, illness and grief, relocating to a new town or previous location, reconciling marital differences.
The stories are quite even in scope and demonstrate skilled writing by the authors. The plots are engaging from the start of each story. Characters are well-drawn and genuine. Each story might be considered a novella, but each is also appropriate for reading in a single sitting.
Readers who enjoy novels about Amish people will not be disappointed by this story collection. For those new to this genre or subject matter, this book is a great introduction.
I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher, in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.
These collections are always quite enjoyable, as they feature four popular (and wonderful) authors of Amish fiction. For this book, those authors are Amy Clipston, Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller, and Kelly Irvin.
Clipston’s story is a sweet tale about new beginnings and learning to let go of the past in order to move forward.
Wiseman penned a heartbreaking story that was a very emotional read that shows the reader how God can give us strength for whatever we may face.
Fuller’s story features an older main character who is a matchmaker—two things I find enjoyable.
Irvin’s tale tackles a teenage pregnancy and intimacy outside of marriage, which are topics not commonly addressed in Amish stories.
This collection demonstrates that the Amish community isn’t immune to the issues facing those in the Englisch world, as well as the importance of trusting God. Some of these stories seem to tie in to full-length novels or series by the authors, so that’s nice, but the novellas can all stand alone.
If you’ve never read Amish fiction, this novella collection provides a great introduction to the genre. And if you’re already a fan, this will be one to curl up with and enjoy reading.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy, but I wasn’t required to leave a positive review.
An Amish Reunion is a collection of four Amish stories. These stories include:
Their True Home by Amy Clipston
A Reunion of Hearts by Beth Wiseman
A Chance to Remember by Kathleen Fuller
Mended Hearts by Kelly Irvin
I enjoyed this collection and am giving it four and a half stars.
Four novellas filled with an abundance of faith, forgiveness, trust, love and family dedication. Each story shows lessons learned from life experiences. While reading each one, I felt as if I was right there with the characters and experiencing their emotions. I received a complimentary copy of the book. No review was required.
This book is a series of novellas written by four authors including Amy Clipston. Each story explores how couples are drawn to each other and finding love. In the first story Marlene returns to the town she grew up in. The boy she had a crush on is now her co-worker. Working together, they discover a new appreciation for each other. The second story is about a couple reuniting after tremendous tragedy. Is it possible to overcome the pain and make their life together work again? The third story is a charming look at second chances. A health scare causes an older man to reevaluate how he plans to spend his golden years. The final story is about the Amish community’s treatment of a couple and their out of wedlock child. Can they receive forgiveness from their community, their parents and each other? Can they be a family?
Each of these stories gives a view of how relationships work in the Amish community. Novellas offer much less character development. Details can’t be skipped in a shorter story and a couple of the stories feel rushed.
It is fun to read stories from 4 Amish fiction authors. This book introduces each author and their style, showing the variety and talent of Amish fiction writers.
Their True Home by Amy Clipston
Finding love and a friend is what Marlene finds with Rudy. Both must overcome past hurts and learn to trust God's will.
A Reunion of Hearts by Beth Wiseman
Sometimes loss is more than we can understand and we must lean on each other and family to get through the pain. This is what the characters learn in this story.
A Chance to Remember by Kathleen Fuller
Cevilla has a second chance with an old friend who shows up out of the blue.
Mended Hearts by Kelly Irvin
Hannah has lived with the mess she has made of her life for 2 years but she must learn to forgive when Thaddeus comes home.