Member Reviews
This book is filled with love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. Jennifer Beckstrand has written an exciting book about how love conquers all, even the adversity that everyday life brings.
This book is about a girl and boy who are on different paths but love brings them together to face the world and all that comes their way.
I could not put this book down! It filled my thoughts with questions about my own life and how I need to start reacting and stop judging. This book also shows us the true meaning of the phrases, "Never judge a book by it's cover!", and "Sometimes you don't see what's right in front of you!"
All in all Jennifer Beckstrand has written a riveting book that will keep you wondering what will happen next!
I received a free copy of this book, to share my opinion with others, from the publisher.
A great book to show what true forgiveness of one's sins means. There is only one true judge and He is in the heavens above. I also think it shows us bravery. It takes a strong woman to decide to walk through pregnancy on her own without the man she thought was her forever. It takes bravery to leave a bad situation.
I enjoy Beckstrand's creative license with some of her Amish characters. Fans of Beckstrand all know the quirky grandma, Anna, from her Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hill series and now we have Bitsy, who definitely marches to her drummer. These characters make her books fun and entertaining.
I am looking forward to reading book two, Abraham, releasing November 2019.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, Kensington Books, through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.
Jennifer Beckstrand is one of my favorite authors of Amish Fiction! She is a master storyteller who is able to make you giggle at her quirky characters as well as think deeply , all within the same chapter! That is a very special talent!
"Andrew" is filled with characters who are all so realistically and richly described that you feel that they are your best friends within minutes of beginning to read this fabulous story. I loved Bitsy who certainly is far from your stereotypical Amish woman!! The Peanut Butter Brothers, in reality, Benji and Alfie Petersheim, make you laugh out loud with their antics, great comic relief in the midst of some serious situations. Their desire to matchmake is sweet , funny and yes, somewhat frustrating , at least to Mary and Andrew! Mary is a sweet young lady, brought up Amish, who made a big mistake by " jumping the fence", however is now trying her best to make amends and gain the approval of the community once again. As difficult as it is, she is determined to begin a new life, even when suffering the results of living the Englisch life. Andrew gains one's love and approval immediately with his kindness and willingness to help Mary. I loved revisiting Honeybee Farm, feeling that I was back in familiar territory.
The plot moves quickly filled with unexpected twists and turns! As Mary struggles to show that she has learned some hard lessons, the sometimes undesired approval from Andrew, helps her along the way. It takes a long time and many lessons learned before Mary can accept forgiveness of herself and others. The underlying message of this tale comes through loud and clear. Andrew exemplifies what we all should be striving for, faith, patience and honesty. Everyone deserves a second chance and he helps Mary realise this.
This is a five star book!!! It will leave you thinking how important forgiveness is and how judging hurts oneself as well as many others. I can hardly wait for the next book from this fantastic author!
Author Jennifer Beckstrand brought her characters to life. Those twins!!! You’ll love them. A fun, matchmaking story, it still contains some heavy subjects that keep it from being “fluff”. I did read through it quickly as I wanted to see how things would turn out.
With wonderful Christian values, Beckstrand shows us that we all sin yet God loves us and accepts us unconditionally. So should we do this with others. Things are not always what they seem and we don’t know what’s going on in someone’s heart.
There were plenty of chuckles while reading. With charming characters who don’t fit the norm you’ll enjoy this book if you like Amish fiction. Plus you’ll learn about making peanut butter. Bonus! So make a peanut butter sandwich, grab a copy of Andrew, and enjoy.
I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.
Andrew is a great older brother. He is handsome and smart. But he has a tendency to not think before he speaks. This can cost him big time. Will he learn from his mistakes?
Mary has made some mistakes. It has cost her dearly. Can she forgive herself? Can she be forgiven by others?
I absolutely adored Andrew's younger twin brothers, Alfi and Benji as well as a returning favorite- Aunt Bitsy. The story was funny and entertaining. It was enjoyable. I couldn't wait to read it when I got home from work. What would the twins get up to next?
I am excited that this tale will continue on with Andrew's two single brothers, Abraham and Austin. Jennifer Beckstrand knows how to pull your heart strings, make you laugh and cry and teach you a valuable lesson all at the same time.
I received her book for free to review from Celebrate Lit.
A very nice book by Jennifer Beckstrand. I’ve never read a book by this author before so I wasn't sure what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the story and the characters.
I loved the twin boys., always getting into mischief. The boys were always in everybody’s business. Bitsy had several cats, has such cute names.
Mary had left her Amish home and then came back. Her parents don’t want her back. Bitsy invites Mary to live with her.
Andrew is the brother of the twin boys. At first, he doesn’t want anything to do with Mary, but then they become friends.
This is an excellent Amish book. I enjoyed all the children, and they were so cute. The adults had so much to learn in life. Especially how to treat each other.
This is the first book in the series. I am looking forward to reading the next book.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher through Celebrate Lit. This review is my opinion.
This book angered me a lot as I read it. I understand that Mary has sinned when she became pregnant before marriage. Wasn’t it enough that her family shunned her, the father of her child deserted her and the community whispers about her? Just how much punishment does she deserve to make Andrew feel like has she has paid for her sins? They have some heated conversations and I admired Mary for not backing down. She realizes what she has done was wrong, but at some point forgiveness needs to come. God has forgiven her, so why can’t others? I’m not quite sure why Andrew is so bitter when it comes to Mary, but this scripture kept coming to my mind. “He without sin cast the first stone.”
Bitsy and Yost are a breath of fresh air as they welcome Mary into their home. They are there to help her and not judge her. Bitsy is a character with different colored hair, cats named Farrah Fawcett and honeybees swarming everywhere. She is carefree and welcoming to Mary in a sincere way. What a wonderful example they are to those who whisper and set in judgment. I wonder how many times the church has turned their back on someone who has sinned? We should lead them to repentance and show them unconditional love. The community sure wasn’t doing that for Mary. Mary lets Andrew know just how much she has suffered for her sin, but reminds him that God has forgiven her.
What I really liked about the story was how Andrew took a good look at himself and realized he was a sinner as well. His high and mighty attitude towards Mary was wrong and he knew he needed to change. It was so nice to watch his transformation and reach out to Mary for forgiveness. It is not an easy road for either of them, but it’s a road they must travel to rid themselves of pride, judgmental attitude and learn how to truly forgive.
Benji and Alfie are the comic relief in this book. They get into everything possible and it amazes me how they survive. I loved their childlike innocence and how they became friends with Mary without blinking an eye. Children can sure teach us a few things about accepting others. They have such big hearts and see people the way God does. We can sure learn a lesson from them. I couldn't help but feel a bit sorry for Mary for the way she was being treated by others. There are so many quick to judge Mary, but the perfect words came from Benji. " Are you in charge of her soul?" I laughed and then I had to repent. I have done the same thing as others. I have judged and talked about someone who was in sin. It was like I was happy they had got caught so no one would focus on my sins.
The book is a great lesson in forgiveness and judging others. I am glad I read this book and it made me angry. Why, you ask? Because it made me look at myself and examine my heart. How many times have I ignored someone because they were in sin? Why didn't I extend a hand and lead them to Jesus? I have read many books about judging others but this one really opened my eyes. The author addressed a subject we are all guilty of. Now it's time to ask forgiveness and start seeing people like Jesus does.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
Returning to the Honeybee Farm is always delightful especially when the first person who greets you is Bitsy Weaver. We met the unconventional, sassy but sweet Bitsy in the Honeybee Sisters series and I absolutely adored her and I still do. However, there are two new equally adorable characters who stole my heart in this book, Alfie and Benji, 8 year old twin boys who had me laughing at their antics throughout.
They are extremely busy little boys, they help as much as they can in the family peanut butter business, they are devising a plan to get their room back after having to sleep in the cellar to make room for their grandparents which leads them to try their hand at matchmaking so they can get their room back. Because cellars are apparently quite frightening with the darkness and spiders, so obviously they cannot possibly stay down there for very long.
So, they decide to set up their older brother, Andrew with Mary who happens to be staying with Bitsy, what could possibly go wrong? Pretty much everything including but not limited to encounters with Bitsy,her cats, confusion as to why Mary isn't welcomed with open arms by some members in their community and their desire for everything to be secret, when things really aren't such a secret. They are such comical little boys with pure hearts. Mary is a wonderful young lady who made a mistake by leaving her community for the English world but when she comes back (as an unwed expectant mother) she is treated poorly by several people. There are a few times when Andrew came to her defense that made me love him but then there were times when I wanted to shake him and tell him to stop being so judgmental.
As much as I loved the humor in this book, I loved the message of family, faith and forgiveness even more. I am looking forward to the next book in the series because I have a feeling if the twins are successful at marrying off their older brothers, they will each have their own rooms and can sleep soundly far away from the cellar.
Overall, this highly entertaining and well crafted novel is one that I absolutely loved. The characters are well developed, the pace is perfect and this is what I consider quality Amish reading. I suggest settling in your comfiest seat with a cold beverage and a snack because once you start reading this book you wont want to stop. You will laugh, you will get a little teary but you will be glad you chose to spend time with The Petersheim Brothers and their friends.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley and was under no obligation to write a review. All opinions are my own.
This Amish family story offers an entertaining read, including some laugh-out-loud moments. Some elements included may not be accepted by most Amish, but it does add interest to the story. What might happen if twin eight-year-old brothers try to get their older brothers married off? This can lead to some hilarious incidents along with some awkward situations. The boys are endearing, and you can’t help but like them and care about what happens to them and their family. This novel also deals with a serious issue—a pregnant, unmarried young woman who returns to her Amish community. She faces much rejection by those who think she needs to be more remorseful for her sins. Can she ever find acceptance? What will her future hold? Perhaps children can lead the way. I enjoyed the book and look forward to more in this series about the Petersheim brothers. What will the twins come up with next? I received a copy from Celebrate Lit. All opinions are my own.
I’ve read many of Jennifer Beckstrand’s books, and this like most of her books make me smile.
This one highlights forgiveness, and she brings us a wayward Amish girl, who has returned home for a visit, stay or permanently if she decides to raise her unborn child in the community.
We are back with Bitsy, now married and baptized, but still as spunky as ever, and remember don’t feed “boys”!
Then we are introduced to a new family the Petersheim’s or Peanut Butter Brothers, and I’ll have to tell you that I cringed when the eight-year-old twins had to sleep in the cellar, yuck, but this is what causes these imps to try and marry off a brother, namely Andrew!
Now there are at least two more books here, and I for one enjoyed this read that at times had me laughing out loud!
I received this book through the Celebrate Lit, and was not required to give a positive review.
Hi. We're Alfie and Benji, and we are the twin brothers of Andrew. Our Mammi and Dawdy moved into our house with us after Dawdi had a stroke and Mammi needs to take care of him. When they moved in, our Mamm moved us to the cellar to sleep on an air mattress. We have a new neighbor, Mary Coblenz, who lives with Bitsy and Yost. She's going to have a buppli, and a lot of people in our gmayna don't like her because she doesn't have a husband. Part of the reason we think Andrew would make a gut husband for her is that we'd get to move back upstairs, and out of the icky cellar.
Being eight years old is kind of hard. We have to be thinking of many ways to get Mary and Andrew together. Even we can see that they do, and we are just little kids. Once Andrew stops messing it up, maybe he will see it too.
Jennifer Beckstrand writes Amish fiction as though she were Amish. Andrew is the first of a series of three books about the Petersheim brothers. I imagine that Alfie and Benji will be a delightful part of the other two books. They did such a wonderful job with Andrew and Mary.
I want to thank Kensington Publishing and NetGalley.com for allowing me to read and review this book. It is a five star book, with two thumbs up, and a peanut butter honey ball.
I adored the twins in this book. Those little brothers where into all sorts of trouble, but they had good hearts and meant well.
Andrew at first comes across a bit righteous, which I am sure was the intent but we see him soften up and see Mary in a different way.
I honestly, didn’t feel like I got to know Mary as well as the twins and Andrew. I don’t know if we weren’t in her POV as much or what the case was but she seemed more distant to me.
This is a light-hearted kind of book, but deals with a heavy topic that is very real today. I enjoyed seeing the change in Andrew’s perspective.
For me the chapters were very long. I like shorter chapters and when it popped on my my kindle that it would take an hour for one chapter I was a bit surprised.
A copy of this book was given to me through the Celebrate Lit Team. All opinions are my own.
Andrew is a delightful Amish romance novel. This story had me chuckling from beginning to end. We get to return to The Honeybee Farm owned by Bitsy Kiem Weaver who still changes the color of her hair regularly, has her shotgun at the ready and talks out loud to God. She willingly takes in Mary Coblentz when she returns to town unwed and pregnant. Bitsy is a wonderful character who I wished lived was my neighbor (minus the bees). I loved it when Mary said, “Bitsy isn’t afraid to love people who don’t fit in”. Mary is a nineteen year old who left the community and regrets her decision. She is a brave young woman who is not going to be bullied or hide inside just so other people will be satisfied. Andrew is taken with Mary until he sees that she is pregnant. But, thanks to the twins, he keeps encountering Mary. Andrew’s idea of right and wrong are going to be put to the test. Alfie and Benji were hilarious with their antics. I loved their simplistic outlook of situations. There are judgmental members of the Amish community who need to learn Christian charity. I like the Christian values and life lessons presented in Andrew (faith, forgiveness, redemption, grace, patience, second chances, honesty). We are all sinners and make mistakes. Everyone deserves forgiveness and a second chance. I thought the book was well-written and it proceeded at a steady pace. It seems like I barely began the book when I finished it (with many smiles and giggles along the way). It was interesting to learn more about creating homemade peanut butter. It is cute that the Petersheim brothers are called The Peanut Butter Brothers by locals. I cannot wait to read the next two books in The Petersheim Brothers series. If you have not read The Honeybee Sisters (though you really should), you will not be at a disadvantage. Andrew is a heartwarming story with the colorful, shotgun toting Bitsy, yummy honey, impish twins, homemade peanut butter, and merry mishaps.
I received an ARC copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion of it. When Mary finds out that she is pregnant, her Amish parents are disgraced and kick her out of the house. She then moves in with Bitsy, an eccentric lady in the community. Andrew meets Mary and really treats her bad because she is pregnant and not married and truly treats her like an outcast. Andrew has twin brothers, Alfie and Benji, who decide that Mary would be perfect for Andrew because they are now living in the basement due to their ailing grandparents moving in with them. The antics that these little boys go through to get Mary and Andrew together are so funny and usually end up in a disaster. I really enjoyed this book and look forward to the future books with the stories of Andrew's brothers.
I think that this has been my favorite book by Jennifer Beckstrand that I have ever read. This has great characters and it made me laugh and cry. I love Andrew and Mary but my favorite characters are the twins. The twins are so cute and adventurous. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the books in this series. I received a copy of this book from Celebratelit for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
Andrew
Jennifer Beckstrand
Andrew by Jennifer Beckstrand is the first book in her Petersheim Brothers series. Amish fiction is one of my favorite genres and this Amish romance did not disappoint.
Andrew is the eldest of the Petersheim brothers, fondly known as the Peanut Butter Brothers, so named because of the family business. Andrew views himself as a righteous man and strives to live by the strict rules that govern every aspect of Amish life. Mary Coblenz “jumped the fence” and escaped to the English world, but has just returned to her Amish community pregnant and unwed. Andrew and Mary have a great deal of soul searching to do before they can accept any relationship beyond friendship, but they have help in the form of Andrew’s eight-year-old twin brothers, Alfie and Benji.
Andrew is a really good read. Ms. Beckstrand has given us a wonderful cast of characters. The twins are especially hilarious. The writing flows smoothly, and there’s just the right amount of conflict. This novel is 5 out of 5 stars for me. I recommend this book to all readers of Amish fiction, especially Amish romance.
My thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.
Jennifer Beckstrand and Suzanne Woods Fisher are two of my favorite Amish authors. They both have such unique voices and I know I will get a good story.
Ms. Beckstrand writes stories filled with humor that make me smile -- maybe even laugh sometimes. And this new series about the Petersheim Brothers (AKA Peanut Butter Brothers) is loosely tied in with the Honey Bee sisters.
I love how each character is so unique and well developed. Even though she is Amish, Bitsy is a unwilling crazy cat lady with blue hair and she is so funny. Dawdi is suffering from a stroke and the Petersheims are caring for him but Andrew's mom is suffering from mother-in-law issues. I laughed when Grandma sprayed all the boys with Rose Water.
If you love Amish fiction, romance, and humor, you will LOVE Jennifer Beckstrand. Grab a copy of ANDREW today and see how well Andrew learns his lesson in loving.
I was given a copy free. All opinions are my own.
5 Stars: 5/5 star rating
What goes together better than peanut butter and honey? Hmmm....love and marriage?? Babies and twins? Readers will laugh and cry in this book as little Alfie and Benji try to marry off their brothers, starting with Andrew. Mary is such a lovable character that I felt such empathy for her from the very beginning of the book. Andrew comes on rather strong and unforgiving at the start, but maybe there is hope for him yet.
I believe readers will get great pleasure from this book, just as I did.
I received a free digital version of this book from netgalley and Zebra Publishing in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.
A beautifully heartfelt story of forgiveness and second chances! Jennifer Beckstrand is my favorite write of Amish Romance stories and this one is a must-own. Andrew's twin brothers steal the show, without a doubt, but also help to open his eyes, as well as his heart.