Member Reviews

A Beautiful Arrangement is the third and final novel in Beth Wiseman’s An Amish Journey series. Though part of a series, it reads well as a standalone.

Lydia and Samuel were forced to marry by their families and religious tradition because she got pregnant. Being a wife and mother at the tender age of seventeen is difficult, especially when you don’t really know your mate, because you became intimate before you even dated. The Bontragers, Samuel and Lydia, watch the friends they introduced fall in love knowing they haven’t shared those feelings with each other, although they do feel them. How will they open up to each other and learn to love and show love?

A Beautiful Arrangement is just as the title implies. It’s a story of love and forgiveness. It is a testament to the renewal of life and love. The characters are strong and vibrant. The storyline and unexpected plot twists engage the reader throughout. I rate this novel 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it to all readers of chaste romance, especially Amish romance.

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

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A Beautiful Book

I enjoy novels with a good plot, interesting characters and a bit of a message. A Beautiful Arrangement fulfills my criteria very well. It addresses redemption for past sins from many angles, giving a person hope that God will forgive our sins. However, this is not easy for our characters, and various stresses and misunderstandings give the book a complexity not often found in the Christian/Amish genre. Highly recommended!

Thank you to the publisher for giving me a time-limited e-arc via Netgalley. This review is entirely optional and expresses my honest opinions. By the way, I stayed up very late to finish this book...had to see what happpened!

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This book follows the story of the marriage of Samuel and Lydia, a young couple we met in the second book of this “Amish Journey” series. Lydia realizes that at the young age of 16, that she’s pregnant. To honor their parents and keep a good standing for their families to the Amish community, Lydia and Samuel are hastily joined in marriage. Samuel accepts the fact that they sinned and takes seriously his responsibility to care of his little family. Lydia is struggling with marrying at such an early age. However, they both adore their baby daughter, Maddie. Lydia and Samuel are both at a loss as to how to establish their relationship now that they are married. Because they married so swiftly, they missed the courting process so common among the Amish, and neither is exactly sure where to begin to try to get to know each other.

The story also follows courtship of Beverly and Joseph, and their courtship does not run smoothly. Both couples have to struggle with honesty and forgiveness, and learn that God can redeem mistakes of the past. I enjoyed reading this heart-touching book by Beth Wiseman, and look forward to her next series.

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

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The author gives us two Amish couples to focus on, and we get to be part of their lives, and things may look wonderful on the outside, but not so in reality.
The married couple are very young, the wife being only 17 and already have a child, but they skipped an important part of their life together, and we are witnesses to their attempts to make it right.
The other couple meet as a result of the first married parents, but we are with them as they journey to be with one another. What a bumpy ride you are about to experience as they travel towards life long commitments.
There is so much compassion offered here for the less fortunate, made me want to become friends and know them personally.
Some things are not how we perceive them to be and there are many examples offered here, but answers are forthcoming, and this is a book that you will get lost in and not want to put down until you know what happens!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Zondervan, and was not required to give a positive review.

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I loved this book!! Great story!! Loved this series!! Hope she writes more books to this series!! Received this book from zondervan fiction from netgally!!

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A Beautiful Arrangement is the third installment and my favorite from An Amish Journey series. I loved this story. I am giving it five plus stars.

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I received this copy from netgalley.
This is my second favorite book of her's, as I love all of her book's, but I favor the promise and this story. I couldn't put it down. It was very interesting. I loved all the character's and the cover and the title fit's the story. really recommend and hope there will be more to the series.

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Beth Wiseman writes another powerful inspirational and a light mysterious story. All of it leads to one of many key points, one being how an act of kindness can go a very long way. The rewards from this act of kindness can return in unexpected ways to you.

I look forward to reading more books from Beth Wiseman in the near future.

I received a free copy from NetGalley with no exchange of money only an honest review. This is my honest review in my own words.

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"A Beautiful Arrangement" by Beth Wiseman is an Amish fiction . This book gives a beautiful , well described view of Amish life. It is a simple life. The Amish people use a horse and buggy to get around. They have to hire a driver to go out of the area. Lydia is one of the main characters. She is married with a small 8 month child. She shows such care and mercy to her friends, husband, daughter and the homeless lady in their neighborhood. The homeless lady Margaret does not get very much attention from the other Amish people. Lydia and her friend Beverly decide they need to show care and love to Margaret. The opinions are my own . Thank you to the publisher, netgalley, author for allowing me to read and review this book. I will post my review on Amazon, netgalley, Goodreads, my blog, facebook and for our church staff.

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I have read every book, in this Beth Wiseman series. I have enjoyed each one and this is the last and another great novel. Lydia, is a teenage mother and wife....well, a sort of wife....a wife of convenience due to her circumstance of becoming pregnant and not be married. But, now she was....married to Samuel. But, this marriage is full of turmoil, questions, uncertainty and unresolved feelings. Will this work....will there ever be love between the husband and the wife, or will it be a cold and sterile relationship? And what does this homeless woman have to do with them. Maybe it's not them....maybe it's just Lydia who desires to see more than a homeless woman. Follow this journey, with it's twists, turns and detours and find the value of faith and trust....which we all need to be happy! Pull up your blanket, get your tea, light the candles and sit back and enjoy. This novel will leave you wanting more!!!

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Wiseman is a master storyteller and knows a few things about the human spirit. I have enjoyed the experience of reading this book.
Many thanks to Zondervan Fiction and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

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Beth Wiseman has changed the narrative of Amish Christian fiction for me.

I loved, loved, loved reading this book. The story gripped my heart from the first pages till the last. Very unpredictable but enjoyable. The characters were wonderful and relatable. This book is not your usual Amish story. It's peculiarity has gained it a class of its own.

Filled with love, dedication, sacrifice, kindness A Beautiful Arrangement will fill your heart with this message: God makes everything beautiful that is committed into His hands.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and this is my honest opinion.

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This third book in Beth Wiseman’s Amish Journeys series may be the last but it certainly isn’t the least! It was the best yet!! This author has a unique storytelling ability that is unlike any other!

The reader is immediately drawn into the lives of the characters in such a way that reality is left far behind. The world passed me by as I sat totally engrossed in this new novel! Every event, emotion and challenge can be felt deeply while walking alongside these vividly described, lovable characters. Lydia is a sweet wife and mother who just cannot believe that her husband can truly love her. After all, a sinful situation led to their quick marriage! Samuel doesn’t have the ability or courage to say the simple words, “ I love you”, resulting in this couple struggling to find happiness. Both husband and wife experienced such inner turmoil, simply because they were unable to say what was in their hearts. It shows us how difficult it is to express one's innermost thoughts. It takes so much faith and courage to do so. Their mutual friends, Beverley and Joseph, are introduced in this tale of the quest for true love. Alongside the searching and desire for love is the mystery of a homeless woman. This author always adds something special to her books to enhance and highten the reader's interest.

The complicated plot is full of twists and turns that have the reader meeting unexpected situations in every chapter. I was constantly fearing that the trust that is a must in a happy marriage would arrive too late! The strong faith of the Amish community shines through loud and clear as this tale is told of a very special young couple. Life isn't simple, even for the Plain People. They experience all of the same kind of problems as you and I. No one is exempt! Faith and trust in the Lord is truly needed by all of us in order to achieve a happy life.

Once again, Beth Wiseman has left a deep impact on my soul. So much to think about! Definitely a five star book!!!



This book was received from Zondervan. The thoughts and opinions expressed are honest and my own.

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This is a beautiful story about a young Amish couple who made a small mistake and ended up marrying very young. Luckily a well kept secret for their sudden marriage did not deter them from helping guide another couple together. As a friendship grows, the Amish couple learn how to communicate their needs, thoughts and feelings. Lydia notices how different her marriage with Samual in reference to others in their families, her feelings are changing towards Samual. Lydia forms a bonding friendship with Beverly as they research on how they are led by God to help an ageing homeless woman. I am pleased that they were able to help a family reunite and that all have grown closer.
My review is posted on Amazon.com.au, Christianbook.com, goodreads, Barnes and Noble, kobo, googlebooks and iBooks. Run date on Netgalley of 25 February 2020 the review will be posted/published at on 07 April 2020. Facebook blog page, link is https://www.facebook.com/BlueFalkon95-Readers-blog-104660277776984 run date 25 February 2020.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Zondervan through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
 #ABeautifulArrangement #NetGalley

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Loved this book. A story of Lydia and Samuel and the hardships of being forced into marriage due to conceiving a child before marriage. This is a big sin in the Amish lifestyle and a big shame. Lydia and Samuel struggle with this marriage. Samuel tries and Lydia pushes away. Samuel is controlling and Lydia pushes away more. They both love their daughter Mattie but they cannot communicate their feelings. When Samuel's friend Joseph wants to meet a girl that Lydia knows called Beverly,things start to change. Beverly has her own secret and is afraid to share it. Lots of good characters and a mystery in this story. Keeps you wanting to read more to find out the mystery and also will Samuel and Lydia fall in love.

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Lydia and Samuel Bontrager have a beautiful daughter they love with all their hearts, but so far, that is all the love there is in their family. They are in a shot-gun marriage, because they both gave in to a brief moment of lust. Now their shame and frustration stand between them, and neither fully know how to overcome it.

Enter Joseph--Samuel's coworker, and Beverly--a brief acquaintance of Lydia, and sparks start to fly. Joseph asks Samuel to get Lydia to set him up with Beverly. They plan a dinner for the two couples together at the Bontrager home.

Later on, the two couples go on a picnic and see an old blue pickup. It's driven by Margaret Keim, an elderly, former Amish woman who is in really poor condition. With a little sleuthing, Lydia and Beverly find out that she is mentally ill.

Beth Wiseman writes compelling Amish fiction that is full of intrigue and gentle romance. A Beautiful Arrangement is just such a book and worth the time it takes to read (which isn't much time). It is definitely a five star book, with two thumbs up, and a beautiful arrangement of wild flowers.

NetGalley.com and Zondervan Fiction provided the galley I read for this review.

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This is the final book in the author’s series, Amish Journeys.

Having grown up with the dreams of loving and marrying the man of her dreams, who would love her back with that same deep love she dreamed about, Lydia finds at the age of 16 that her life is definitely not going that direction.

She and Samuel, having grown up together, make the mistake of letting passion take over and now they are married and parents to a six month old daughter. Lydia wonders how she can survive a life of “till death do us part”, when she feels so trapped, not loving her husband in the way she always dreamed. Samuel, on the other hand, has grown to love Lydia, but not sure how to let her know, as every time he approaches her, she pushes him away.

They have mutual friends they watch develop a relationship like they wish they could have.

A mysterious homeless woman enters their life and Lydia and Samuel’s lives takes on many twists and turns.

Mystery, doubt, friendship, love, forgiveness, and many other emotions make this a great book that you won’t want to put down until it is completed.

I highly recommend this book. I received an advanced copy from Zondervan Fiction Publishers and NetGalley. I was not required to give a review and the opinions are my own.

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This is a book of relationships and second chances, of understanding and forgiving, for almost all the characters. I loved the inside glimpse into Amish life, and particularly liked seeing Lydia mature and come into her own.

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