Member Reviews
Loved reading this book. Amazing story and the characters lend to the charm of this book. I would highly recommend this book. You would not be disappointed.
Loving Jenna is a Christian love story about a woman who is different. Jenna suffer brain damage as a child due to a swimming accident.. I recommend this story.
I enjoyed this book. It's a reminder that we are all perfect in our own way. I love Amy's books. This is a comfort, feel good romantic book.
Mammi, mamm and Jenna went from Kansas to Oklahoma: a bit change in their life.
"How was she ever going to convince her mother that she was old enough to do more for herself? That she deserve love?"
In fact "her mamm wanted to dictate her life and not let Jenna make her any decisions of her own."
"How could she grow up if no one would let her?"
Oh, what a wonderful, sweet, clean story, realistic, full of emotions, trues to think about.
unfortunately some person understimate people, without know them and let them try.
The storyline and topics caught my attention from the very beginning and kept me interesting throughout the entire story.
Amy Lillard's eighth installment from her Wells Landing series, Loving Jenna, was a sweet Amish story. I give it four stars.
When I asked to read Loving Jenna by Amy Lillard, I thought it was an extension of her Pontotoc Amish Series. It wasn't until I started reading that I realized it was part of her Wells Landing Series, which I have not read yet. However, I fully enjoyed meeting the people of Wells Landing! And, I especially enjoyed meeting Buddy and Jenna and reading their story. I think I may have to look at more of these stories and get to know the people even more! But, about this story....When Jenna was younger she was in an accident; she drowned and was actually dead until she was brought back. However, her brain was affected and she has a harder time learning things than others do. Buddy was born with Down Syndrome and he too is slower than those around him. When the two of them meet, all they want is the opportunity to spend time together and get to know each other. However, their families are against it, saying that they are not ready, nor will they ever be ready, to make that kind of decision or take that step. What ensues is the two of them fighting for each other with persistence, heart, and love. I laughed many times reading this book. It was a lot of fun, but it also has a great story line. Love, especially love ordained by God, is stronger than we can imagine. Go get it and see for yourself!
I received a copy of this story from the publisher through NetGalley for my honest review.
All opinions are my own.
Loving Jenna is a heartwarming story with Buddy and Jenna who both have special needs and their families are very protective of them. Jenna and her mother and grandmother have just relocated to Wells Landing, Oklahoma but Buddy and his family have always lived there on their farm. When they see each other during a church service there's an instant attraction that is fought by their parents. They are very protective and don't give either of them the credit they deserve. He has Down Syndrome and she had died in a childhood swimming accident but had been resuscitated and she now has a weak brain.
I loved how Jenna and Buddy really tried hard to show their parents they were adults and when they had setbacks, of which there were many, they just tried something different to prove they could make their own decisions and lead their own lives. They were definitely friends and I loved how they wanted to do things for each other. His brothers treated him nicely and I loved their relationships. Jenna's grandmother seemed to understand her and want to help her but couldn't always go against Jenna's mom. Some of their neighbors were very helpful and treated them well also and saw their potential to work hard and hold a job.
There were twists and turns to the story. There were some laugh out loud moments along with tears and heartache. There was definitely romance and love. This is the eighth book in the Wells Landing series and we were reunited with many of the characters we've previously met. I loved that the camels played an important role in the story and loved the antics of Buddy's dog, PJ. There was wonderful closure and a happily ever after as told in the epilogue and it was more than I hoped for. I love the cover and hope we'll return again and again to Wells Landing since there seems to be many more characters needing their own stories.
Ms. Lillard has fast become a favorite author no matter what genre she writes. Stories that are filled with family and friends they reel me in from the first page to the last. Give her books a try if you haven't already! You'll be glad you did.
Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the LORD'S purpose that prevails.
After a terrible swimming accident that almost killed Jenna, she has been told that her brain is weak. She is not like other Amish girls. With a recent move to a new community with her mother and grandmother, Jenna's family is looking for a fresh start with other another Amish community. It is love at first sight for Buddy when he see's Jenna at church. She looks like an Angel. Buddy has Down Syndrome and when he learns that Jenna has learning disabilities as well, he wants to be her friend.
Their meeting together is unfiltered and sweet. However, both of their parents see only trouble if a friendship develops. Their parents have always protected their children and now that they are young adults, Jenna and Buddy want a relationship with each other. Their friendship develops into love. A love that is persistent as the parents do not make it easy for them to know each other.
It is a sweet love story that shows any love is persistent and love never gives up. I loved it.
A Special Thank you to Kensington Books and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest revie
** spoiler alert ** Amy Lillard you did it again. the book will make you cry and laugh i love Buddy and Jenna. Their parents didnt want them together at first . but when they saw how happy they was they changed their mind. Jenna and Buddy got in an argument and Jenna went back home. and her mother didn't like the way Jenna was acting around the house so Jenna's mama went back to the Lambert's farm to see if Jenna can get her job back and Jenna went back to the Lambert's farm to live and take care of the babies. Buddy was still living there to help Titus with the camels. Buddy and Jenna went for a walk and they want to friends and more then friends. that is when Buddy couldn't sleep cause of Jenna. He love her and he want her to be his wife and he ran out the barn and Jenna had just gotten thru with the babies with she look out the window and saw Buddy and PJ [the fur baby] toward the house where the Grandparents lived but they stayed with their daughter and son in law. he told her he love her and want her to be his wife and at first she said no but when she saw Titus and his wife on the porch she told Buddy yes and they got married. i would recommend this book . this book is book 9 in the series if you haven't read any of Amy Lillard the series of A Wells Landing Series.
Enjoyed the sweet story. Loved the cover. It drew me in. I liked the characters and how the author developed them
Thanks to net gallery and the publisher for the advanced copy
Loving Jenna by Amy Lillard is a very special Amish novel. It is the ninth novel in A Well’s Landing series, and it can be read as a standalone. Jenna Burkhart along with her mother and grandmother have moved to Well’s Landing, Oklahoma. A swimming accident when she was a child left her with brain damage. She is tired of people calling her “special” and being told what she cannot do by her mother. Jenna wants the same things as other young Amish women (a husband, a home, and a family), but her mother tells her that it is not possible. Then Jenna meets Buddy Miller who has Down’s syndrome. Buddy has had similar experiences to Jenna with people not expecting him to hold down a job, live on his own or marry. Jenna and Buddy fall in love, but they are met with opposition. The pair set out to prove they can be self-sufficient so they can marry. Will they succeed in the face of their family’s disapproval? Will their fears and doubts get the best of Jenna and Buddy? Loving Jenna is a charming Amish story. It is unlike any other Amish book that I have ever read. I like that authors of Amish fiction are branching out into different subjects (very refreshing). Loving Jenna is well-written with developed characters. The author provided expressive depictions of Well’s Landing and the Amish who live there. I think it is funny that they drive tractors to get around except on Sunday’s when they can only use horse and buggy. Jenna and Buddy are truly special people. I enjoyed watching their romance progress. They were trying so hard despite discouragement from their parents. You will find it hard to put down Loving Jenna once you begin reading. Loving Jenna is a touching and unique tale with a poignant conclusion.
Amy Lillard writes quality Amish Fiction. Loving Jenna is a novel that fills a niche that is sometimes ignored. The fact is that society at large has many of the same beliefs about special needs people that Amy expressed through her characters.
Jenna is a young woman who nearly died when she was a preteen by falling into some water and came close to drowning. She did suffer some brain damage, but she still understands her limitations and her abilities.
Buddy is a young man with Down Syndrome, and he too understands what he can and cannot do, but when he first sees Jenna, he falls in love.
Both of these young people have many hurdles thrown up by both of their parents to overcome. Both of them have the chutzpah to overcome the hurdles. In Jenna's corner was her grandmother, and in Buddy's corner were a couple of his brothers. They both have to fight against prejudices of their parents, as well as society at large.
This is a wonderful book that treats these conditions gently through the corresponding characters. It is a five-star book, with two thumbs up, and your favorite chocolate cake.
Kensington Books and NetGalley.com provided the copy I read for this review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
5 Stars: 5/5 star rating
Jenna and Buddy just want to be treated with respect. But everyone sees what they can't do, not what they can do. Their families don't want to let them grow up, even though they are both grown adults with many talents. Buddy has Downs Syndrome and Jenna suffered brain trauma when she died in a drowning and was revived. Jenna and Buddy find each other and fall in love, but their families don't want them together and do everything to stop it.
This book handles special needs and the thoughts and emotions of those with special needs in a sensitive, respectful manner. I fell in love with Jenna and Buddy and was rooting for them from the very moment they met! Readers will enjoy following their love story and seeing how the story is resolved. Will they work things out or will their family succeed in keeping them apart and not allowing them to live independently?
I received a digital ARC of this book from netgalley and Zebra Publishing. All opinions expressed are my own.
I had a slow start to this book but once I got into it I really liked it. I wasn't exactly sure what to expect from reading the description with the hero and heroine both being special needs but I have read this author before and I loved her writing so I decided to give it a shot.
I'm glad I did even with the slow start. The writing is funny just as the previous book but it was also realistic and sweet. Staying true to the characters, Amy Lillard wrote a book a tale of two interesting characters and their journey all with a great supporting cast. Buddy and Jenna's antics, conversations and thoughts had me in stitches. It's lovely that this story was written and I believe it was well done.
4 stars
Loving Jenna is a very sweet and unexpected book about two people living in an Amish community. Buddy has Downs SYndrome and Jenna has a brain injury. The couple falls in love and want to be together but their parents have different ideas. This book is perfect for anyone who loves sweet romances and Amish fiction. It is a fast easy read with characters who are easy to like and root for.
I received a complimentary copy from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Jenna, her Mamm and her Mammi just moved to Wells Landing. Jenna ends up going to a singing. That's where she spots Buddy. Buddy also spots her and wants to find out more about her.
Jenna knows that her Mamm won't let her court anyone. She is too overprotective of Jenna since the accident.Her mamm doesn't think she can do anything. Buddy has down syndrome and his parents are the same as Jenna's mamm. Doesn't think he can do things by himself.
Buddy and Jenna get to meet each other. Over time they decide they like each other and want to court. There's one problem, how are they going to convince their parents to let them see each other?
I really enjoyed this book. I must say this is one of my favorites. I was cheering for Jenna and Buddy from the beginning.
This was one of my favorite stories by Amy Lillard. I loved how she wrote about a young man with Down Syndrome and a young girl who had a brain injury and almost died. This shows how these characters interacted with their friends and their families. I laughed and cried. I really liked Jenna and Buddy but didn’t always care for either of their mothers. The mothers had to learn that even though Jenna and Buddy had some handicaps they were still becoming adults. I received a copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
The author has captured a sweet story that focuses on two people considered “different.” I loved the way the characters are introduced and how gentle their story is told. The topic of Down Syndrome is one that few books are written about. It is easy to fall in love with Jenna and Buddy. Their connection is pure and filled with joy. Being accepted has always been both of their desires and finding each other really boosts their confidence. Jenna is considered to be “simple” since her accident. Both mothers seemed overprotective and Jenna and Buddy set out to prove their independence.
I didn’t care for Jenna’s mother at all. She never let Jenna do anything and continuously reminded her that she was “special.” Oh how my heart broke for Jenna. Her mother was a bit abrupt with Buddy and her attitude towards his mother made me upset. I began to wonder if maybe Jenna’s mother was angry at God and didn’t know how to get past it. I loved when Jenna and Buddy ran into each other at the bakery. You could feel how excited they were to see each other. When I read that Buddy’s favorite cake was chocolate cake with peppermint frosting I smiled. My grandmother use to make that for my birthday every year. Oh how I loved that cake and how special it made me feel.
I loved getting to read about Jenna and Buddy as their relationship grew. Two people who saw only love with no handicaps at all will warm your heart in this well written story. The author does a great job of showing us how we should not judge others and that family is important. I can’t help but think of how pure God’s love is and that is represented in this story by Jenna and Buddy. It was interesting to see if the families would accept a relationship that they were against. The bond between Jenna and her mother will be tested and trust will play a big part in teaching parents to let go and give their children to God. This story has become my favorite from the author with emotions that grab your heart as you witness unconditional love.
I received a copy of this book from the author. The review is my own opinion.
I loved this book, and found myself rooting for these young adults, yes, they have disabilities, but they are trying to break the chains of their limitations.
What a beautiful inspiring story the author gives us, and found myself walking in both the mom’s and their children’s shoes.
I do know that a child with “special” needs are so wanted, loved and treasured, especially in their Amish community, but these young adults object to the “special” term. Love how these moms are ready to do battle to keep their offspring safe, but when do the kid gloves come off? Probably never, but we get to see how these people deal with their children spreading their wings.
I love that old friends reappear in this stand-alone read, and we are back in Wells Landing Oklahoma, and our tractor driving Amish
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Kensington, and was not required to give a positive review.
I love The amish genre. IT has clean wholesome romances, strong family dynamic and living in peace with Mother nature. In my opinion it is a underrated genre. I wish more people could "dicover this genre. This book has all the things mentioned above. But in my opinion The author of this book has branched out and is writing about more complex or different person than ordinary amish books. in this beautiful and sweet book we are following two "special" and "simple"main characters. and follow their struggle and fight to be accepted as adult, their fight to be allowed to love each other and their fight to convince The other people in their commumity that they deserve love. I loved this book and Would recommend It to everyone. thank you to netgalley for this e book arc