5 Stars: 5/5 Star Rating

What a sweet, fun story to read! Dorcas and Thomas are easy to love! Love is definitely in the air in this book, even though Thomas and Dorcas seem reluctant to admit it. Dorcas's students see the love and want to help. Will they be successful in their attempts to bring their beloved teacher together with Thomas, or will the chance for marriage be denied?

Read this delightful book to find out!

I received a digital version of this book from netgalley and Berkley Publishing. All opinions expressed are my own.

A SPRINGTIME HEART is the second book in the PROMISE GLEN series, and I look forward to reading the first book, A CHRISTMAS HOME, of which there was an excerpt in the back of the book. Even though I haven’t read book one, I wasn’t lost since there was enough background information given in this story. The book, set in Pennsylvania, held my interest throughout. There were a lot of different story lines that were woven nicely together.

This is an Amish story with a lot of friction and gossip, which was a surprise. Dorcas is the teacher at the community’s Amish school. Her assistant, Anna, is very helpful with the students. When Dorcas’s first love, Thomas, returns home after seven years away with plans to start his own construction business, she’s afraid some secrets may be revealed. He’s hoping for forgiveness from his father and his siblings after being sent away to his relatives in Ohio for so long. Dorcas and Thomas still have an attraction that they had never acted on previously, though romance is in the air.

Dorcas is always trying to help others before herself. She’s kind to the new elderly Englischer neighbor, even though he just wants to be left alone. She’s always there for Thomas especially. The story has a nice flow to it, and I liked the various Amish activities in addition to their language in the book. The inclusion of the Glossary of Pennsylvania Dutch Words and Phrases was an especially nice addition, as well as the soup recipes at the end.

A SPRINGTIME HEART is a heartwarming Amish romance sure to bring a smile to your day.

A Springtime Heart deals with the prodigal returning but finding mistrust from his father instead of open arms. My heart broke for Thomas as his brothers and his father treated him with resentment and blame that was not his.

Dorcas had been rebellious in her teenage years and yet, unlike Thomas, and even because of Thomas, the community was none the wiser for it. She still felt guilt over Thomas' disgrace and for not speaking up.

I enjoyed this story of restoration and healed relationships. There was a lot of growth in the characters that was needed - very much! And not just Thomas and Dorcas. Realistically, the issues they faced were many and the people involved were quite human and flawed!

I especially liked the part about the irate neighbor who moved in next to the schoolhouse. The interactions with him and related to him and the resolution was very sweet! It was impressive the way Dorcas handled the matter, and later how Thomas did.

I also really enjoyed the interactions Thomas had with his younger siblings and the way he helped them to see the mistakes they were making in a manner that encouraged them to do right instead of alienating them.

There were so many things going on in the story to keep my attention! Dorcas' position as teacher was being threatened and she didn't know the source. Her sister-in-law seemed unwilling to help around the house and seemed a bit self-centered and certainly overprotective of her new baby. Dorcas' mom was dealing with depression. And Thomas' siblings were ruled with an iron hand by their father.

The author showed how the community dealt with gossip and the spreading of rumors and showed that these things were not acceptable. Honestly, it seems like so many Amish stories just take it for granted one of the characters is the bad gossip and no one treats it as a bad thing. It was refreshing to see the ministers and the bishop actually take action here!

If you enjoy Amish fiction, I recommend A Springtime Heart.

I enjoy reading Marta Perry's Amish stories, and A Springtime Heart is no exception. She really captures Amish personalities well and I like how she alternates perspectives from Dorcas to Thomas. I hope there are more to come in this series of hers.

A Springtime Heart is a delightful return to Promise Glen, with occasional glimpses of the characters we grew to love in A Christmas Home and a sweet second chance at love.

Dorcas (whom you may remember as Sarah’s best friend if you read A Christmas Home) is the star of this 2nd installment of the series, and she’s easily likable and genuine-hearted. She’s more serious than Sarah, but being the teacher of Promise Glen’s Amish school doesn’t give her too much time or leeway for being otherwise. (Dorcas being the teacher does mean, however, that we get more adorable moments from the Raber twins!) Her budding romance with Thomas Fisher ended abruptly as teenagers, and with his return to Promise Glen, complicated emotions & regret-filled memories/secrets add even further layers to Dorcas’s character as well as Thomas’s. Just as I did in A Christmas Home, I loved the flaws & strengths of both Dorcas and Thomas, as well as the journeys that brought them to this point. They certainly aren’t perfect people but they’re authentic and realistic, allowing us to personally relate to them even though we ourselves aren’t Amish.

Bottom Line: A Springtime Heart is a breath of fresh air amid the uncertainty and upheaval of real life in our current world. Gently-drawn characters struggle with the same emotions & anxieties as we do and they celebrate the same victories, allowing us to embrace them as friends while we’re together in the pages. Moments of humor mingle with a sweet romance and a solid message, and you’ll close the book with a smile on your face and a lighter heart. This can easily be read as a standalone, if you haven’t already read A Christmas Home (but you’ll want to go back and read it too), and Perry’s writing is smooth and engaging. A great choice for the fans of the author and/or the genre.

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

A Springtime Heart by Marta Perry is the 2nd A Promise Glen Novel. It can be read as a standalone. I thought A Springtime Heart was well-written with realistic characters and a lovely setting. I enjoyed returning to Promise Glen, Pennsylvania. I was happy to see Sarah Yoder Raber from A Christmas Home in this story. We get a chance to see how she is doing since she married and became a mother to Noah Raber’s twin boys. I liked the characters in this story. I thought they were realistic with their own insecurities and foibles. There is humor sprinkled throughout mostly from the children’s antics. There are side stories in A Springtime Heart that add complexity and depth to the book. Dorcas’ sister-in-law, Betsy is a new mother living with her in-laws. She has a Martha Stewart type mother (who seems to do everything and does it well) which has caused Betsy’s insecurities. Someone is out to shut down the Orchard Hill Amish school and Dorcas wants to find a way to stop it. She loves teaching and does not want the community to lose its school. Gossip is spreading fast through their community. The latest tidbit could cost Dorcas her job and reputation. There is also a slowly blossoming romance if only one of the parties will stay in town. I enjoyed reading A Springtime Heart. It is a sweet and charming Amish story. I hope we get more books set in Promise Glen. A Springtime Heart is a pleasant Amish tale with growing gossip, shadowy secrets, blooming blossoms, required repairs, a thorny romance, and springtime zeal.

Marta Perry's books never disappoint, and "A Springtime Heart" is no exception. It's easy to see why Amish romance remains so a popular.

The school year is winding down, and for Teacher Dorcas, it can't end soon enough. It's very stressful, because some families want her local school to close, resulting in her students being sent to another school.

To add to the stress, Thomas Fisher is coming home. He saved her reputation during their Rumspringa days, and was sent away ad punishment. Now he's back, and they must redefine their relationship.

I enjoyed this book and would highly recommend this title to anyone who loves Amish fiction.

In the interest of full disclosure, I received a free digital copy of this title to review from Net Galley.

#ASpringtimeHeart#NetGalley

The second book in the Promise Glen series is a sweet story about love and forgiveness. When Thomas moves back after being sent away for a youthful mistake, will his family ever forgive and trust him? Dorcas has held her secret about her part of the situation and is still struggling with her decision. Also there's a lesson in gossiping that will need to be dealt with and it's interesting to see how the Amish address the problem. Readers will enjoy this story with it's engaging characters. Recommended.

I really loved Marta Perry's new book! I read it within 24 hours and plan to purchase it for our church library once it is released. The two main characters were well developed with prior histories which played into one another. The setting and minor characters made a credible impact on the history of those involved. Great book!