Engaging Amish novel

Never an Amish Bride is an engaging story of loss and relearning to live. Our heroine lost her fiance, our hero's brother, who, in turn, lost both the brother and family through an unsuccessful attempt to heal the sick brother. The plot is so very believable, with people unable to forgive, with people unable to feel part of their community, with people unable to feel part of their family. A universal message with a happy ending.

Thank you to the publisher who lent me an e-arc via Netgalley. This review is my own opinion; by the way, I stayed up late to see how the book ended! Definitely recommended.

Never an Amish Bride by Ophelia London was a heartwarming and uplifting book about the power of forgiveness and coming home. This was my first book by London and I truly enjoyed it. The story focused on Esther and Lucas. Esther is a young Amish woman whose fiance died shortly before their wedding. Lucas is his older brother, who left the Amish at sixteen to study medicine. Lucas blames himself for his brother's death and Esther is simply confused and upset by the death, even two years later. Esther has been struggling with her faith, while Lucas has been struggling with the choices he made. The two of them meet and discover a friendship that brings healing to them both. However, they will both have to find forgiveness before they can truly find happiness.
This book was really good. I found the characters to be engaging and well fleshed out. The problems they faced were very real, things we all have to deal with at some point in our lives.I will definitely be looking for some more books by London. If you enjoy a good story with a good heart and a lot of meaning, this one will most assuredly fit the bill. I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own. Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this opportunity.

Never an Amish Bride by Ophelia London is the first novel in the Honey Brook series. Honey Brook, Pennsylvania is a cozy town in Lancaster County. Gossip spreads quickly in this small Amish town. Esther Miller was to marry Jacob Brenneman two years ago, but he died a few weeks before their wedding day. After Jacob passed, no one would talk about him or how he died. Esther is struggling right now especially with her faith. Esther’s younger sister, Sarah is getting wed in November and she has roped Esther into planning the event as well as sewing the wedding dress. It is the last thing that Esther wishes to do. Lucas Brenneman left town when he was sixteen on a mission and he returned six months ago. He wonders about his family and if he has made the right choices. I thought Never an Amish Bride was well-written with developed main characters. The characters are realistic with their struggles involving family, faith, and tragedy. The romance is sweet and progresses at a gentle pace. I enjoyed the way they could talk to each other and their playful banter. There is humor in the story and light moments that I enjoyed. I love the three kids (baby pygmy goats) that were dressed in various costumes. I could just imagine them in Christmas sweaters. I loved the Anne of Green Gables references where Esther likens Lucas to Gilbert Blythe. Esther made some wonderful soap. I would not mind her clove soap myself. I like how the soap played into Esther and Lucas’ romance. I thought the author should have included a recipe at the end (or tips for making soap). Never an Amish Bride is a delightful Amish story and I wish that we did not have to wait for spring for The Amish Cowboy’s Homecoming. I appreciated the epilogue at the end. Never an Amish Bride is a charming Amish tale with soap bar battles, a wayward wagon, plush pygmy goats, wedding woes, soaring scents, a dress dilemma.

NEVER AN AMISH BRIDE is the first book in the Honey Brook series. While reading NEVER AN AMISH BRIDE I became emotionally invested in all of the characters. They are all flawed, real and lovable! Once I started reading, I was instantly hooked. I devoured every page and couldn’t wait to see what was going to happen next. This not so typical Amish story is filled with secrets, faith struggles, small town gossip, but also love, family, and second chances.

I quickly flew through NEVER AN AMISH BRIDE and when I finished I found myself wanting more. I loved all of the characters and found myself wanting to travel to Honey Brook. The tender moments in the story really pull at the readers heart strings. Esther Miller is struggling to accept her fiance’s death, her younger sister getting married, and her fiance’s brothers attention. Esther tries to get Lucas to open up about what happened to Jacob and Lucas is trying to protect Esther from learning the truth!

In NEVER AN AMISH BRIDE I loved Lucas and Esther, the primary characters, but also fell in love with all of the secondary characters as well. Every one of them has an important part to play in this heart warming story and even though I wanted to reach in and shake one or two of them every now and then, they all weaseled their way into my heart. My emotions were all over the place and I was even reaching for the tissues quite a few times. Lucas is hiding from something in the past and is afraid of being exposed at any moment. Will he learn to forgive himself and begin to live again?

I received a complimentary copy of this book from JustRead through Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.

This story was oh so good!! Lucas and Esther captured my heart right from the beginning and the more I learned as the story progressed, the more I cared about what happened to them.

These two had amazing chemistry between them, even at the very beginning, as they began to get reacquainted as friends. But there were so many things that seemed to stand between them, beginning with the fact that Lucas was no longer part of the Amish community of Honey Brook. The author did a great job of bringing everything together and offered a nice faith journey for the two main characters, as well.

I loved the way this story progressed and feel happy to have found a new author and a new series, as well.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

In “Never an Amish Bride,” Esther and Lucas develop romantic feelings for each other, although their commitment is tested. Trials await them as they try to find a common ground in which their relationship can survive and thrive.

After two years, Esther still mourns the loss of her fiancé, finding it difficult to move on to another relationship. She feels sorrow as others in her own family and community marry and begin families. Esther stays busy with her soap-making business, which gains immense popularity with non-Amish customers.

Lucas left the Amish 10 years ago to study medicine in the Englisch world. However, he returns to his community and seeks to reunite with his family. Meeting Esther just complicates things.
Themes of grief, family ties, long held secrets, questions of faith, grave illness, and moving beyond the past are the themes that support the action in this novel. The characters are flawed and realistic, grappling with lifestyle, family, faith, and community issues. Readers will find this a clean, faith-based novel, with no strong language or descriptions of sex or violence.

I received this novel from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

Rating 4.5/5*
I am so happy to discover this is the first book in a new series – I can’t wait to read more about the folks who live in the delightful Amish community of Honey Brook, a cozy town in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. One of those residents is Esther Miller, who is currently struggling with her faith and her place in the community after the untimely death of her fiancé just weeks before they were to be married. When she sees Jacob’s older brother, Lucas Brenneman, she can’t resist trying to discover more about what happened to Jacob whilst he was away with Lucas.

Lucas is a physician’s assistant and, although he was brought up in the Amish community, he has never been baptized and feels his family have rejected him as they never replied to his letters for years. He is now living more like the Englisch with cable television, driving a car, having a mobile phone, etc. However, he doesn’t know just how much life has changed for the Amish community and he welcomes the opportunity to hear what has happened to his parents and siblings whilst he has been away whilst talking to Esther.

As these two seem fated to keep meeting, their attraction to each other grows. It is fantastic to read how their interactions impact on each other’s faith, dreams and lives. It is a lovely, heartwarming story of family, dreams, faith and love that I can’t recommend highly enough. Beautifully written, it is a moving, easy read to escape into and I look forward to reading more in this series and by this author in future.

I requested and was gifted a copy of this lovely book via NetGalley and this is my honest review after choosing to read it and thoroughly enjoying doing so.

Ever heard the saying once you read one you have read them all? Well, that is what my husband told me when he saw that I was reading an Amish book. He said, “How many differences can you see in the Amish, isn’t the point that the Amish are plain, as in nothing ever happens with them?”. I dropped my book. Case in point, Never an Amish Bride by Ophelia London.

This book is the first in a series and I loved the introduction to all the characters. This Never an Amish Bride is different and intriguing. I loved Ophelia London’ s character variations, their emotions were realistic and not over-dramatized, and the conflicts were believable. Both Lucas and Esther were engaging characters that I loved reading about. Ophelia London engaged my emotions in this book and appealed to my heart.

The main themes of this book are Faith, Trust, and Forgiveness. Ophelia London did a great job of showing those themes through the eyes of her characters. I particularly liked how Lucas handled the trials he went through; I wish I could handle situations as well as him.

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars for the creative characters, the interesting storyline, and for making me look forward to the next book in the series.

*I volunteered to read this book in return for my honest feedback. The thoughts and opinions expressed within are my own.

This story was cute and does get to the heart of the matter for sure. I deals with loss and finding yourself. With both Lucas and Esther each dealing with where they belong. I did find Esther a little whinny and I felt like Lucas had a big heart and he seemed to really want what was best for his people. I did feel like in some parts the book dragged a little. I did enjoy that the author kept the book a good clean read and is suitable for all. I enjoyed both Esther and Lucas Mom's they truly just shined in this book. If you are looking for a clean read with some fun characters check this book out.

Never an Amish Bride by Ophelia London is an Amish book that explores various topics woven with human reality despite it being fictional.


I am so happy whenever I pick up a Christian Fiction Amish Book. I get ready for an adventure within the pages.


The book cover is so beautiful and the title will make you curious.


Themes of family,community support, sumptuous meals, forgiveness and many more were navigated in this book.


I like Esther Miller and Lucas Brenneman. I was always watching out for their scenes while reading the book.


I love the conversation between Esther and her mamm. Her mother said and I quote “All things are to be done for the praise of Gott. Everything in life is to worship Him”. I love a healthy mother to daughter relationship and Esther and her mother had it.


The Amish community here are quite religious, I must say. Humility is emphasized greatly.


I admire the fact that the Amish brides in this story sew their own wedding dresses by themselves. That’s something I never thought I could do by myself on my own without modern gadgets despite not being an Amish woman.


There are lessons to glean from this story. I enjoyed this book while eating toasted bread on a warm day. The food mentioned in the book made me grab my toaster and made some toasts and a homemade juice and I imagined I was living in an Amish community.


Esther is a good soap maker. I admire the names of the fragrances she used in making her soap. I appreciate her industrious spirit.


Lucas and Esther both have stories you may need to discover in this book.
I laughed at Esther and Lucas love for little goats (kids).

This is a good Christian fiction book with themes pointing to God.

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

Ester Miller is nursing a broken heart that was caused by a tragedy! She is trying to find her way in a world that she no longer feels part of and she doesn't understand why her Jacob is gone, never to return. Enter Lucas Brennamen... A handsome Physician's Assistant that is from her past. Lucas is struggling with knowing who he is and the man God would have him be as well as some resentment and bitterness. The two find themselves trying to help one another but it all ends up that they learn from one another as well!

This is a sweet story of love, acceptance, and forgiveness. The characters are wonderfully written and the author's words pull you into each characters life and situations. A great book to read over and over again. The book is full of self acceptance and relying on The Lord and trusting His plan. Faith steps in and you can see God working in each situation! Love this book! A must read! I WILL be reading again!

I received a copy of the book from the publisher for my honest opinion.

What I Loved:
Can I give a book more than 5 stars? I loved every word of this story. The two main characters were adorable together, and I loved their relationship growth.

My Synopsis:
Esther Miller lost her fiance, Jacob, two years ago, and she’s still mourning him. Her wedding dress still hangs in her closet, and her heart is not open to others. She spends her days helping her mother teach the children, and making soap to sell in an extended family member’s store.

Visiting town, Esther bumps into Lucas Brenneman, her fiance’s older brother. Lucas went on his Rumspringa ten years ago and never returned. Now it seems he is back in Honey Brook and is working as a Physician’s Assistant. Esther immediately has questions for him. He might hold the answers she has been looking for to be able to move on from the loss of Jacob.

One meeting turns into two, then three, as they find an unlikely friendship. They both have internal struggles that they are trying to resolve and find solace in each other’s conversation and company.

Their relationship, however, would not be taken well within the Amish community, as Lucas is not part of the community any longer. Guilt and doubt overtake Esther as she tries to figure out where this “platonic” friendship could be headed.

How I Felt:
It has been quite a while since I have read an Amish fiction book, and I’m now kicking myself for falling away from this genre for so long! This was a beautiful, slow-burn romance filled with Christian themes, the strength of family, and some fabulously humorous scenes.

The main characters were so excellently written. Esther, is beautiful inside and out. She is struggling with the loss of Jacob and also starting to doubt her faith. I really enjoyed the ups and downs she goes through as she experiences pieces of an Englisher’s life. Lucas has some secrets of his own that he is reluctant to share, but is also searching for where he fits in the world. I loved that he had been away from the Amish community for 10 years, but still held onto so many parts of that life, even if he didn’t realize it.

The romance was a slow-burn, and it was perfect. I loved how Esther and Lucas had these inside jokes and playful banter. The soap that Esther makes plays into their relationship, and I thought that was an interesting addition. Between her throwing soap bars at him 😂 and her scheduled deliveries so that she can see Lucas, it all just worked really well with the story.

Overall, I absolutely loved this book from start to finish. With a beautiful plot and lovely character growth, this book made me laugh and cry, and I adored it.

To Read or Not To Read:
I would recommend Never an Amish Bride to readers that enjoy Amish fiction or a clean romance!

I was provided a gifted copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.

My full review of this book will post to my blog on 6/18/20. All of my reviews can be found at https://shejustlovesbooks.com/all-book-reviews/

This book felt so real, whether Amish or Englisch, could be any family. I even had a teacher who never married, she had lost her fiancée, so very sad.
The author gives us a young man who is a Physician’s Assistant, and has a lot of compassion for his fellow man, and we see him going the extra mile. Now he is working in a town he left ten years ago, and struggling to reunite and forgive his family.
Esther and Lucas seem so perfect for each other, but there is a big obstacle between them, she is baptized in her faith, and although he is not shunned, he is an outcast, or so he thinks.
Follow these two hurting individuals as they try and fight their attraction, and many hurdles that are placed in their way.
I also thank the author for the Epilogue, I love looking into the future!

I received this book through Net Galley and Entangled Publishing, and was not required to give a positive review.

Never an Amish Bride is well written inspirational romance. Great plot with well crafted characters. A new author to me and I liked her style of writing. I received an arc from Netgalley and the publisher and this is my unbiased review.

After two years, Esther is still mourning the death of Jacob, her betrothed. The book is filled with happenstance meetings between Esther and Lucas, Jacob’s brother. Lucas has returned home after ten years away from his Amish upbringing. Esther in her struggle to let her feelings for Jacob go, resisted those emotions for Lucas. Very predictably, however, Esther and Lucas fall in love.

This story is written at a simplistic level that should probably be read by a young adult audience. Esther is twenty-three, and Lucas is twenty-six, a college graduate. Much of it depicts these two characters as ultra naïve and is very non-believable. (The three Amish women that I’ve known are anything but naïve and are, rather, very capable, sensible, and strong.) For example, the lengthy chapter/s regarding Esther going head over heels excited about kid goats is extreme and anything but believable.

There is too much remembering going on. “Remember the time … “ or “Remember when ...” and “I remember …” are scattered abundantly throughout the book. That might be because there’s very little story happening and those rememberings are used for filler.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and honestly review Never an Amish Bride. So sorry; I wish my review were more favorable.

Love books regarding the Amish community. Poor Esther just wants more information on Jacob and why does Lucas not want her to find out the reason

#NeverAnAmishBride#HerBalist
As the story opens Ester Miller is deAling with the death of her fiance Jacob. She is struggling with her faith as her younger sister is getting married. Lucas Brenneman who has come back to town who left to become a physician assistant and has not joined the church. He is struggling with his faith,his past, and fear of rejection from his family. Ester tries to get information about Jacob, and Lucas is trying to keep Esther at a distance. As they become close they try to move forward with their lives

Such a sweet story of heartbreak, redemption and finding our place in the mist of it all. The characters are well developed and relatable. Esters internal struggle of wanting to do right but also be true to herself was a story anyone reading can identify with. This book was a lovely journey from start to finish.

Of all the Amish novels I have read, this most-definitely ranks up there as one of the best!!! This is my first Ophelia London book and trust me, I will be looking for more.

The character development is spot-on! The sweetness of the story mixed with the Englisher vs Amish love triangle is perfect! I literally didn’t want to put this book down! I wish I could give it TEN stars!

So thankful I could preview it and I look forward to reading more!!