Member Reviews
What a delightful read! I am still laughing at the antics the two sisters pulled during this novel.
The book focuses on the trials and tribulations of love Naomi has experienced but the true winners are the sweet elderly sisters, Esther and Lizzie, that Naomi works for at the sisters' inn. They are a hoot. I absolutely adore how Wiseman made them so real. Yes, they are Amish and believe in turning the other cheek and being mild but we all know that sometimes you just have to express yourself. Lizzie will have you rolling on the floor laughing when she spars with Grumpy Gus who in turn thinks she is the grumpy one. Plus, her teeth debacles!
Gus, a tenant on the sisters' property, shows his tender side with Esther during her medical scare. I really hope we get to learn more about him in future books. I don't think he wants to be as grumpy as he appears.
This is a must-read for Amish fiction/romance fans. You will want to gobble it up as quick as the Thanksgiving turkey. A clean read that will leave you smiling and holding your tummy from the laughing.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, Zondervan, through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.
Oh my goodness. I can already tell this is going to be a wonderful series and I can’t wait for book two!
Author Beth Wiseman writes a story that will keep you laughing and will tug at your heart strings. It might even get your ire up, as it did with me at times. But I read it as quickly as I could, partly to see what sisters Esther and Lizzie would do next. Throw in a rapscallion for a neighbor as well as an errant boyfriend and you have a recipe for trouble.
If you enjoy Amish fiction then I highly recommend this book. Full of hope, faith, and humor I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.
Once again, Beth Wiseman has hit one out of the park!! We follow Naomi Byler and her vow to never love again....well, at least she trys, after her betrothed , Thomas, has called off their engagement. This act of betrayal was so devastating to Naomi, that she carries the pain long after Thomas has started dating another. But, life must go on and Naomi fills her days at the Peony Inn, as the chef and girl of all trades. She shares her days with the Zook sisters....Esther and Lizzie....who are like surrogate grandmothers....and we all know, just how loving and intrusive grandmothers can be!!
Enter Amos Lantz and his mother, to the Inn, to attend a wedding, in the area. Amos and Naomi find that they have much more in common than just their Amish faith. They have both sworn off of romance and vow to be each other's "port in the storm" of the wedding festivities.
The days of Amos and Naomi are soothing balm to each other's torn heart. However, the unexpected happens and Thomas, the wayward fiance, returns home and again turns his sights on Naomi.
Sit back, get a warm drink, a nice candle and a soft blanket and enjoy the journey, to see which direction Naomi will go. Excellent read with unexpected turns and laughs along the way!!
Sweet and thoughtful
Another sweet and thoughtful story from Beth Wiseman that you will certainly enjoy. I wonder whether the selection of the release day is deliberate; I certainly need to stay calm and read a good book!
Thank you to the publisher who lent me a time limited e-arc via netgalley. This review is optional and my own opinion.
A lovely story, with hope, grief, and love oozing out of each page!
Great characters that are clearly defined and likeable.
My one gripe is Lizzie's teeth! 47 references to false teeth which I found totally unnecessary and irrelevant to the story. They weren't even funny scenes in my opinion!
This was a lovely sweet Amish book. It is the first in a new series called The Amish Inn Novels. I, for sure, will be continuing with this series. It is really good. The storyline ran smoothly and simply and kind of made me feel as though this was "real life" Amish. It felt comfortable and real. Sometimes I found myself wanting to laugh a bit at the characters and yet there are serious moments. I love Lizzie and her "teeth". I love how the ladies tried to match make and meddle into the lives of Naomi and Amos. There are a few twists as things are in real life as well.
I love the Bed and Breakfast theme and the humor and love that are shown throughout. A good book! Definitely will be watching for the next book of this series!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and Zondervan Publishing. All thoughts are my own.
I think this has to be my favorite story of all time from this author. The emotions can be felt throughout the book and love is definitely in the air. Oh how I loved to reconnect with Lizzie and Esther again. These two sisters are quite remarkable. They have the biggest hearts and so want to help Naomi find love again. I laughed at their shenanigans which gave the story a feel of happiness. The love they have for Naomi is evident and even tell her they think of her as their granddaughter. I want to be part of their family and be surrounded by women like Esther and Lizzie.
Naomi is such a sweet person which upset me knowing someone broke her heart. Naomi does her job everyday at the inn but you can see sadness on her face. It was nice to see how Esther and Lizzie encouraged Naomi not to give up on love. I couldn’t wait to see what was in store for Naomi.
Amos is at the inn with his mother for a wedding but could it be that God brought him there for another reason? But there is a glance, a moment in time that Amos and Naomi’s eyes meet. That one glance had me squealing with glee. Their interest in painting helps them start to become friends. I loved reading how they would meet and paint together. The saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words,” kept coming to my mind as they shared their art with each other. The loneliness, hurt and pain was expressed by both and with it brought a sense of comfort. A painting can tell so much about a person and makes them vulnerable. That is exactly why I love this author so much. She is able to write a story where emotions pop off the pages and penetrate your heart.
I have to mention Grumpy Old Gus. The poor man is so lonely that he hides behind his anger so no one will know how much he wants to be accepted. His story filled me with tears and I so wanted him to turn to God to heal his heart. It was nice to see Esther reach out to him and I was very intrigued with their unlikely friendship. Gus is someone I hope to read more about. Sometimes love is right there in front of you and you don’t even realize it. I have hopes that we will hear more about Gus and a certain woman in an upcoming book.
The book is a lovely look at forgiveness, love, healing broken hearts and finding a way to move past hurt. The faith element in the story is just the right amount to show that God always has a plan for us. He wants to heal our hearts and wipe away our tears. He loves us unconditionally and wants a relationship with each of us. I found these beautiful words in the story and will end my review with it.
“Sometimes a fresh start is the best way to move forward. And sometimes fixing what is broken is worth it.”
I received a copy of this book from the author and Zondervan. The review is my own opinion.
I was given this book to read on NetGalley and also because I am an ARC reader for Beth Wiseman. I found the messages and story line both enjoyable and uplifting.
We are introduced to Naomi Byler who is working for two woman who have become her surrogate grandmothers. She is trying to heal from a broken heart as her fiance Thomas suddenly up and leaves town without a word of why the relationship is off. Naomi runs a B&B for the two sisters and throws herself into her work. When a woman and her son come for a wedding they stay at the Peony Inn and Naomi finds herself drawn to Amos.
Amos on the other hand is healing from a broken heart as his fiance died before the wedding. Neither of these characters are in a place where they are wanting a relationship with anyone. BUT, God does not always work in our timeline but his own. The feelings between the two grow and they begin to realize that they do care for each other....
Then, like so many things in life a situation happens that may destroy their hope of ever having a happy life together. During the whole story we laugh, cry and try to think of ways that the sisters can bring these two together. There are also many characters who weave their lives in and out of Naomi's life.
Beth's stories are so deep in lessons that we all can learn. Do we hold on to the past and hope that things might work out or do we leave the past behind so that we can move into a future with a better outlook for us. The saying is "when God closes a door he opens a window" but are we strong enough to let the good come through and follow his lead.
This is a truly remarkable story and one that everyone should read.
🌿🌺🌿The story is very simple yet outstanding. The characters and their narration is so well portrayed that even simple incidences are told beautifully and effortlessly.
I thank @netgalley, @zondervan and @bethwisemanauthor for providing me advance copy ❤
🌿🌺🌿This is an Amish book. Esther is matured and sensible woman and her sister Lizzie is too vocal and fiesty. Both sisters own the Bed&Breakfast Inn and share a great bond with each other despite their contrast nature and have good banter always.
🌿🌺🌿Naomi just being victim of heart break with Thomas finds solace in those sisters as family and soon empathises their guest Amos after knowing his fiancée died earlier due to cancer. She enjoys his acquaintance since she got to know he is not looking for any suitable match just like her feeling no pressure of hooking up.
🌿🌺🌿Gus is an old grumpy soul staying next door cottage who cribs all the time and hates Lizzie. He gradually becomes likable showing mild affection in his behaviour because of Esther who is very patient & graceful.
🌿🌺🌿In retrospect the story was perfect. There are feel good factors-painting, love, humour, hesitation, portrayal of Amish & Christian cultures, hopes and retrieval in alluring and honest writing style. The picture of love is indeed beautiful 🖼 ❤
I enjoyed being lost in this book, time had no meaning, I needed answers.
We are at the Peony Inn run by widowed sisters, Esther and Lizzie, and a young woman they have taken under their wing and made a part of their family, Naomi.
Enter guests at the Inn, and our widowed sisters radar goes up and the start match making. Now Naomi is nursing a broken heart, she was so close to being married when, well, and then Amos comes with his heart in shreds, no he wasn't left at the altar, his finance died.
If the sister's have their way these two will forge a relationship but, the wayward groom returns.
There is also Grumpy Gus, and he does use colorful language, but I'm looking forward to learning more about him in this new series.
You don't want to miss this series, I can't wait for the next book!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Zondervan and was not required to give a positive review.
I loved this story! Such a sweet love story that evolves over trials and situations. There were times I also found myself laughing out loud! You continue to wonder how it will end and my even find yourself going back to the sweet spots to re-read them! ❤️❤️❤️
A sweet, clean story of Naomi Byler, who meets Amos Lantz, and both of them begin a friendship as brokenhearted people with sad stories to tell. Naomi was engaged to Thomas, who left her and their Amish community, without looking back. Naomi was of course devastated. Amos had been engaged to Sarah, but she had cancer and died. So neither one was looking for a romantic relationship, which made their friendship grow easily.and quickly. Then Thomas returns, adding confusion to the mix. Naomi takes him back for a while, but she can't find a way to trust him again. The two ladies she works for are not related to her, but they love her like a granddaughter, and they get mixed into the relationship between Naomi and Amos, which causes some humorous situations. Great book!
Now, this book was all shades of amazing. Some parts will make you cry, others will make you laugh so much your cheeks will hurt.
The sisters! Esther and Lizzie! My God! These women were just so lovely. I loved their heart! Esther was the quiet, sensible one, Lizzie, the outgoing, and fiesty one. They both complemented each other. I loved the beautiful work they did with their mother's house, providing hospitality and a place of love and rest for others. They had the good of everyone they met at heart and that endeared them to my heart.
Naomi and Amos! Thier broken hearts could be felt from the pages of the book and it was that same that brought them together. I admired the gentleman Amos was. I loved the place and role Naomi filled in the hearts and lives of everyone around her and her courage to move forward to the beautiful things God had for her.
Gus! Now, this character was a piece of wor!. His story wasn't told in full but I was sad for the man he had become. Knowing that it was some crude life experience that made him into who he became. I greatly admired Esther's grace with him. In so many ways she illustrated how to live with and treat difficult people with grace and love.
This story has found a place in my heart. I loved the way the lives of the characters was interwoven together. I loved the grace, love, redemption and second chances I read about in the book.
The Author did a fantastic job.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and this is my honest opinion.
I love a B&B setting, and this story had so much emotion packed into the daily routine of the inn. I think having the innkeepers be parent figures without really being parents was a wise choice - the women could be just nosy enough, meddle just enough, and opine just enough when it came to a young woman who they loved but who was also a capable adult herself! I also enjoyed all the cooking and inn-prepping. So fun.
A Picture of Love by Beth Wiseman.
Beth Wiseman has done it again! I have read A Beautiful Arrangement by Beth and I didn’t hesitate to request for another of her newest book from Zondervan through NetGalley.
Esther and Lizzie are such two dears!
Naomi and Amos, two characters who gave up on love. Their stories were so emotional and the book had the power for you to be patient while you read and dig deeper into the plot.
Another favourite genre of mine is the Amish Christian Fiction genre. I just don’t know how to turn the other side whenever I see an Amish novel.
The themes in this book are so educating.
I won’t stop emphasising on the Amish food. I love how much preparation goes towards a meal whether it is simple or for large gatherings.
If I ever go to an Amish community, the first thing I will order is an Apple pie. I have noticed how common it is in my Amish novels.
I love the book. I highly recommend it for lovers of second chances.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Zondervan through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are mine.
An Amish woman who had her heart broken and an Amish man who lost his wife find a connection through a shared love of painting. Naomi meets Amos when he comes to stay at the inn she works at while reluctantly attending a wedding she is also reluctantly attending. They become friendly when they discover they both love to paint, and plan to be each other's "out" at the wedding if things get to be too much. Naomi's employers, sister Esther and LIzzie see a chance at romance and are determined to put the pair together, but what will happen when Naomi's ex shows back up wanting a second chance? This is a warm story of romance and second chances with some great characters that fans of the genre will love..
I am Beth Wiseman fan from way back. I love a good Amish novel and was excited.to find this new series. I loved the characters and the setting. The B&B is a charming and I would love to spend a night there. The story is heartwarming and charming. I am looking forward the more books in the series. I recommend this book.
This was a great book to read. I enjoyed how both Amos and Naomi used painting as a start to their friendship. The characters of Lizzie, Esther and Gus were super memorable as well. Definitely a great read!
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc!
A delightful new series by the author! I can’t wait to read the future books.
We are introduced to Esther and Lizzie, elderly sisters who run The Peony Inn. Their niece, Naomi, who they have “adopted” lives with them, doing the cooking for the inn. We also meet the grumpy man, “Grumpy” Gus, who lives on the property, and Thomas, Naomi’s former fiancé, who canceled their engagement and left town.
Guests who visit the inn for a wedding, Amos Lantz and his mother, play a big part in this book. Amos lost his fiancé to cancer and really had no desire to attend a wedding, as he is still nursing a broken heart. He and Naomi share the stories of their broken hearts and learn they have a common love of painting. They both have vowed to never become involved in another relationship and feel they can become friends without worrying about it developing into anything more.
Fun reading with many fun interactions, along with heart-wrenching interactions between all these different characters makes for very enjoyable reading that I didn’t want to put down until I had completely finished the book.
I highly recommend this book to all. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Zondervan through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
A fun and easy read. Both Naomi and Amos have had tragic romance pasts, and swore they would not love again. Famous last words. With the help of widowed sisters, who can't help playing matchmakers, the result is inevitable. Really enjoyed this one, and had a hard time putting it down. Would highly recommend this author and book.