A Hope for Healing by author Jo Ann Brown is a Christian Amish novel. It is well written and easy to follow. It took me a bit to become engaged with the characters, but it did happen. The story of Rosemary Mishler is poignant. Her husband died, and she was mourning his passing. Gideon Wingard came to town to escape all of the matchmakers interfering in his life. To his surprise, he found just as many, if not more, in his new community. The story is full of emotional moments, twists, and life lessons. It will run through your mind long after you have finished it. I rated it a 4 out of 5 stars.
A copy was provided via Netgalley, but these opinions are my own.

I tried and I tried and I tried but no matter how many times I tried I was unable to care enough about the characters and the storyline to finish this book.

Thank you,for the opportunity to read an advanced copy.

A Hope for Healing is a delightful book to read. I was entertained with this story from the start. I am giving it four and a half stars.

A Hope for Healing is written by Jo Ann Brown. This is book four in the Secrets of Bliss Valley series. fter loving and losing the perfect husband, widow Rosemary Mishler can’t imagine ever marrying again. However, the community keeps trying to set her up with a new beau. Rosemary finds out that her husband was not all she thought he was when an English girl is left and it's proven to be her late husband's child.
Gideon Wingard arrives in town. He is hoping to get away from people trying to get him married - however he seems that Bliss Valley has other plans. Seeing their relationship develop was heartwarming. This is a story of second chances and forgiveness. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read a copy of this book -all thoughts are my own.

This book hooks you on the first page and doesn't let go. It's a heartwarming story that is full of emotions and will keep you turning the pages to see what happens next. I highly recommend this beautifully written book!
I received a complimentary copy from HARLEQUIN - Romance (U.S. & Canada), Love Inspired Trade via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

Both Rosemary and Braelynn needed healing in this heartfelt story. Secrets, child abuse and drug abuse are all brought to life when five year old Braelynn is left in Rosemary's kitchen. Rosemary, reeling from her husband's sudden death patiently wins Braelynn over with the help of Gideon, her tenant. Very emotional story about relationships. Recommended.

Rosemary just lost her husband and Gideon was on his way to Bliss Valley to find a place to start his own business. He just couldn't stay in his hometown because his family was simply trying to get him married.
He locates address and ends up it's a building on Rosemary's land . She decides to rent Gideon the building for 3 months to get his business established. and go from there. Gideon tries to help her then so much starts to happen. A VERY GOOD READ..

A Hope for Healing by Jo Ann Brown is a poignant and engaging story. I was immediately drawn into the book. I thought the story was well-written with realistic, friendly characters. I enjoyed getting to know Rosemary Mishler and Gideon Wingard. Both Rosemary and Gideon are trying to avoid the local matchmakers. Gideon knows his large, gregarious family means well. Rosemary is still grieving the loss of her husband and is not ready to marry again (if ever). When a little Englisch girl is left in Rosemary’s kitchen, Rosemary learns that her husband had secrets. I enjoyed the surprises in the story. It kept things interesting. Some of them are good and will warm your heart while others will astonish you. I like how Gideon and Rosemary kept getting thrown together. A Hope for Healing is the fourth book in Secrets of Bliss Valley series. It can be read as a standalone for those new to the series. I enjoyed the humor sprinkled throughout the story. A Hope for Healing has romance, forgiveness, family, new beginnings, a touch of mystery, and faith. We also get a glimpse of everyday Amish life. A Hope for Healing is a touching Amish tale with well-meaning matchmakers, a quiet child, a startling revelation, a cryptic past, beautiful leatherwork, and a cheerful future.

Nothing makes us so lonely as our secrets." –Paul Tournier

Rosemary Mishler lost her husband 4 months ago. By looking at her, her community sees that she is handling her grief well. Her husband was killed in accident and now they are unable to live out their dreams. When Gideon Wingard comes to the community and rents out the barn from Rosemary, her facade begins to slip. Gideon is leaving his family's community to start a life for himself and maybe a family without his family butting in. Gideon sees vulnerability in Rosemary that he becomes involved in her life especially when a 5 year old girl Braelynn is left in Rosemary's kitchen.

Both Rosemary and Gideon have the tendency to keep to themselves for different reasons, however, when they are brought together because of Braelynn and uncover secrets left by her dead husband. In keeping her own secrets, Rosemary heart is guarded and she must decide to have a future for herself and Braelynn if she will let those secrets go.

I really enjoyed their story and the power of secrets in relationships. Rosemary's relationship with others was rooted in secrets but it also carried shame which is a devastating combination. This combination destroys relationships with others and with God.

A special thank you to Harlequin and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review

Thank you HARLEQUIN - Romance (U.S. & Canada), , for allowing me to read JoAnn Brow’s upcoming book, A Hope for Healing. Release day is July 18, 2023.

This is the 4th book in Ms. Brown’s Secrets of Bliss Valley series, but since this is my first JoAnn Brown book, I had no problem reading it as a standalone book. I would definitely go back and read the others in this series.

Such a beautiful story told in such a special way that seems to be JoAnn Brown’s talent. It has just enough mystery and intrigue to keep you interested, so much so, that one can’t wait to read the next page.

The characters, Rosemary Mishler, Gideon Wingard, and a special little girl named, Braelynn, are so well described they become part of your family. They are realistic and are shown to have real emotion and feelings.

I love the setting of the small Amish town of Bliss Valley.

I would highly recommend this 5-star story.

All opinions are my own and I was not required to give a positive review.

New Discoveries, New Beginnings

Widow Rosemary Mishler discovers that her "perfect" husband may not have been so perfect after all.

Gideon Wingard discovers that matchmakers are a much smaller problem than getting sucked into the mystery surrounding his new landlady.

Little Braelynn discovers there is only one way to deal with her new situation, which she's going to make work for her, especially if it involves cookies.

As Rosemary and Gideon confront their new discoveries, it leads them to new beginnings, one of which is a special friendship that develops between them. In working together to find answers, they find themselves on a very bumpy road leading to even more discoveries that contribute yet another piece to the puzzle they are trying to put together. As they do this, Braelynn is in the background making her own discoveries that impact her relationship with Rosemary and others.

A Hope for Healing is a beautiful story of love, faith, forgiveness, and new beginnings. While that comes through in Rosemary and Gideon's story, it also comes through in the role that Braelynn plays. Their story will touch your heart making you smile at times, but also making you painfully sad at other times. It will also leave you with the reality of the message that no matter what our situation is, we can always count on God and His plan for us. In my humble opinion, that in itself makes this a definite must read.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. All comments and opinions are voluntary and completely my own.

Such an emotional Amish romance that pulls you in from page one. It will definitely take you on an emotional roller coaster ride of emotions with characters you will fall in love with. It will definitely leave you guessing as to what will happen next and I highly recommend this book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher for my honest review. All words and opinions are my own.

I absolutely loved this book. I have read others in this particular series, however it reads like a standalone (although you will want to check out the others as they are just as good). The characters were likable and relatable. Broken people can be found everywhere (aren’t we all a little bit broken) and I loved how the author led us through some of their healing. This is was not your typical Amish romance as there were a lot of twists and turns and mystery. The book held my interest and I am now hoping for more from this author and hopefully this Amish community.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

Naomi and Samuel’s story in A Hope for Healing by Jo Ann Brown, book four in the Secrets of Bliss Valley series, is an emotional, tug at your heart strings, sweet Amish romance; that pulled me in and didn't let go until I turned the last page. In this sweet, heartwarming story we witness Rosemary Mishler who lost her husband in a hunting accident; believing she will never marry again, as she felt that Eddie was the love of her life. Gideon Wingard moves to Bliss Valley to rent her shed to start his leather shop and with the intention of escaping matchmakers only to encounter more of the same in his new community. When a woman shows up in his shop and gives him a letter to give to Rosemary and tells him she left something in the kitchen for her and does not want it back, he gets curious of what it is. When he gives Rosemary the letter and they are shocked to find a little girl. When she reads the letter and finds out it was her late husband’s daughter, she realizes that Eddie was not perfect.

Ms. Brown wrote a wonderfully sweet, uplifting and moving story that included: a sweet romance, new beginnings, an abandoned child, forgiveness, and justice, along with every day Amish life. I loved watching the relationship flourish between the two characters and the unexpected but eventual love and acceptance of the child that was left behind. There are numerous surprises here, some will make you smile but others are hurtful and harmful. The updates from the previous books are wonderful, but know that this story can be read alone. This is a wonderful, heart wrenching read with interesting and caring characters. I highly recommend A Hope for Healing to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

A Hope for Healing is a well written and heart warming romance. I throughly enjoyed this book. My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance ebook. This is my unbiased review.

This is such an emotional story, it pulled me from the very beginning. My heart went out to Rosemary Mishler who is mourning the untimely death of her husband, a man she loved unconditionally and trusted completely. I liked Gideon Wingard who came to Bliss Valley with the intention of escaping matchmakers only to encounter more of the same in his new community.

What we think is perfect isn’t always the case, especially when you find a young child in your kitchen and that child is the daughter of your deceased husband. I loved watching the relationship flourish between the two characters and the unexpected but eventual love and acceptance of the child that was left behind.

This is such a wonderful, heart wrenching read with characters that I still think of long after finishing A Hope for Healing,
I received a copy from the publisher through Netgalley. Opinions are my own.

Rosemary thought that she had the perfect husband. But after his death she finds out that he very far from it. Thank goodness for her tenant Gideon who helps her navigate through this difficult time. Good story. HEA

This is my first Jo Ann Brown story, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I could hardly wait to find out what happened next. I often found myself reading this book when I should have been doing other things.

Feeling smothered by his well-meaning family, Gideon moves to a nearby town to start his own business. He rents a building from Rosemary whose husband of just a few months was killed while hunting. Rosemary has no intention of marrying again while she is still mourning her deceased husband, but a series of mysterious events and secrets end up bringing Rosemary and Gideon together.

This story is set in Amish country and paints a great picture of that type of life. The main characters in the story were very well-developed and likable. With lots of twists and turns, the story was interesting and very entertaining.

I enjoyed this story very much, and I would definitely recommend the book to anyone who likes to read Amish fiction. I will also be going back to read the other books in this series.

This book was provided to me courtesy of Harlequin through NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This read pulled me in and didn't let go until I finished the epilogue! A read that will tug at your heartstrings, and smile at the antics at the young one dropped on Rosemary's doorstop, well, actually kitchen. The journey to the kitchen is a story of its own, and it is so sad for such a little girl. Rosemary is reeling from sudden death of her husband when a young Amish man is at her door asking about renting a building.

Gideon is tired of his well meaning family, and he has lots of women in his home, his mom, two grandmothers, aunties and sisters, all who want to marry him off, he wants a breather from them and his Bishop.

There are so many surprises here, some not good, but others will make you smile, and warm you, there are updates from the previous books, but this can be read alone, but the other books are so good!

There is forgiveness, sweet romance, new beginnings, and in some ways retribution, along with every day Amish life!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Harlequin, and was not required to give a positive review.

Gideon travels away from his home town to rent a place to start his harness and leather working repair business. Rosemary, a young Amish widow rents it to him for a three month period.
A few days later, a young blond woman stops at Gideon's shop and tells him to give Rosemary a letter and a message about leaving something in her kitchen and she does not want it back.
Rosemary pulls up to her house and Gideon gives her the letter and the message, they both go in and find a 5 year old little girl in ragged clothes asking Rosemary if she were her Mommy now ?
Rosemary finds a picture of her former husband and a young woman in the paperwork and is startled because her husband had never told her he had a child, he was very secretive about his past.
You will have to read the story for yourself to find out what happens to Gideon, Rosemary and little Braelynn.