Amish romance with serious overtones

I think that Suzanne Woods Fisher is my favourite author of the Amish genre. I have read many of her books, including the first two books in this series. I found Hopefully Ever After to be one of her best; very interesting, complex characters and worthwhile messages for us all. How many times have YOU jumped to conclusions about someone because their background was less than perfect??? How many times have YOU felt like alienating someone with a different background? How many days have you felt discouraged because someone disrespects you because of your heritage, your parents' actions, your own foibles? This book is so much deeper than a mere "Amish romance". It's gonna make you think, and hopefully, become the better person. I highly recommend it!!

Thank you to the publisher who lent me a time-constrained e-arc via Netgalley. This review is optional and my own opinion.

Sixteen-year-old Eden Hale is tired of being judged by the actions of her mother. With her mother in prison and her guardian cousin going on a trip, Eden goes to stay with her Amish cousin Yvonne and her husband Abraham. Sixteen-year-old Samuel Byler wants to see and know more about the world outside his Amish community, but his strict parents aren't allowing him his rumspringa. Samuel volunteers to give Eden riding lessons, but his parents are concerned about her outside influence. I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher. This is my honest and voluntarily given review. I love Eden who already has a deep faith and embraces almost everything about her new home. The relationship that blooms between Eden and Samuel is sweet and realistic. This book delves naturally into some deeper subjects such as death, rebellion, and forgiveness. I also love that Yvonne plays a role in all the books in the series so far. This book can definitely be enjoyed as a standalone, but is even better as part of the series. My only quibble is that part of the ending wrap-up is smoother than realistic, but I still love the story and enjoy the happy ending.

3.5 Stars

Hopefully Ever After is a sweet romance and coming-of-age story by a popular author of Amish fiction, Beth Wiseman.

Hopefully Ever After is #3 is the Amish Bookstore Series. Sixteen-year-old Eden has a rough life and is sent to rural Indiana to live with an Amish cousin she’s never met. This cousin happens to be Yvonne whom we have met in books 1 and 2 of the series. Eden meets Samuel in this coming-of-age story.

Although the two main characters are teenagers, there is an abundance of family drama and community involvement. Eden experiences love and acceptance from Yvonne and Abraham, and Samuel (Eden’s love interest) finds his own way into a healthy relationship with his strict and controlling parents and his religion.

A significant theme of this story involves two teenagers reaching for their independence and finding their voices. Other themes include family dynamics, community support, choosing or not choosing your parents’ religion, faith, second chances, trust, and sweet (closed door) romance.

I recommend Hopefully Ever After (and the series) for fans of Beth Wiseman, for readers who appreciate Amish fiction and rural settings, and for those who enjoy coming-of-age, family dynamics, and sweet romance. Of the three books in the series, Hopefully Ever After deep dives into Amish religious beliefs more than the others. My favorite of the series is book #1.

Thanks #NetGalley @Zandervan for a complimentary e ARC of #HopefullyEverAfter upon my request. All opinions are my own.

Not wanting her past to define her, sixteen year old Eden Hale moves to Indiana with an Amish cousin that she has never met. Out from the scrutiny, Eden finally feels free to explore who she truly is and her new found faith. Samuel Byler is in his running around time. However, with strict parents keeping track, he longs to try out new things in the world. When a chance meeting between Eden and Samuel strikes up a friendship, will Samuel and Eden find common ground despite coming from different pasts? I love how this is part of a series but can be read as a standalone. This is a book about finding oneself and our path in this world. It is about not allowing our pasts to define our futures. I received a copy through Netgalley. A review was not required.

Being sixteen years old certainly takes its toll on both Eden and Samuel, the former 'English' and the latter, 'Amish,' as they navigate their respective life challenges. Yet, meeting each other was cataclysmic, turning this into a wonderfully clean, circumspect romance.
Several of the Amish ways were cleverely detailed in this third book of the Amish Bookstore Series. The reader becomes re-acquainted with Yvonne, Abraham, Jake, Eva; oh, and the bookstore business.

Beth Wiseman creates lovely narrative eliciting a whole range of emotions from laughter to tears. She also incorporates belief in God and faith in Jesus Christ for salvation, which I very much appreciate and sanction. All-in-all, a hearty, wholesome read. Readers will find a helpful glossary of Pennsylvania Dutch words at the outset of the book. Thankfully.

A 5-Star rating from me.

~Eunice C., Reviewer/Blogger~

April 2023

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. Honest opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Hopefully Ever After by Beth Wiseman, book three in the Amish Bookstore series, meshes the English world and the Amish world together; showing the contrast between living in faith and living in the world. We meet some of the characters from previous books, but this could still be read as a stand-alone book.

Eden Hale, a 16-year-old English young girl who has lived a very hard life, is temporarily staying with her older Amish cousin, Yvonne Wilson, in Indiana Amish country. Previously troubled, she loves the peace she has found there and her friendship with Yvonne’s nephew-in-law, Samuel. Their lives are so different. Samuel is Amish, bt wants to learn more about the English life, but his parents are very protective and do not want him be exposed to the English life or to be around Eden; let alone be allowed to go on a Rumspringa. Because of this, Samuel is considering leaving the Amish community. Disobeying his parents, Samuel and Eden grow closer together by the day. She’s only there for a month, but they hope to bridge the gaps in culture for a hopefully ever after.

Ms. Wiseman wrote a story is about young love, forgiveness, faith and hope. The emphasis on how the English struggle in their beliefs as well as how the Amish struggle with their faith makes for an interesting read. There are strong characters and plot. Continuity is maintained with the series. Religious themes of hope, faith, forgiveness, and love are throughout. I highly recommend Hopefully Ever After to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

This is a beautifully written story that is full of hope, faith, forgiveness and letting God show you the way. Once I started reading this book I couldn't put it down. I loved it and highly recommend this book and the entire series to anyone who enjoys Christian fiction.
I received a complimentary copy from Zondervan Fiction via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

A beautifully well written coming of age Amish novel. A good quick read. My thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance ebook. This is my unbiased review.

Hopefully Ever After by Beth Wiseman is the third An Amish Bookstore Novel. It can be read as a standalone, but I recommend reading the series in order. It allows you to get the full experience. I thought Hopefully Ever After was well-written with realistic, developed characters. I enjoyed getting to know Eden Hale. She is a special young lady who will touch your heart. The author created wonderful characters for this story. I like that we get to catch up with the characters from The Bookseller’s Promise and The Story of Love. I was glad that we got to spend more time in the bookstore. Eden is fascinated by the idea that coins may be hidden inside the bookshop. Eden meets Samuel Byler who wants to experience the Englisch world and is struggling with his faith. Samuel’s parents are strict. They do not want their children to leave the Amish faith. However, their tight hold may drive Samuel away. I like that we get to see that the Amish struggle with their beliefs as do their Englisch counterparts. We also see that Amish parents are just like Englisch parents. They want to keep their children safe and nearby. We get to see that people make assumptions about a person based on their past and rumors. In order to truly know an individual, you need to spend time with them. A person can change and overcome their past if they remember to keep God at the center of our lives. Hopefully Ever After is a story with hope, faith, forgiveness, redemption, family, and young love. I loved the ending. I am glad we got to spend more time with Yvonne and Abraham (such a sweet couple). Hopefully Ever After is an expressive story with a visiting teen, a restrictive rumspringa, a wayfaring aunt, strict parents, finding forgiveness, and God’s grace.

This story was quite a bit different than other Amish books I have read. I loved it. All the different emotions going on between Eden and Samuel as teenagers from completely different backgrounds. Eden with a mother in jail who is a drug addict and Samuel is Amish. I loved how it all came together and really did not end like I thought it would, just better. I was provided a copy by Netgalley and the opinions are mine.

This is a Clean Amish Romance, and This is the third book in the Amish Bookstore series. I have read the first two books in this series before picking up this book. I do think you can read this book as a standalone without problems. I really fell in love with all the characters in this book. Eden's character touched my heart so much. I love the cute and sweet romance in this book, but there was so much more than that in this book. The ending I loved so much, and those two teenagers won my heart. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Zondervan) or author (Beth Wiseman) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that. This book is scheduled to be released on April 18-2023.

Beth Wiseman is one of my absolute favorite Authors and let me tell you she did not disappoint! Hopefully Ever After is a sweet, wonderfully written heartwarming romance. Full of faith and love.
Hopefully Ever after is book 3 in the Amish Bookstore series. If you have not read the previous 2 books in the series, The bookseller’s Promise and The Story of Love…Pick them up! All 3 are wonderful!
Hopefully Ever After is an easy read, well-paced, thoughtfully written and one that you won’t want to put down. Pick this one up on release day, you won’t be disappointed.
Rating: 5 Stars
Release Date: April 18, 2023
I received complimentary ARC copy of this story from its publisher and author (Thank you!! I loved being a part of this book) via NetGalley . This review is my honest opinion, I was in no way required to give a positive review.

What a tug on your emotions this read is! This is the story of a sixteen year old Eden, a young girl who has mostly brought herself up, and seen things she never should had as her Mom abused drugs.

Can you imagine the peace that came over this teenage as she is about to spend a month in Indiana Amish Country, away from the city, she loves the calmness she feels. Then enter a spark of romance, only Samuel is thinking of jumping the fence, or leaving his community and seeing the world.

Wow! These are teenagers, so much on their shoulders, and we wonder how this is all going to turn out! The author gives us family, so important for one who has been lacking it most of her life, young sweet romance, a mystery, and the need for forgiveness,

I loved how the this story all wove together, and I always enjoy an epilogue!

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

As someone who has pretty much been a lifelong fan of Amish fiction, I honestly cannot believe that this was my first experience reading one of Beth Wiseman's wonderful full length novels. The only experience I'd had with her writing prior to this was reading some of the novella collections where she'd contributed a story. I was definitely in for a treat with this one, and I appreciated the fact that while this is the third title in her The Amish Bookstore series, it could be read as a stand alone without feeling like I was missing out on too much of the backstory.

Hopefully Ever After is a beautiful story that focuses around redemption, God's grace, and family and friendships. Readers are treated to the story of Eden, a young teenaged girl who has grown up in devastating circumstances. When a situation arises that causes her to be temporarily placed with an Amish relative, Eden feels she's finally found the solace and peace in God's presence that she's spent her whole life searching for. When a chance encounter leads her to meeting a young Amish teenager named Samuel, both feel an instant connection. While Eden is intrigued by everything she's come to see from the Amish culture, Samuel feels smothered by it. He isn't sure that this is where he sees himself wanting to be for the rest of his life, when the world seems to have so much more to offer. As the two begin a heartwarming friendship, it will call into question everything they've come to know and understand about their lives so far.

What follows is a breath takingly beautiful story about the challenges of growing up while trying to be true to God and His never changing presence in our lives. I think this is a story that will cause every single reader who picks it up to think good and hard about who they're living their lives for, and whether God is at the front and center like he always deserves to be.

I adored this one from start to finish, and it's without a doubt one of the best books I've read this year so far. It's unlike anything else I've ever read within the genre, and I can't wait to go back and read the first two books in the series, and to discover many more of the books written by this author. I'm only sorry it took me this long to give one of her books a try, as I definitely feel I've discovered a new favorite.

Final Rating: 5/5.

Thanks so much to Zondervan for allowing me to advance read and review this one!

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary advance reader copy of this novel from the publisher (Zondervan) via NetGalley. I was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, and this is my honest review.

It can be hard to rise above a troubled past, especially when the circumstances are beyond your control. In Hopefully Ever After, Beth Wiseman shows us how trust in God and a supportive family can completely change a person’s life. This is book three of the Amish Bookstore series.

Sixteen-year-old Eden has had a rough life, and now she has been sent to stay with an Amish cousin she has never even met. Yvonne and her husband Abraham show Eden the love and support she has been missing with her own mother. When Abraham’s teenage nephew Samuel comes into the picture, he and Eden begin to bond almost immediately, much to the chagrin of Samuel’s strict Amish parents.

Eden and Samuel’s story was the main focus of the book, and both characters were well-developed and very likable. I was delighted to see a new chapter of Yvonne and Abraham’s life, and I also enjoyed getting to know Samuel’s parents, Leroy and Anna. I didn’t think I would like this story as much as I did the first two books simply because the main characters are teenagers, but both Eden and Samuel are mature for their age, and Yvonne, Abraham, and Samuel’s parents featured heavily in the story. With so many different personalities and everyone wanting different things in life, the storyline was always interesting. I went through pretty much every emotion while reading this story.

I have always enjoyed stories by Beth Wiseman, and this one was no exception. I would definitely recommend this book. Although this story can stand alone, I would recommend reading the first two books in the series as well.

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

Beth Wiseman is my number one favorite author when it comes to Amish romance.

Hopefully ever after is a beautifully written coming of age story between two Amish teenagers.

It is the final book in a series, but can be read as a stand alone novel, although it you haven't read the previous book, you will want to go back and read it after enjoying this one.

The main characters are, Eden and Samuel. Both are 16 years old.

We watch Samuel struggle with his faith while the romance between Eden and himself grows.

The book is touching and emotional. All of the characters are totally believable and seier interactions engaging.

I loved the descriptive settings and the interwoven lives of the Amish community members. The love they share for one another is heartwarming.

Highly recommend.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and the publisher ZondervanFiction for the granting me an advance copy of this book in return for my honest opinions.

Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Eden Hale is not quite your typical teenager, she has had a difficult past, doesn't want others to judge her now for her past mistakes. She doesn't know who her father is and her mother is drug addicted and in jail. While living with her Aunt she finds solice in Lord and wants her life to be different. While her Aunt takes a month long vacation, Eden is sent to stay with cousin Yvonne and her husband Abraham in Indiana. Her cousin Yvonne who was English married Amish man Abraham in book 2. On her arrival she meets charming Samuel who interest in her is just more than attraction. He is in his rumspringa and is thinking of going out in the English world. Raised in a very strict home, his parents won't let him experience life for fear he will crossover. Both want what each other has. One wants a simple life the other wants to explore all the world offers. Samuel and Eden put their families in a quandray, each trying to protect. Both of them learned through their friendship, along with their families about their faith, judgement of others, and living a godly life. I hope there is a book in the future about this young couple. I received an ARC from Zondervan Publishing and my review is of my own opinion.

The last in the Amish Bookstore series can standalone on its own merit. But by reading the previous book, you can enjoy the continuation of those characters as we are introduced to a new lead. The two primary leads in this story are younger- 16 years old. As such, Hopefully Ever After is a tender and sweet coming of age love story. Eden and Samuel were a good match and the storyline was well done. However, where Wiseman really thrives as a writer is the interplay between characters- old and new. We get to revisit Yvonne and Abraham and their married life- I love seeing them interact and support 16 year Eden in the caring and compassionate way we would expect these two to act!. We even get the sisters of the Peony Inn- how amazing it was to revisit Lizzie and Esther! Samuel's storyline with questioning his faith and seeing how his parents navigate raising their teenager. is very realistic, that all parents of teens will relate to. It's those relationships that really tug at the heart-strings and nurture the soul. This book is such a warm and joyful conclusion to an excellent series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.. Thank you #NetGalley and #ZondervanFiction for the ARC.

Sweet and Inspirational

Teenage years are one of the many difficult times in life. For Eden and Samuel, it is especially difficult. They share many similarities in how tough the road towards growing up truly is, but they also have some differences. While Eden is searching for a deeper faith journey, Samuel is questioning his and wondering if he's missing out on life. Eden is trying to live in a way that dispels any preconceived notions people may have of her. Samuel, on the other hand, is walking the line while feeling like he's just going through the motions. As they spend time together, they fall into an easy and honest sharing of their struggles. They find a kindred spirit in each other which deepens their friendship and relationship. In turn, their relationship also has an affect on their family relationships. Sometimes the results are good and sometimes they are not so good. Will Eden and Samuel's friendship and faith walk be able to survive their differences as well as the good and the bad?

Hopefully Ever After is a wonderful story of hope, faith, new beginnings and second chances. The characters were realistic and drew me in completely. I found myself cheering them on and hoping that they would get to where they needed to be. It is a truly sweet and inspirational story and one that I highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book. All comments and opinions are voluntary and strictly my own.

Hopefully Ever After by Beth Wiseman
Beth Wiseman’s Hopeful Ever After is her third book in her Amish Bookstore series. This book is a great addition to the series.

The story itself centers on Sixteen-year-old Eden, an Englisher, and Samuel, a young Amish man. The well developed storyline weaves a tell of a young woman who is determined to become the person God intends and not who people think she is.

Eden comes to her cousin’s in Indiana to stay for a month while her Guardian is that a vacation. Here, she meets Samuel, who is content to accept her for the person she really is. Samuel has been brought up and such a strict Amish environment that his desire is to know more about the outside world. On the other hand, Eden has seen too much of life and wishes for the simple life of love and family in this peaceful Amish community.

The whole book deals with grown of both Samuel and Eden as they struggle to find out their diversities.
The characters are realistic and we are reintroduced to friends from the first two books in this series and able to catch up with their lives. The story moves quickly, and keeps you wanting to read more and more.
This book can be read as a standalone, but you will enjoy it more is you read the preceding books in this series so you will be more familiar with the characters and their storylines.
I highly recommend this 5-star book. Release date is April 18, 2023.
Thank you, Zondervan Fiction for allowing me to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own, and I was not required to give a positive review.