A Stolen Kiss is part of the Heart of the Amish series. Ben has had a trouble past and has been sent to Cherry Grove. LaEtta is an only child raised by her father and has led a very sheltered life. LaEtta steals a kiss from Ben and is caught. They are forced into marriage. The story follows how they move forward in this marriage. Thank you to Barbour Publishing and NetGalley.

Simon and Stella’s story in A Stolen Kiss by Mindy Steele, book seven in The Heart of the Amish series, is a reminder that love will find you, even if you weren’t looking or expecting to ever find it. When a handsome Amish stranger shows up at the Sunday church gathering all the ladies heads are turned in his direction. Only one head catches his attention, but Ben Ropp has other things on his mind. Bitterness and resentment lives in his heart. He won’t be in town long and the last thing he needs right now is a girlfriend to make things complicated. Ben has a reason to be in Cherry Grove and soon he will be leaving. Still he can’t help thinking about that pretty strawberry blonde Amish Maedel sitting across the aisle from him.

LeEtta Miller has led a very sheltered life while being raised by her dad Arlen after her mother died in childbirth. After pouring his heart into the family farm and having his father give it to his younger brother, Ben traveled to his uncle’s farm, determined to earn enough to buy his own farm in Ohio. A chance meeting sparks an unexpected connection between LeEtta and Ben. In their strict Amish community, even small actions have huge consequences. When they are forced into marriage, they must learn to navigate life as strangers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.
#NetGalley #Barbour #AStolenKiss

A Stolen Kiss takes place in Amish country. LeEtta Miller has grown up without a mom. At a community function she meets a stranger. Later as she was walking home, they ran into each other and that's where the Stolen Kiss takes place as Letta gives him a kiss, totally out of character. Benuel (Ben) Ropp has a chip on his shoulder toward his family. When the elders and her father find out about the kiss, a forced wedding takes place. You will want to read the book to see what happens.

If you enjoy Amish fiction, you will like this book. I received a complimentary copy from Barbour Publishing and Net Galley and was under no obligation to post a review.

4.5 stars

I’ve enjoyed several books by Mindy Steele but A Stolen Kiss is my favorite so far (even though I thought it would be difficult to topple Courting an Amish Bishop from that position). The writing is warm & witty, the characters are layered, and it captured my attention from the moment LeEtta “tried to roll her eyes as quietly as she could” while she listens to her sixty-nine-year-old widowed grandmother discuss her latest romantic interests “like a swoony teenager”. (Oh Mammi Iola – she made me smile often throughout this sweet novel!) And then there’s the first chemistry-laden gaze between LeEtta and Ben… and that first swoonilicious kiss that’s life-altering in more ways than one!

Bless LeEtta, she tries. But homemaking doesn’t come easy to her, something that had me chuckling AND wanting to hug her, all at the same time. She’s never dated, never been kissed, and the closest thing she has to a possible suitor is a rash, headstrong fifteen-year-old boy who fancies himself in love with her. Never mind that she’s seven years older and definitely not looking to rob the cradle. I think most women will relate to LeEtta on some level, whether it’s her homemaking struggles, her attempts to escape unwanted attention, the way she feels like an outsider, or how she longs to find a happily ever after like those in the books she reads. I really enjoyed her personality and her authenticity, and my heart ached for her as she navigates an uproar – and an unexpected future – not of her own making. (But I also cheered because she does so with the utmost grace of character.)

Ben is swoony, for sure and certain, and LeEtta isn’t the only one to notice. She is, however, the only one in Cherry Grove to plant a big kiss on him and get him roped into a marriage he didn’t want. He’d been saving for a farm of his own, but not like this, and the chip already on his shoulder (from the loss of his family’s farm to his brother) only gets bigger over yet another decision taken from him. His character growth across this story takes time but even as we wait we still know he’s an innately good guy in spite of his disappointments, and it is exactly the kind of journey that readers like me find so rewarding in the end. Anyone whose life looks drastically different than they expected it to will be able to easily identify with Ben, and his path to peace gave me much to take to heart as well. And … whew… once he overcomes his bitterness and sees LeEtta for the gift she is… he becomes even more swoony than I first thought him to be!

Bottom Line: A Stolen Kiss by Mindy Steele will put a smile on your face – and in your heart – with a host of delightful characters and a sweet romance (or two!) perfect for any time of year. The layered plot is both entertaining and meaningful, and Ben & LeEtta are a couple that readers will be rooting for from the very beginning, even when their forced marriage seems to be a death knell for their immediate attraction upon meeting. Steele adds further dimension and heart with other characters like LeEtta’s hilarious Mammi Iola, Ben’s endearing aunt Oneida, and LeEtta’s grieving father Arlen, giving us plenty to keep us engaged in the story beyond ‘just’ the romance. (Even though we all know that the romance is mainly why I’m here lol.) A Stolen Kiss belongs on your must-read list if you’re a fan of Shelley Shepard Gray, Kathleen Fuller, and/or Rachel J. Good!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

Mindy Steele has penned another winner in the Heart of the Amish series. I absolutely LOVED Courting an Amish Bishop and many of the same characters appear in A Stolen Kiss. The characters are a bit quirky, and so fun to get to know.

LeEtta Miller grew up without a mother, and nearly everything she's learned about being an Amish woman, she learned from her father - not a big help when he can't really cook or sew either. She tries so hard to do everything expected of a good Amish woman, but falls short the first time any beau tastes her offerings at the church meals. While her friends are marrying or giggling about the men they are dating, she quietly stands back and accepts that she will always be the last chosen. Who wants a wife whose only saving grace is the spotless house she keeps but who just might starve you to death before she cooks something edible? She isn't even allowed to help with the farm work, something she just might excel in, because her father is over-protective of his only daughter. Meeting newcomer Benuel Ropp and having him seek out her company as she is walking home is unexpected, but more than welcome. Their attraction is mutual and nearly immediate. What can one little kiss hurt?

Ben grew up believing that the family farm would one day be his. After all, he has worked the land with his father since he could walk and invested any money he made in the land. Unfortunately, one too many steps outside the Ordnung have made his father lose faith in Ben's steadfastness so he gave the farm to Ben's brother, Sam, whose dream isn't the land itself, but the herd of dairy cows he can graze on it. Ben takes a job in Cherry Grove working for a pig farmer, and lives with his grandparents. He meets LeEtta the first time he attends church, and is caught kissing her by a jealous 15-year-old boy who sees himself as LeEtta's suitor. As her "protector" he goes to the bishop, hoping he will send Ben packing. Instead, the bishop and her father insist they marry. Ben wants a family and his own farm, but he never wanted to get them THIS way!

Can Ben get past his anger to really see the woman he is now married to? What will it take for LeEtta to show Ben that she's willing to try for a real marriage, not just one on paper?

This book had me experiencing every emotion. I cringed at some of LeEtta's flavor combinations (her spice rack was the only well-stocked thing in her kitchen!) My heart went out to her as the motherless Amish girl. While the other girls grew up learning to do all of the things expected of Amish wives, she had no one to teach her. I loved it when Ben asked his aunt to come spend time with them. Not only does she befriend LeEtta (and her father), she also teaches her as she works with her. It's a beautiful thing to see. I also loved seeing Ben's heart change both toward LeEtta and toward his family.

Readers who love Amish romance should run out to pick this one up. I loved it from the first page to the last, and really hope Mindy Steele has future visits to Cherry Grove on her radar!

A Stolen Kiss is Mindy Steele contribution and the seventh installment from the multi author series, The Heart of the Amish. I enjoyed this addition to the series. I adored getting to know the main characters, LeEtta Miller and Benuel Ropp. The author does a fantastic job by evoking the emotions of her characters, making it seem as though they are real people going through real events. It was easy to feel connected and relatable with them. I thought it was a great story to read that I could not put down until the end.

I am giving A Stolen Kiss a very well deserved five plus stars. I highly recommend it for readers who love to read clean Amish Romance.

I received a paperback copy of Mindy Steele's A Stolen Kiss from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.

Mindy Steele has written another excellent Amish romance. A Stolen Kiss takes two Amish people who are forced into marriage. I absolutely loved this book. I found myself saying just one more chapter after every chapter. I could not put this book down. I really liked LeEtta and Ben. The whole plot was interesting in that after an innocent kiss, they were forced to marry to protect LeEtta’s reputation. I also loved Ben’s aunt Oneida. She became such a mother figure to LeEtta since LeEtta’s mother died shortly after she was born. I hope we get a follow up on this couple in another book. This was such a sweet love story. Thanks to Netgalley and Barbour Publishing for the ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

A swoon worthy book if there ever was one! When plans go awry and a simple kiss derails the best of plans, God takes what could have been bad and uses it for the good of those who love Him. You can't help but fall in love with LeEtta and Benuel as they navigate challenges neither could have foreseen as they learn to fall in love again with God and one another.

This book was simply the sweetest Amish love story I have read in a while. The man characters and secondary characters were on such a journey to open themselves to love and I could hardly put it down. Lovely ending to an endearing story. Side note: this is book 7 in a series, but worked well as a stand alone..
Thanks to #NetGalley and Barbour Publishing for the Arc.

A Stolen Kiss by Mindy Steele is a book based on the Amish way of life. LeEtta, a 22-year-old Amish girl who lost her mother at birth, leading to her dad raising her, feels she lacks a lot of skills due to her upbringing compared to her friends. Her social life has also suffered a great deal since it seems that her friends are a step or two ahead of her. But she is determined to change these circumstances by doing her best to learn as many skills as she possibly can, and her social life won't be left behind either. Her opportunity appeared when the newcomer appeared in the name of Benuel Ropp, and her friends urged her to take it. Will she take that chance? On the other hand, Benuel Ropp is not a happy man. His family has disappointed him when his father decided to give his younger brother the whole family land, leaving him with nothing, and at the same time crashing his dreams of becoming a farmer. Now he has relocated here to nurse his wounds as well as start a new job, work hard, buy his own land, and then leave. But there's a problem: he has noticed a beautiful girl, but he is determined not to give in to temptation, since he has goals to fulfill, but fate seems to have different plans for him. To find out more, get a copy of this fascinating book. A Stolen Kiss by Mindy Steele.

I like the way the author has presented the Amish way of life, a simple, down-to-earth lifestyle, with a story that is not steamy but romantic. The theme of the book is very clear too.

I didn't quite like Ben as a main character, carrying too much baggage and being very unforgiving.

I rate this book, A Stolen Kiss, by Mindy Steele, 4 out of 5 stars.

I recommend it to those readers who love books based on the Amish lifestyle, with a simple but interesting story. I also recommend it to those whose lives may have taken a turn they feel is against their dreams and plans; the book will show them that maybe all these will turn out for good in the end, maybe even better than their laid-out plans.

A Stolen Kiss by Mindy Steele is the seventh book in The Heart of the Amish series. It can be read as a standalone for those new to the series. LeEtta Miller (a very unusual first name that I am guessing is pronounced Lee Etta) was raised by her widowed father. LeEtta did not grow up with a mother to teach her how to run a household, cook, do laundry, garden, and other tasks handled by a female in Amish society. Benuel Ropp is visiting Cherry Grove to raise money to purchase his own farm in Ohio. LeEtta kisses Ben which is seen by a teenage boy who is besotted with LeEtta. Unbelievably, this leads to a shotgun marriage (for a quick kiss). It is a slow burn romance. I found it a little too slow, but others may like this unhurried pace. There were some amusing moments and a quirky character or two. I like the friendly cast of characters especially Ben’s Aunt Oneida. It is an emotional story with the characters dealing with a range of emotions. The ending left me smiling. I enjoyed the humor sprinkled throughout the story. I like the life lessons in the story especially about forgiveness. Forgiving someone is more for yourself than for the other person. Letting anger and bitterness burn in your heart will only lead an individual down the wrong path. There are recipes at the end of the story. A Stolen Kiss is an emotional tale with family farm kerfuffle, a smitten teen, an overprotective father, cheesy dishes, a forced marriage, a barn bedroom, and finding forgiveness.

This author does a wonderful job pulling you into this book. Beginning with LeEtta Miller's stolen kiss from stranger Benuel Ropp, they both didn't realize how this life changes in a moments notice. LeEttta, the only daughter of widowed Arlen has led what I would call a shelter life. Without a mothers influence in her life she really has some learning to do, and fast! Ben, angry with his family moves so he can save up money to buy a farm. What he didn't bargin for is LeEtta, she did not fit into his plan. Two people who need to learn a lesson or two about life's lessons. Loved this book, couldn't put it down. I really hope the author dives into sharing more of the charactors of this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A forced marriage to a stranger...can love grow there?!

I truly enjoyed this story and read it all in one sitting! When LeEtta decides to take the risk and kiss a stranger, she could not have guessed what would happen next. When the boy who witnesses the kiss starts to spread rumors, her father steps in and requires her to marry the stranger. And stranger he is. Benuel (Ben) had only been in town a short time trying to work to earn money for his land. He had no plans of staying there. But with a reputation to repair and now the town catching wind of his kiss with LeEtta, he agrees to marry her. Truth be told, they were drawn to each other the day they kissed. But certainly, they weren't in love, and a forced marriage is not the way to start a happily ever after. Ben wonders if she manipulated him into marrying her. She's been told he may have married her for the land. With all the rumors and the awkwardness of a stranger being your new spouse.. It's an uphill battle. But over time both Ben and LeEtta start to see the potential in this marriage... but how to turn it around? What happens when you start to fall for your spouse? And how do you tell them?

Sweet, sweet story. I loved the community and the chemistry that grew over time between Ben and LeEtta. But I also loved to witness the other romances blossoming for some of the side characters in the story.

Rating: 4.5 rounded to 5 stars!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. It did not influence this review.

A sweet Amish romance of stangers wed before they get to know each other because of a stolen kiss.

Misunderstandings flourish, but it all comes all right in the end.

I've read my share of Amish fiction and while I can't say I really care for it, this one had more than its fair share of Amish phrases and words casually sprinkled throughout and so I nearly did not finish it.

It starts out slowly and keeps that pace. Both LeEtta and Benuel Ropp have their fair share of faults that aid in the misunderstandings, he more than her. He has issues with his family and a large chip on his shoulder that he has to resolve, to begin his relationship with LeEtta on a happy note. Does he manage that? How? Where does LeEtta's faith come to play when Ben thinks God doesn't answer his prayers or listen to them even. Can she and Ben have a happy, God-centred marriage?

Who is the prowler/stalker on the farm? Is it some wild animal or is there someone out there with questionable intent? Throw in LeEtta's romance crazy grandmother, widowed father still mourning his dead wife, and you have yourself a story.

If you like sweet, Amish style romances, go for it, but it's not really my cuppa.

A Stolen Kiss by Mindy Steele
Who kissed who first?
Full of faith, hope, and romance, this new series takes you into the Heart of Amish country.
LeEtta Miller brazenly accepts a dare from her friends. What harm is there in kissing a handsome stranger she’ll never see again? Unfortunately, the incident was witnessed and when her father learns her good virtues are marred, he wills her to marry.
Benuel Ropp wanted a family, but not this way. He was trying to regain some of what he tarnished by coming to Cherry Grove, not to get married to a stranger. Well, if Laura thought he’d flinch and let her boldness add another stain to his name, she was mistaken. He had forgiveness to earn and a name to restore, and if he had to make sacrifices to do it, so did she.
Who kissed who first, he can’t even remember anymore.
This is LeEtta and her dad Arlen Miller's story.
This is Benuel Ropp's story.
LeEtta let out a sigh as she helped tidy the table. What she wouldn’t give if her father treated her more like a helper than something fragile that might break under the slightest pressure. LeEtta wanted to do more than simply cook his meals. Although, she did need practice. Lots of it. Baking was a joy to learn, as each recipe took on a measure of delight to create. It was LeEtta’s side dishes she struggled with most. Daed insisted she didn’t need to explore with trying out new spices for what only needed but a pinch of salt, but LeEtta was sure she could make even the blandest green bean better by adding the right amount of garlic, red pepper, and bacon grease.
But first, she needed to find better ways of communicating with her father. Since he’d fallen off the grain-bin ladder two weeks ago, his quiet had grown unnervingly quieter. Surely he was concerned about the harvest. How was a man his age, with only one working arm, going to harvest all their corn when he struggled simply tending to the livestock? That’s what she’d like to know.
“He’s a stranger who hasn’t visited his grandparents before. I mean, we’ve never seen him before. That says much about a person, ain’t so?”
“Excuse me.”
His roguish tone sent a second shiver over her. So he was handsome up close too—and annoyed. LeEtta was speechless, embarrassed, and blocking the doorway. She slipped back inside and gave him a wide berth. He took it, walking into the kitchen without giving her a second look. She never got second looks. So why did it bother her so much now?
Benuel Ropp mentally grumbled as he stepped outside for a breath of fresh air.
Being a fresh face in a community that seemed to reserve the right to not give a care about progress told him his time here in Cherry Grove would be as miserable as he feared it would be, but he would endure it if that meant making enough money for a down payment on his own land.
I recommend this book.
A Stolen Kiss by Mindy Steele is a wonderful well written 5 star book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book and was under no obligation to post a review.
I am looking forward to reading more books by Mindy Steele.

Fantastic, Must-Read

What do you do when you're an only child raised by a single father who has had to learn things as they crop up, and you dream of romance, but your friends constantly comment about you being the last one to be picked? Okay, so maybe kissing a complete stranger wasn't her brightest idea, but she sure didn't think it would lead to marriage. So, what now?

What do you do when your parents shut down your plans and dreams, and you have to start over, and you've lost trust in those you thought you could count on? And what do you do when a beautiful stranger kisses you out of the blue? Okay, so maybe letting himself be drawn to a beautiful stranger and being kissed by her wasn't his best idea, but he sure didn't think it would lead to marriage. So, what now?

I loved LeEtta and Benuel's story. Author Mindy Steele's take on the conventional marriage makes for a stellar story. The characters are wonderful, and the descriptive writing had me bringing up images in my mind, making me feel like I was right there with them, feeling all they were feeling and seeing everything play out. The vivid conversations had me smiling, laughing, cringing, letting out a frustrated sigh, and so much more. The secondary characters added so much to the story, as did the slight touch of intrigue. It all blended together beautifully, making it a fantastic, must-read story.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed and comments in this review are voluntary and completely my own.

This was a solid 3-3.5 Stars for me.

LeEtta (have no clue how to pronounce her name) knows she's different from most Amish girls. Her father never remarried, so he raised her as a single parent from birth -not common. At 22, she's nearly resigned to spinsterhood. Another uncommon thing is a teen boy's infatuation with her... which turns into a jealous rage that lands LeEtta and Benuel into a forced marriage. Just what she needed: a husband that doesn't want her!

Benuel's got his own trials -that shouldn't've included marriage to a girl he only kissed once THAT WAS ENITRELY ALL HER BTW. He just needs the funds to get his own place, back in Ohio, and he can finally start his future in farming. His record isn't stellar, but he's trying so hard to get everyone to stop judging him by his past. Will this marriage fall apart at the weak foundation it was laid or will they re-lay and forge a true union?

This features a SLOW BURN, miscommunication, raw emotion, and an unusual (but welcome) take on what we'd call a "shotgun marriage" lol. It was a little too slow of a burn for me, but it does work well with the way the story panned out.
If you're an Amish fiction fan, you'll really enjoy this.


*Thank you to Barbour and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.*

One of my favorite authors has earned another 5 star rating from me. Just when I think Mindy Steele has outdone herself on a previous book, she surprises me yet again. The characters are lovable and the storyline is easy to follow. The emotions of anger, mischief, jealousy, love, grief, innocence and pride help captivate the multitude of personalities, yet these same emotions are what ties us to the characters, making it real life and easy to relate to. What happens when one little instant spontaneous kiss between LeEtta and Ben put them in a situation that causes them to have to immediately get married in order to save their reputations?Already dealing with a difficult past that causes friction between his father and brother, Ben struggles with yet again disappointing his father because of the situation he finds himself in. LeEtta wants the “happily ever after” relationship that she reads about in books and without a mother to guide her, she has to figure it out by herself or take the advice of her grandmother. Fortunately, Ben’s aunt Oneida comes to visit and offers to “mother” LeEtta and teaches her how to cook and about relationships even though she is dealing with her own loss of “the love of her life”. I found the book to tug at my heart strings and I did not want to put it down until I finished it. I highly recommend this book.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher. All words are my own.

💋💋💋💋💋
You know the feeling when you start a book and it’s so good that you binge read it because you want to know what’s going to happen, but you don’t want it to end because you love the characters?
LeEtta Miller feels left out in her community. Benuel Ropp comes to town and on a walk they kiss each other. LeEtta’s father forces them to get married to protect her reputation. These characters will steal your heart and you won’t be able to put this down!
Many thanks to the author, Barbour Publishers and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

READ THIS BOOK IF YOU LIKE…
Enemies to friends
Miscommunication
Slow burn romance

#AStolenKiss #MindySteele #NetGalley #BarbourPublishing #AmishBooks #BookLove #Bookstagram #NewBook #ILoveBooks

Readers who enjoy Amish fiction will love this edition to the Heart of the Amish series. This book can be read as a standalone. A little mystery, love, faith and sweet ending makes this book enjoyable from start to finish. Lovable characters. Highly recommended!