A second chance at love blooms in the quaint Amish community of Promise Glen, from national bestselling author Marta Perry. Dorcas Beiler’s reckless teenage years are far behind her. She’s serious and responsible now, and the good people of Promise Glen trust her with the education of their children. But when her first love returns after years of exile from the community, her past comes rushing … past comes rushing back. Thomas is the only one who knows her secret, and despite his careless charm and teasing manner, she refuses to let her guard down.
Thomas Fisher has plans. Plans to start a construction company and prove himself a success to all those who doubted him, and plans to find the woman he left behind. His chance comes when he lands the opportunity to rebuild the stable and shed at the community school. He won’t be paid for his time, but he’ll be able to showcase his abilities…and spend time with Dorcas.
Scenting love in the air, Dorcas’s young pupils make excuses to bring them together. As old feelings stir, Dorcas and Thomas wonder whether their first love might also be their last.
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I read the Audio CD of this cook. The cover is different from the printed and ebook versions. I will say I liked the cover of this audio more because I have a thing for red school houses and especially one room school houses with a steeple and bell on the roof. I loved the narrator Stina Nielsen. I loved how she did her voices. I enjoyed every character in this book. I think it was one of Marta Perry’s best books. This author never disappoints me and I’ve been reading her books for years.
A Spring Heart is an Amish Romance story. Dorcus Bieler and Thomas Fisher have known each other since their school years. They had a past together. Thomas was sent away to live with cousins in Ohio because he got in trouble with the law. But there’s a secret that his father doesn’t know and Thomas is hiding something.
Dorcus is now the school teacher and has gone on with her life. Then just like that Thomas shows up in her life again. He wants to be reunited with his family after having been away from them for eight years.. He hopes to start a construction business with what he learned from his Uncle in Ohio. But in spite of trying to ignore their feelings for each other, left over from years ago, they find their attraction to one another keeps bringing them together. Dorcus knows the secret Thomas is hiding from his Dad, the Amish Minister. Thomas’s Brothers and Dad don’t seem to want Thomas back home with them. Thomas decides to return home as soon as he finishes the repairs on the school shed and stable. Will he really go back to Ohio when he has special feelings for Dorcus?
All readers of Amish Fiction and fans of Marta Perry will not want to miss this book. It is book two of the Promise Glen series. It can be read as a standalone but some of the characters are left over from book one and for that reason I feel it would be to your advantage to read Book one , Sarah’s Gift, first.
I downloaded a Audio CD copy of this book to my Hoopla App. A review wasn’t requested. All opinions expressed here are my own.
A Springtime Heart by Marta Perry is the 2nd A Promise Glen Novel. It can be read as a standalone. I thought A Springtime Heart was well-written with realistic characters and a lovely setting. I enjoyed returning to Promise Glen, Pennsylvania. I was happy to see Sarah Yoder Raber from A Christmas Home in this story. We get a chance to see how she is doing since she married and became a mother to Noah Raber’s twin boys. I liked the characters in this story. I thought they were realistic with their own insecurities and foibles. There is humor sprinkled throughout mostly from the children’s antics. There are side stories in A Springtime Heart that add complexity and depth to the book. Dorcas’ sister-in-law, Betsy is a new mother living with her in-laws. She has a Martha Stewart type mother (who seems to do everything and does it well) which has caused Betsy’s insecurities. Someone is out to shut down the Orchard Hill Amish school and Dorcas wants to find a way to stop it. She loves teaching and does not want the community to lose its school. Gossip is spreading fast through their community. The latest tidbit could cost Dorcas her job and reputation. There is also a slowly blossoming romance if only one of the parties will stay in town. I enjoyed reading A Springtime Heart. It is a sweet and charming Amish story. I hope we get more books set in Promise Glen. A Springtime Heart is a pleasant Amish tale with growing gossip, shadowy secrets, blooming blossoms, required repairs, a thorny romance, and springtime zeal.
I want to read the first book in this series because I enjoyed this one so much. You don’t need to read them in order or at least I didn’t. Thomas and Dorcas were great characters. They were both a little wild in their teen years but then something happened to make them grow up. They reconnected in their mid twenties and learn they still have feelings for each other but they can’t do anything about it until they both resolve some problems. I really loved this book. I received a copy of this book from edelweiss for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.
A Springtime Heart is a delightful return to Promise Glen, with occasional glimpses of the characters we grew to love in A Christmas Home and a sweet second chance at love.
Dorcas (whom you may remember as Sarah’s best friend if you read A Christmas Home) is the star of this 2nd installment of the series, and she’s easily likable and genuine-hearted. She’s more serious than Sarah, but being the teacher of Promise Glen’s Amish school doesn’t give her too much time or leeway for being otherwise. (Dorcas being the teacher does mean, however, that we get more adorable moments from the Raber twins!) Her budding romance with Thomas Fisher ended abruptly as teenagers, and with his return to Promise Glen, complicated emotions & regret-filled memories/secrets add even further layers to Dorcas’s character as well as Thomas’s. Just as I did in A Christmas Home, I loved the flaws & strengths of both Dorcas and Thomas, as well as the journeys that brought them to this point. They certainly aren’t perfect people but they’re authentic and realistic, allowing us to personally relate to them even though we ourselves aren’t Amish.
Bottom Line: A Springtime Heart is a breath of fresh air amid the uncertainty and upheaval of real life in our current world. Gently-drawn characters struggle with the same emotions & anxieties as we do and they celebrate the same victories, allowing us to embrace them as friends while we’re together in the pages. Moments of humor mingle with a sweet romance and a solid message, and you’ll close the book with a smile on your face and a lighter heart. This can easily be read as a standalone, if you haven’t already read A Christmas Home (but you’ll want to go back and read it too), and Perry’s writing is smooth and engaging. A great choice for the fans of the author and/or the genre.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
A story of trust and hope
A Springtime Heart deals with the prodigal returning but finding mistrust from his father instead of open arms. My heart broke for Thomas as his brothers and his father treated him with resentment and blame that was not his.
Dorcas had been rebellious in her teenage years and yet, unlike Thomas, and even because of Thomas, the community was none the wiser for it. She still felt guilt over Thomas’ disgrace and for not speaking up.
I enjoyed this story of restoration and healed relationships. There was a lot of growth in the characters that was needed – very much! And not just Thomas and Dorcas. Realistically, the issues they faced were many and the people involved were quite human and flawed!
I especially liked the part about the irate neighbor who moved in next to the schoolhouse. The interactions with him and related to him and the resolution was very sweet! It was impressive the way Dorcas handled the matter, and later how Thomas did.
I also really enjoyed the interactions Thomas had with his younger siblings and the way he helped them to see the mistakes they were making in a manner that encouraged them to do right instead of alienating them.
There were so many things going on in the story to keep my attention! Dorcas’ position as teacher was being threatened and she didn’t know the source. Her sister-in-law seemed unwilling to help around the house and seemed a bit self-centered and certainly overprotective of her new baby. Dorcas’ mom was dealing with depression. And Thomas’ siblings were ruled with an iron hand by their father.
The author showed how the community dealt with gossip and the spreading of rumors and showed that these things were not acceptable. Honestly, it seems like so many Amish stories just take it for granted one of the characters is the bad gossip and no one treats it as a bad thing. It was refreshing to see the ministers and the bishop actually take action here!
If you enjoy Amish fiction, I recommend A Springtime Heart.
Read my review of A Springtime Heart by Marta Perry at AmongTheReads.net
I was given a copy of this book. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own.
Welcome back to Promise Glen and a new story that you will soon be page turning to find answers. This book can be read alone, but I was happy to read about past characters and be updated on their lives.
Can we overcome the sins of our past, that is what school teacher Dorcas Beiler must have been thinking when Thomas Fisher returns to town after years away. They had know each other as children, and now we find answers as to why he was away.
We see how one woman’s gossip can hurt many, and judging when we don’t know all the facts also hurts.
There is a sweet romance blooming here, and chuckles with some of the antics of the children.
As sweet read to get lost in!
I received this book through the Edelweiss and the Publisher Berkley, and was not required to give a positive review.