In this tender Amish romance, an Amish man who is returning to his community and faith is drawn to a young woman who is still reeling from past wounds.When Luke Bowman returns to the Amish faith after years of being away from home, he does so with absolute conviction. Those feelings are shaken when he meets Julia Durant, a non-Amish woman who works at his family’s furniture-making business. … furniture-making business. Despite his instincts, Luke is drawn to Julia, and although Julia is still recovering from a brutal assault when she was a college student, she is drawn to Luke as well.
As Luke and Julia grow closer, and their fragile friendship grows stronger, Luke wants to be with Julia, but the reason he came home–his faith–is now the thing keeping them apart. Luke and Julia will have to decide whether their relationship can survive this divide, and whether the home Luke has made in the Amish faith is one that’s fit for two.
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I was excited to see that Janice Kay Johnson was starting an Amish romance series with Berkley – I enjoyed some of her general market romances several years ago & was really looking forward to a romance by her that I could easily recommend to all of y’all. So delighted that everything that I loved about Johnson’s writing style & the way she writes romantic tension still shines in Turning Home!
Luke is such a layered, complex Amish hero. After living Englisch for a number of years, he’s returned to his home, his family, and his faith … something he’s not regretted until he begins falling in love with Julia Durant, the Englisch woman his father hired to manage their furniture store. Julia herself is a multi-dimensional character, a woman whose confidence was shaken after a brutal assault and who is searching for a deeper relationship with God than she sees modeled in the ‘church people’ she encounters in her new community. I really enjoyed this juxtaposition that we don’t usually see in Amish romance – a redeemed prodigal hero with a past in the Englisch world, and an Englisch woman who craves the kind of faith that the Amish live out. This allowed the reader to get a unique perspective on Amish life while also being able to put ourselves in both Luke & Julia’s shoes because of their strong ties to the world we’re most familiar with.
Bottom Line: Turning Home by Janice Kay Johnson is everything I was hoping for & more! It’s not as predictable as many Amish romances can be, with several intriguing twists that beckon you to settle further into this entertaining read. Luke & Julia’s story is supported by a delightful & layered group of secondary characters who set the stage nicely for further books in the series too (so excited that Miriam’s story is next!). Johnson’s writing style is smooth & engaging, keeping you invested in the plot & these characters from beginning to end. A must-read for fans of Cindy Woodsmall and Shelley Shepard Gray. I can’t wait for this series to continue!
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)
I have been a huge fan of Janice Kay Johnson’s romantic suspense books for many years. Her characters are likeable, realistic, and have depth. Additionally her dialogue is very realistic; I frequently compare her to Sharon Sala. In the past few years, she has released 2 titles for Harlequin involving Amish characters.
This new book, Turning Home, is an inspirational romance that contains Biblical scripture; there are no romantic scenes. It is better written than most of the Inspirational-genre books that I have read. Fans of Sharon Sala, Debbie Macomber, and Mindy Starns Clark will love this Tompkin’s Mill series.
The story is wonderful, with engaging characters. There is no suspense/mystery; it’s a “yearning” story where the hero and heroine yearn for each other and the reader waits for them to find a way to overcome their problems to finally be together. I can’t wait to read the next books in this series; I have ordered the second book, about Miriam, and am hoping that there will be a book about Nick next!
Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for a complimentary copy of Turning Home by Janice Kay Johnson for the purpose of reading and reviewing prior to publication. My opinions are my own, and no one has influenced them.
Turning Home is a lovely romance between a broken Englischer and an Amish man who has returned to his roots. They meet when she comes to work for his family’s furniture making business as the bookkeeper. This is the first book I have read by Ms. Johnson, and I enjoyed her writing style. It’s clear she has researched the Amish faith and their lifestyle.
Julia Durant’s character has dark secrets in her past that have her searching for security, and she longed for the safety and acceptance of the Amish community. When she meets the hero, she feels safe with him. As their friendship grows into more, she believes she can never be in a romantic relationship because of her violent assault, so Luke is safe. An Amish man newly returned to the fold, he would never turn to her.
Luke Bowman is our hero, and he has a great many characteristics that make him a great one. He’s experienced the Englischer life and knows he wants what his Amish upbringing offers. When he begins to have strong feeling for Julia, he cannot allow those emotions to grow. He would never leave his family again.
The romance between Julia and Luke blossoms from their daily contact at work. They both feel the powerful connection, and both must do much soul-searching. Julia is drawn to the Amish faith, but isn’t sure if she can commit to such a vastly different way of life, and Luke has vowed he can never leave his faith again. I truly wanted this pair to find a way to be together.
If you enjoy Amish fiction with compelling characters and a moving plot, then you will love Turning Home as much as I did. I look forward to the next book in this series, and other books by Ms. Johnson. Happy reading!
Turning Home by Janice Kay Johnson is the debut of Tompkin’s Mill series. I found Turning Home to be well-written with complex, realistic characters. Julia Durant needs a new beginning after a traumatic event. Her brother, Nick is the chief of police in Tompkin’s Mill, Missouri. Julia pays Nick a visit and finds herself drawn to the small town where Amish and Englischers coexist. Julia gets a job at Bowman & Sons Handcrafted Furniture runs by Eli Bowman and his son, Luke. Julia learns her new job quickly and begins making suggestions that have a big impact on the business. I loved the descriptions of the beautifully crafted furniture. Eli and Luke were not carpenters, they are craftsman. The apartment Julia rented sounded gorgeous with the hard wood floors as well as other historic details in the renovated schoolhouse (I wanted that apartment for myself). Turning Home is a touching story. The story moved at just the right pace. The chemistry was present between Luke and Julia, but it was mild which suited this story. It was wonderful the way the Bowman family embraced Julia. I liked seeing Julia expand her horizons. I liked seeing her change as the book progressed. I enjoyed how this tale played out. This is the first novel that I have read by Janice Kay Johnson, and it will not be my last.
What an awesome book, I was drawn in and the author didn’t let me go. There are several stories surrounding the main plot, just like real life.
A horrible attack was terrifying and controlling her life, Julia Durant, moves closer to her brother, and takes a new job working for an Amish furniture making business.
We also meet Luke a man who walked one path, away from his faith, and is now back and staying on the straight and narrow. Yes, he is attracted to this struggling woman, but he cannot jeopardize what he has worked so hard to return to.
This story has a bit of everything, and it felt so real to me. I could see Julia struggling to belong, wanting a real relationship with God, and friends. She was searching for a deeper faith, and dealing with her tramua.
Luke is also struggling with a lie he told, and they mount up, but we get to see why, and I had to agree with him. There is a solution, but you need to keep turning those pages for answers.
I am really looking forward to the next book in this series, a new author for me, but one I will now follow!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Berkley Books, and was not required to give a positive review.
Julia Durant’s visit to her brother Nick was more than a visit, it felt like she had come home. For the first time since a brutal attack, she wanted to stay and make a new start. Things fell into place with her new job and new friends. Turning Home is a wonderful story of healing hearts and new beginnings. It is the first book I have read by Janice Kay Johnson and I look forward to finding more of her books soon. The characters are complex yet easy to like. I liked the approach the author took in dealing with Julia’s attack and how difficult it was for her to trust others again. Moving to a small town may have seemed a big step but for Julia, but she began to take risks she never would have thought about in the big city. She took a risk by getting a job in an Amish furniture business yet made a big impact on the business from her first day. It was all going so well but for Luke, the owner’s son and partner who hadn’t approved of her being hired. She would have to learn to work with him, because going home was not going to be an option. She was determined to stay in Tompkin’s Mill.
Luke Bowman had only returned from the Englisch world in the last year. He still had much to prove about his desire to live among the people and he certainly didn’t factor in anyone like Julia working in the family business. To make life even more uncertain for him, someone from his past comes along and puts everything all into perspective for him. The question is what he will do about the changes that come upon him and his family?
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys inspirational, contemporary Amish fiction. I received an advanced reader copy from Berkley Publishing Group through NetGalley.com for an honest review. My thoughts about the book are my own.