Leisel Bachmann left her Amish roots and beloved sisters to pursue a career in medicine without a second thought. She has an Englisch boyfriend, Nick Jordan, and dreams of a new life–but those dreams come crashing down when her sister Marie is diagnosed with cancer.Soon nothing is going as she planned–not her state boards, not her first nursing job, and certainly not her relationship with Nick. … with Nick. As she becomes increasingly discouraged, her aunt shares the story of Leisel’s grandfather during World War II and the struggle he faced between returning to Lancaster or being with the woman he loved.
Peace and a vision for the future are difficult to find, and when Nick leaves Pennsylvania for a completely new life, Leisel is faced with impossible choices. Will she stay in Lancaster, close to her family and the traditions of her past? Or learn from her grandfather’s story and embrace a life of love and service in an uncertain future?
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A Faithful Gathering is a compelling novel. While A Faithful Gathering can be read alone, I suggest you read the books in The Sisters of Lancaster County series in order. It will help you to understand the family dynamics. I thought A Faithful Gathering was well-written with relatable, yet complex characters and set in beautiful Lancaster County. We get Leisel’s story in A Faithful Gathering. She is on the cusp of fulfilling her dreams when her sister, Marie is diagnosed with cancer. When a series of events leave Leisel feeling discouraged and doubting her choices, her aunt shares the story of Leisel’s grandfather, Joe Bachmann. Joe’s draft number comes up in 1944 and, as a conscientious objector, enlisted in CPS (Civilian Public Service). It was interesting to learn about CPS plus AFS (American Field Service). I was not aware of these two divisions previously. The historical elements were beautifully incorporated into the story. I liked how the past and present flowed together. We see how fear comes in many different forms and it can hinder (even cripple) an individual. Prayer, faith and listening to God’s guidance are Christian elements in the story. We must pray to God for Him to lead us down the right path. If you have faith, you know God will provide. The Sisters of Lancaster County has a heartwarming ending. One of my favorite sayings in the book relates back to a woman who has one thing after another go wrong in her life and she believes God is punishing her. The phrase is “sometimes we’re tested, but that doesn’t mean we’ve done anything wrong”. We must remember that God will not give us more than we can handle. Leisel was being tested in A Faithful Gathering. It was nice to see Leisel develop as an individual and in her faith. A Faithful Gathering is clean, Christian novel with realistic characters and situations that will touch your heart.
I really loved Aenti Suz hands down she was my favorite character in the book. I would say this book is geared toward young adults. I would say the characters still had a lot of learning to do and the author used the situations through out the book mature them for sure. I really enjoyed the story of LT. Shaw and Joe, when the story would move away from them the author had away of keeping your attention and leave you wanting more to find out what was going to happen next.
While I did find Leisel a little immature some times I also found that what she was facing was forcing her to grow up and evaluate her life and her choice. This book is from a first person point of view Over all this book is a good clean read and suitable for all ages. I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley. I was under no obligation to post a review and have given my honest opinion
I thoroughly enjoyed this book by author Leslie Gould. Not a typical Amish story it is still a compelling novel that is book three in The sisters of Lancaster County, I read it as a stand alone as I haven’t read the first two books in the series. I had no trouble following what was going on.
The characters were well developed, life wasn’t all peaches and cream, and God was faithful. Even when questioning why things were happening, the main characters had strong faith during struggles while trying to stay true to who God made them to be.
Sweet and clean, I highly recommend it.
A Faithful Gathering is a marvelous book. I am in awed how the author wrote this plot in different timelines so smoothly and it makes a difference in the characters. It’s written so smoothly, it’s exciting to read A Faithful Gathering. I definitely recommend reading this book by Author Leslie Gould. This is Book #3 of The Sisters of Lancaster County.
I received a copy from the publisher, but was not required to review it. This review is one hundred percent my opinion.
Why have I never read this author before? This is the third book in The Sisters Of Lancaster Series, but I had no problem reading it as a stand-alone. I just want to read the previous books as this was so good. I loved the way she tackled an Amish woman whose love for medicine caused her to leave to pursue a nursing career and how it is tied together with her grandfather. Aunt Suz is a delight and her masterful storytelling as she recounts her fathers story is what keeps you staying up all night to finish. This author handled time slip with precision like a fine choreographed dance. Definitely should add this to your must read list.
I won a copy of this book. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.
I recently read A Faithful Gathering, book three in the Sisters of Lancaster Series by Leslie Gould. I enjoy Leslie’s books not only for the good story but also for the characters, each one unique and complex. Leisel is no exception. She courageously left her Amish faith and comforts of home to study nursing, a field she felt God called her to enter. For an Amish woman with an eighth grade education that is no small fete. When you open this book you will find she has accomplished all that hard work and she is ready to take her board examinations. With her future full of opportunity, her life around her shifts and she suddenly finds herself on new ground and nothing is going to be what she planned.
Her mother does not support her leaving the faith and becoming a nurse. Her sister Marie is on shaky ground with a cancer diagnosis. The farm is at a point where some changes need to be made to keep it productive. Nick is planning a change in his career that will alter the life they planned together. The calm in this port of storm is her beloved aunt relating the wonderful story of her grandfather. His story is like the balm she needs to see things in a new perspective.
A Faithful Gathering is the third book in the The Sisters of Lancaster County series. I haven’t read the other two books in the series, but I felt that this could easily be read as a stand alone novel. This was such an enjoyable novel to read, and I was pleasantly surprised to find out that it was a dual timeline story. I love dual timelines, but I had never read a dual timeline story in an Amish novel before. The author tells the story of Liesel who left her Amish community to become a nurse and plans to have a future with her Englisch boyfriend Nick. When health issues in her family arise, she is needed to return to the community where she grew up to offer assistance. The historical storyline of her grandfather’s World War II service was a great addition to the novel. I would definitely recommend this book to fans of Amish fiction!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House through NetGalley and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.
I have been waiting for the third book in, The Sisters of Lancaster series and let me just tell you, it is well worth the wait. Reading this is like visiting old friends because even though it’s been awhile since you’ve caught up with them it’s seems like you are just picking up where you left off the last time you were together. That is one of the many things I love about this author is how she draws you in from the beginning with her well crafted characters and well researched plots. If you are familiar with the authors work then you know she writes dual time lines that leave you wanting to know more about her characters ancestors.
Ms. Gould reunites the Bachmann family on their farm so there are characters who I have come to love along with some new characters that I grew fond of. My all time favorite of everyone throughout this series has been Aenti Suz! Goodness, that dear lady can tell a story since she knows so much family history. There are different reasons families come together and in this book, Leisel
who has left her Amish roots to become a nurse goes home to be with her sister Marie who is having serious health issues. Leisel has a lot to think while she’s helping her family, she is concerned about passing her state boards, her Englisch boyfriend Nick, a Mennonite Doctor who has taken a personal interest in her and why her Mamm is behaving the way she did. I found Mamm to be cold and dispassionate for the most part.
There is so much to love about this book but my favorite part was when Aenti Suz shares the story of her father (Liesel’s grandfather) a story that Liesel needs to hear so she can come to terms with what is happening in her life. I loved how the author wove the two storylines together showing how past decisions are relevant to present decisions that Liesel must make.
As a fan of both Amish and Historical fiction this book this hit mark on my favorite genres. I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy one or both of these genres.
I received a copy from the publisher and was under no obligation to write a review. All opinions are my own.
I received a copy of this book from the author, I was not required to give a favorable review. This was the third in this series and also about the third daughter/sister. Leisel was the baby sister who decided to follow her dreams and become a nurse and had not joined the church yet. Her older sister Jessica was married and a mom and had joined the church, her sister Marie married a Mennonite and was a mom and very happy and now Leisel was was almost done with school and getting ready to take her boards. Her friend/boyfriend Nick was already working at the hospital as a nurse and was trying to figure out how he was going to payoff his loans and was thinking of joining the Air Force, but Leisel did not agree with that. Then Marie got sick with stomach cancer and Leisel went home to help take care of her, but in doing so but a lot of things into question. But she learned about the history of her grandparents and what they went through during WWII, this is a wonderful story of following both your heart and your faith. Thank you for another wonderful book Leslie.
A Faithful Gathering by Leslie Gould is the third and last book in The Sisters of Lancaster series and it just might be even better than the first two. It is another wonderfully inspirational book by one of my favorite authors of Amish stories. This particular series follows three Bachmann sisters and A Faithful Gathering tells Leisel’s story. Leisel has pursued a nursing career and is suddenly drawn back to her family with a medical emergency. Because she steers clear of conflict, she has often given up dreams. Would she ever get them back? Will she have to give up her dream to become a nurse? What about the man that she loves? Will their relationship be derailed as well? The Bachman family that has been slightly fractured by the choices the individuals have made. Watching how God mends and strengthens these relationships is delightfully inspiring. I love the characters in Gould’s stories. She portrays them realistically and the reader is easily drawn into their lives. I really liked Aenti Suz; she is practical and fearless and introduces Leisel to her grandfather’s story which she never heard before. This second story embedded into Leisel’s story takes the readers back to World War II and is just as compelling as Leisel’s. The author does a marvelous job of stopping at just the right point in one story to pick up in the other. Strong themes of family and faith are woven throughout the book as the author portrays vibrant and realistic characters who deal with the nonresistant lifestyle of the Amish, learning what it means to care for those who are suffering and understanding the true meaning of grace, God’s grace and love. Leisel has lived a life in fear that God would punish her at every turn. Is life really black and white? The author has expertly written a captivating story that will remind readers that God is in the hard times of our lives, molding us, making us stronger and we can trust Him to give us the desires of our hearts as we learn to delight in Him alone.
I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author. I was not required to write a review and the opinions are my own.
This was a story close to my heart in several ways. The nursing aspect (my son is an RN), WWII (my father-in-law served in the military during that time), the cancer diagnosis (I was diagnosed with cancer seven years ago), the end of life Hospice care (I went through that with my mother) and the difference in beliefs within a family.
An unusual career choice for a woman brought up in the Amish faith, Leisel attends and graduates from nursing school. She feels God has called her into this profession. Not having joined the church yet she is not shunned but there is a strong resistance from her mother. She also meets Nick, who is already working as a nurse. They form a friendship and a bond as they work to achieve their dreams even though they are of different faiths and beliefs.
Leisel comes back home from the big city when she finds out that her sister has been diagnosed with cancer. As she begins helping her sister, her maiden aunt Suz begins telling her about her grandparents and their courtship and struggles. He was Amish and she was an army nurse. This was during WWII.
It was interesting to me reading this present day about Leisel and Nick and the past about the grandparents and how their struggles were similar in that their upbringings were so different. There is real community conflict when an Amish person turns to the English world. I shed a few tears and got choked up a time or two when reading of the struggles some of the characters faced.
My main takeaway was to pass on the stories of our families and their lives so that they live in the hearts of future generations.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through the author but was not required to write a review positive or otherwise.
A Faithful Gathering ( The Sisters of Lancaster County – Book 3 )
By: Leslie Gould
A Faithful Gathering is book three in The sisters of Lancaster County Series. I love the story and the characters , both were well written and realistic. This is Leisel’s story. She is a very caring lady and puts others before herself. She is faces with some difficult choices to make. The story is like reading two stories in one. It deals with the past and the present . The story also deals with some subjects that goes against the Amish. How do they handle them?
I was given a complimentary copy of this book , bit was not told that I had to give a positive review. All opinions are my own.
This is the third book in this series that I have enjoyed, again we back at the farm and with the Bachmann family.
This is mainly Liesel’s story, but really the sister’s and maybe Aunt Suz, as she tells some of the family history. Wow, we are in the present and so involved with what is going on, and then we become engrossed in Gus’s life, he is Suz’s brother and the girl’s father.
The saying that history repeats itself is prevalent in a way that makes them realize what is important and to grab what is being offered.
I didn’t want to leave, and have loved getting to know this family and how their community began and continuing.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Bethany House, and was not required to give a positive review.