Coffee Time Romance & More Award – 5 cups“The struggles Rachel goes through make this story well worth reading, allowing the reader to connect with Rachel and others, as if it was their own life. Definitely a to-buy book.”After her mother’s untimely death, a twenty-year-old Amish woman has a difficult decision to make: Choose to break from the Plain community and her boyfriend and live in the … and live in the English world permanently…or join the Amish church.
Rachel Hershberger wants to get away from her Amish home in Fields Corner, Ohio. For a year she’s been trying to fill her mother’s shoes by taking care of her father and siblings. She quit her job at the bakery so she would have more time to clean and cook at home. Before her mother died, Rachel was positive she wanted to marry Samuel Weaver, but now she can’t think about wedding plans. She blames her father for her mother’s death. If they had installed a phone in their barn or a shanty, her mother might have received medical help in time to save her life. Her mother’s death has made Rachel question if she should be baptized and join the church. She wonders if non-Amish women live longer and have less stress. Maybe her forty-four-year old mother would still be alive had she left the Amish lifestyle like her sister Carrie did.
When her Aunt Carrie invites her to go to the beach, Rachel decides the time away will help her to decide whether to join the Amish church or to live in the English world. She is conflicted because she loves Samuel and her family. Instead of a relaxing time away, disturbing events happen while Rachel’s in Florida. A photographer snaps troublesome pictures of Rachel because of her famous senator uncle, and a handsome and charming college student falls in love with Rachel.
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A sweet romance that holds true to the Amish values and traditions. A soothing and relaxing read of faith and trust in God.
First forgive for not using the Amish words.
I loved learning some about the Amish. There time of decision making. The teaching of forgiveness and desires to serve God. How loss can effect people,
True love wins out in this story.
A young Amish woman visits English world to
Be sure of her dedication Amish life. Very good book.
Information about Amish way but too repetitive in the dialogue.
“A Joyful Break” is the first in Diane Craver’s four-part novel series, Dreams of Plain Daughters, about Amish women. Rachel is still grieving over the loss of her mother at age 44. She also is struggling with blaming her father for the death, wondering if her mother might have lived, had they had a phone so they could get help more quickly. In …
Good book
I enjoyed how Rachel searches for Godly answers and didn’t allow others to push her into a decision she wasn’t ready for. This book is very inspirational.
I love all Amish stories and this was really a good read. I would recommend this to any who enjoy Amish tales.
I liked that I wasn’t sure what was going to happen for two thirds of the book.
A Joyful Break is a beautiful story surrounding Amish and Englischer characters. I was drawn into this book from the beginning, even though I had read later books in this series. Rachel was realistic in how she felt after losing her mother and harboring feelings against her dad about not having a phone shanty. Going to the beach with her Aunt …
The Amish characters explained how their choices were based on their values. Their faith seemed very similar to my own. After this enjoyable story, I feel like I understand more about the Amish.
Interesting book!
This was a wonderful read. The author did a great job of portraying Amish culture and faith without demeaning it. This book can be a stand alone read. I enjoyed the characters and how it all fell into place.
Easy to read but not predictable.
A Joyful Break was a delightful look into the Amish culture. It dealt with believable predicaments that could happen to modern day young people and how they used their faith to overcome.
This book helped me realize the life of someone with no eyesight.
a fast read and fun.
This book gave an interesting perspective on the Amish lifestyle.
I thought the book was good at showing sides of the English and the Amish.
A good story, with some interesting insights into the Amish community.