Among the New-new Order Amish of Oakland, Maryland, children bring precious hope, joy—and sometimes an unexpected second chance at love . . . For Amish widower Phillip Baker, providing for his family in the wake of his wife’s death means back-breaking work and renewed dedication to his faith. Still, his strength can’t help him relate to his little son’s struggles. It seems a godsend when new … seems a godsend when new doctor Emily White is able to treat Gabe’s shyness and fear even as she helps heal him. But no matter how strongly Phillip is drawn to the caring Englisher from the city, their differences may be too great to overcome . . .
Reeling from her own tragic loss, Emily keeps loneliness at bay through her clinic work. Somehow, though, Gabe and his gentle, sad-eyed father are making her want to risk opening her heart again. But can she find acceptance in their Plain world—and a way to turn their separate lives into a family forever? . . .
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This is very much a different kind of Amish story. Phillip is a part of the New Order Amish Community in Pleasant Valley. He meets Dr. Emily White when his 4 year old son, Gabe, becomes ill and has to be hospitalized. This is a story of heartache, loss and great love as he deals with his son’s illness and his mother’s old Amish beliefs. Also a beautiful romance developing between the two main characters. I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading the second book in the series.
All He’ll Ever Need by Loree Lough is the first book in A Little Child Lead Shall Them series. Phillip Baker is a unique male Amish character with his Englisch dress and speech. He struggles with the rules of the community. Phillip is more open and friendly than most Amish as we see by his interactions with Emily. Phillip’s attitude comes from working among Englischers from an early age and needing to fit in instead of getting picked on. Phillip’s faith is weak because he does not understand why God let Rebecca die. Dr. Emily White is suffered heartache and understands what Phillip is going through. She also loves Phillip’s adorable son, Gabe. I did feel that the romance progressed at fast pace, but love can happen that way depending on the people and the circumstances. I understood Phillip’s struggles with faith and his community’s rules. Bishop Fisher had certain set ideas for how people should act and behave. He even disapproved of books that Gabe read. I am glad the author provided an epilogue to nicely wrap up the book. All He’ll Ever Need is lovey Amish romance that is a diverting way to spend a couple of hours.
ALL HE’LL EVER NEED by Loree Lough is the first book in the A Little Child Shall Lead Them series. It is the absolutely marvelous story of Gabe Baker, a very lovable four year old little Amish boy who is struggling with major health issues.
Philip Baker, Gabe’s father, has had his share of losses in his life – from his father, brother and even his wife. It has him doubting himself, his way of life and even God. When his son faints and is carried by ambulance to the hospital where he finds out that his son has a major heart problem that at the least needs surgery and at the worse could take his life, it’s like it’s the final blow. He just can’t lose his son too. Can he find the faith to turn to prayer having faith that God has this?
Dr. Emily White becomes not only Gabe’s doctor, but his advocate to see that he gets the best possible care as well as the top surgery, even if it means facing her ex-finance’. She’d thrown herself into her work after their breakup, but there is something about Gabe and his father that touch her heart to its depths that pulls her to them wanting to help any way possible – wanting more.
Sarah, Philip’s mother, moved in tending to their needs and helping with Gabe after Philip’s wife, Rebecca, died when Gabe was quite small. For that he’s been forever grateful, but he’s also had to listen to her belittle him for his non-Amish ways and choices through the years. Taking Gabe to a doctor and having surgery plus his spending time with the Englischer doctor, are more thing to add to her list of things to lecture him about.
Almost from their first meeting, Philip and Emily felt a connection and the feeling of wanting more. With one Amish and the other Englischer, it would never work – would it? Can they both clear their heads of the past for the possibility to move forward? Is it even allowed for the two to explore such possibilities? Will it take a tragedy and a few last words to make them both see that they must fight for being together? But would he become Englischer or could she give up all she’s worked for to become Amish? Could they do it or would the sacrifice on one or the other be too much?
Will Sarah’s heart be softened with the return of her grandson? Can she open her eyes to the goodness of those around her seeing the lengths they go to in order to make her happy? Could she open her heart to Emily?
Will Gabe’s operation give him the one true wish – to run and play with his cousins? Will his words of wisdom touch the hearts of those he loves in a way to revive their faith? Out of the mouths of babes will a child lead them back to faith in God?
Loree Lough weaved faith and love into an amazing story. ALL HE’LL EVER NEED will have you smiling, hoping, anxious, feeling full of faith, and a time or two grabbing the tissue. All while telling a heart tugging story that will have you giving a sigh of happiness when you shut the back cover. Then you will be looking to see how long before HOME TO STAY, the second book in this series, comes out like I did.
Highly recommend ALL HE’LL EVER NEED to anyone that loves a great Christian book with a story that will warm your heart and leave you full of happiness!
I loved this book. This is certainly a different Amish read and I can relate to Gabe the little boy that is featured in this story.
Like him I too had to have heart surgery but I think I was a couple of years younger than him. You see, I had two holes in my heart that needed patched. They patched it but the patches weren’t big enough so now I have a slight heart murmur but by the Grace of God I am still going.
The mother in this story kind of reminds me of my own mother in law. She can’t do something nice without throwing it back into our faces about it. Only difference is she doesnt have a Bishop to talk to like Sarah did. I didn’t like Sarah for that reason.
Loree is an excellent author. I love the way she can write and at the same time pull you into her stories like this one.
I love this one because as I said at the beginning. Gabe. Gabe is a pretty special little boy and he made me relive that part of my life that I apparently had shut out. I love his sweet disposition. Made me want to put my arms around him like Emily did and tell him that everything would be ok.
God takes excellent care of us doesn’t He? He has me and I thank him everyday. Do you thank God for all He’s done for you?
My thanks to Netgalley for a complimentary copy. NO compensations were received. All opinions are my own.
When he seeks life-saving medical treatment for his seriously ill young son Gabe, Phillip Baker raises the ire of members of his own family and his New Order Amish community. When he Dr. Emily White, who does all she can to help Gabe and his father, fall in love they must decide whether to part or find an acceptable compromise.
I absolutely loved this book. I haven’t read anything by Loree Lough that I haven’t liked. This was a light hearted read that took me away to Amish country for awhile. I can’t wait to read the next one!
Book one in the A Little Child Shall Lead Them series a well written story with a very good storyline. I was not putting this book down until I had finished it. Amish widower Phillip Baker,and his son Gabe who is very sick they meet the new doctor Emily White an Englisher. This story had my emotions all over. I recommend this book. I received a copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Amish romance is one of my favorite genres. I like it because I’m guaranteed a clean romance with unnecessary sex scenes and crude language.
Loree Lough has delivered that in the first in a new series. Emily and Phillip’s story is one of heartache, loss, and hope. A story that makes you cry and smile.
My only issue with it was I felt the romance was rushed into way too soon. I wish it had taken more time to develop. Does it hurt the story? No. Does it make me like the story any less? No.
I love the premise behind this series of “a little child shall lead them.” I am looking forward to the next book in the series.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, Kensington, through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.
A different look at the Amish faith and dealing the non-Amish community.
This is a book that will touch your heart. It is full of emotions and will make you laugh, cry and smile.The author makes the book come to life and you feel like you know the people when you finish reading it. I recommend this book anyone who is looking for a clean, well written book.
I took a chance on this book. Why you might ask? Because I could probably count on one hand the books I liked that had a Amish background to it. I didn’t want to be disappointed again. I think that I can safely say that I wasn’t disappointed.
The main characters were really good. It wasn’t hard to like Emily and Phillip. Both individually and as two people who were interacting together. The attraction developed very quickly but they were also in some pretty serious situations with his son Gabe too. Now, Gabe there was another really good main character as well. He was sweet, smart and also incredibly ill.
I liked that Emily had a heart as big as all outdoors and continually showed it. She has a loving family and she is especially close to Pete, Pete is one interesting guy who is fun, charming and skilled at his job. He is also Emily’s best friend. Emily was so tender and professional with Gabe and she was also being drawn towards Phillip more and more. She sure wasn’t sure how that could ever work out if it ended up going anywhere at all.
Gabe was such a hardworking, honest man with a huge struggle with his faith in God and the rules that his community were always trying to put on him. They didn’t fit and I have to say that even though they were the New Order of their faith, the Bishop sure tried to force people into his image and his way of doing things. The thing is that Phillip had some legitimate questions that continually got pushed aside. Even his mother was constantly harping on him to do things HER way. . He was practically working himself almost to death and he was so unappreciated! I have to say that I really dislike bullies and that’s what the Bishop and Sarah his mother came across as. She was so negative at first that it made ME want to scream. But hold on, she does have redeeming qualities, so not all is lost.
Hannah who is his sister is more in Phillip’s corner than I expected. I guess I figured she would follow the party line really close. But we get to see there are some things that they agree on and the love for each other shines through.
There is a totally unexpected twist towards the end that really is a tearjerker. But there is also a good H.E.A. for Emily, Phillip and Gabe. It made for a good ending.
“I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”
The author has offered us a very different Amish read, a man who has lost his wife, and is raising his four-year-old son, with the help of his mother. Sounds normal, but Phillip is walking to the beat of his own drum. He is a member of a new order sect, but he pushes his own way to the ultimate, but we see his heart is with being Amish.
Enter a difficult time in these characters lives, and little Gabe becomes ill, will he bend to the culture and put all in the hands of God, or receive help that God has provided by way of modern medicine?
This makes for a page turning read, and I loved the epilogue. Thank you Loree Lough!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Kensington, and was not required to give a positive review.