An Amish Heirloom

it was a easy non complicated enjoyable read

An easy read mix of Amish love stories. I will admit to being disappointed that the heirlooms weren’t what I expected – only the first story had one that was used regularly. I expected something like a piece of furniture that was in the house and being used. I also felt the stories ended very abruptly, some without the heirloom being used. That said, they were interesting and varied.

These four novellas were written by four authors that I’ve read several full length novels from each. I knew these stories would be good for that very reason and they were!
Each story contains an item or items that go back generations and bring meaning and inspiration to family members.
A Legacy of Love by Amy Clipston tells the history behind two rocking chairs left to a granddaughter planning her wedding. She begins questioning her decision learning of the laughter and love shared by her grandparents and her parents marriages.
The Cedar Chest by Beth Wiseman is a legacy left to future generations by letters written by great great grandparents. After finding letters in an old forgotten cedar chest that tell of a hidden crime and run from the law, a great great granddaughter, Catherine, learns of a love that refuses to die away.
The Treasured Book by Kathleen Fuller has the center of its story a small antique Bible given to Lucy by Shane after she and her father help him remodel a house next door. Time separates them but she’s kept and treasured the little Bible. Family members work together to try and bring the two of them back to each other. But he is a New York lawyer and she is an Amish woman that helps her dad with construction projects. I especially enjoyed this one because it continued in a small way the story of Noah and Ivy that I had read of in Words from the Heart.
The Midwife’s Dream by Kelly Irvin brings the story of Iris, a young Amish midwife who longs to find her true love and start a family. It seems though that God has other plans for the time being. She delivers the baby of a teenage couple who slip out during the night leaving the baby behind. Brought into the mix is not one but two old baby crib quilts from previous generations. Sometimes hard but also heartwarming to read.
Each story is different but brings in a continuing love through generations of families and a strong love for God.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through the Fiction Guild.

Love it

AN AMISH HEIRLOOM

Legacy of Love by Am Clipston

I love reading stories by this author because she has a gift of making her characters come to life. Leon is a hard worker and seems a bit lonely. I loved the reaction he has when he runs into his old girlfriend Susie. Its not hard to imagine that he still cares for her. Having a relationship is hard when one wants to get married and the other isn’t ready to make that commitment.

When Susie drops off rocking chairs for Leo to repair, I could instantly feel a spark between them. I would love to have those chairs on my front porch. The hours I would spend rocking in them with my husband would be priceless. Those chairs have a precious memory for Susie. Can Leon restore them back to their original beauty? Why does Susie keep visiting Leon even though she is engaged? The story is sweet and captures the beauty of what being in love with someone is.

The Cedar Chest by Beth Wiseman

From the beginning the author intrigued me when Emma and her daughter Catherine discover a forgotten cedar chest in the basement. The excitement as they open it is an attention grabber. The author has a unique ability to write stories that take us to different places and time periods with a sense of being there with the characters. I felt like I was peeking over their shoulders as the chest was opened. What they find inside will change Catherine in many ways. I loved how the author told a story of love and forgiveness. through a couple that lived many years ago. Married couples have problems and sometimes they decide not to fix them.

I loved reading about Isaac and Elizabeth as they tried to reconcile to each other. Through their story, Catherine was able to capture how dear her husband was. I admired Isaac and his willingness to protect Elizabeth. Their story is one that reminds me of my great granddad and great grandmother. They traveled by wagon to homestead their land. They were young but so in love. Many obstacles tried to keep them apart, but my great granddad said he never gave up. They had a wonderful life together and I treasured the stories that were shared about them. Catherine and Abram find themselves drifting apart. Will the letters that Catherine finds help her find peace? I loved this story so much because the author shares a love story of long ago that helps several characters find hope and unconditional love. I think I need to get a cedar chest and fill it will memories for my children to open after I am gone. What a treasure to leave behind family history that shows how God can change hearts.

The Treasured Book by Kathleen Fuller

I have never met anyone like Cevilla but I loved her character so much, She injured herself and has Lucy come stay with her. Lucy wants to help out anyway she can. Does Cevilla have another reason for Lucy being there? Shane is very interesting and has decided he wants to join the Amish church . I loved reading how Shane and Lucy hit it off with each other. I suspect there could be a little matchmaking going on . Cevilla is quite the character. She is feisty and at times very obvious at what she is trying to accomplish. Does Shane and Lucy have feelings for each other? I loved how the author writes a story with fun characters that make readers laugh. You can’t help but love the humor that the author draws from the characters.

When an unexpected visitor shows up, will it cause friction between Shane and Lucy? Those darn silly people who get dumped just don’t know when to give up. I would be furious if an ex showed up at the man’s house I was visiting. This woman has some nerve. Now it’s up to Shane to set her straight if he wants any chance with Lucy. Shane and Lucy will each have to examine their heart and see where God leads them. It’s a great story about new beginnings and letting go of the past.

The Midwife’s Dream by Kelly Irvin

Iris is a very gifted midwife. She loves what she does, but at times it is hard for her. She longs to have a child of her own but is waiting on God for the right time for it to happen. I love how excited she gets each time she helps bring a child into the world. Her smile is contagious and the parents are so comfortable with her there.

An unexpected delivery will surprises Iris. The girl is a mere teenager and the young man with her is not much older. They are not Amish but Iris helps them because she knows God would want her to. I was shocked to learn that the teens had left their baby behind. Why would they do that? They have confidence that Iris will take care of their child until they are able to provide for her. My first thought was how will Iris care for this precious child knowing that someday the parents could come back and claim her? This has to be put in God’s hands for now until Iris can figure out what to do. The story is tenderhearted and explores how hard it is to give up something you love. I cried at the end because the author showed how God was there the whole time protecting the baby knowing what the outcome would be. Iris is a selfless person who has a heart filled with love and faith. You don’t want to miss this story that will restore your faith in people.

At the end of each story the author’s have provided discussion questions. I encourage you to read them and answer them with an humble and true heart.

I received a copy of this book from the authors and The Fiction Guild.

Instead of reviewing each book, I’m going to say read them all. Each author brings in her unique writing style and they are all fabulous. The communities were described so thoroughly you will want to go visit. And the characters; wow. In each book the characters were well developed and relateable.

Full of life’s trials and blessings, these novellas have the common thread of learning to trust God. Of having faith that He wants only the best for us. They kept my interest from beginning to end.

If you enjoy Amish fiction with sweet romance, this book is a must read!

I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.

A Legacy of Love by Amy Clipston
Let me tell ya a story about how this novella is killin’ me. First, it was nice to seem some familiar names and character’s from Amy’s current series Amish Homestead. That being said, I’m not entirely sure I was emotionally ready to read about firefighters and the mention of individuals that had lost their life in a fire, even as a firefighter, I think it’s just too raw yet. I didn’t let that influence my rating on this novella but reading this first one was so hard and emotionally draining. It’s partly why I’m putting off reading ‘Room on the Porch Swing’ as long as possible. I’m not ready. There’s another aspect here that I can’t chalk up to my own emotions or personal issues, it was how Leon and Susie came together. I don’t know how to proceed without spoilers, so consider yourself warned. They had dated, and broken up about four years prior. They came into contact at a funeral (see what I mean. . . emotional turmoil!. . . and re-something their friendship. She was engaged to a neighbor boy she had fallen for, he was single. They start spending time together as ‘frienden’ which in and of itself seems innocent right? However, she finds herself being drawn back to him, and vice vercea. She put herself in a position to be emotionally cheating on her finance. Yes, people will say that there was no ring, no ceremony, no commitment. I very strong disagree. There is a commitment in an engagement, there is a promise of forever. If you feel like you are making a mistake you don’t put yourself in a position to cheat (emotionally or otherwise). She didn’t need to be sneaking around (because the truth is she kinda was) with her ex in order to determine that her fiance wasn’t the one for her. She didn’t need to get ‘caught’ (because that’s how it really played out) to come to the realization and then have the conversation to end the engagement. She most assuredly didn’t need to turn around and get engaged the next time she sees Leon. They are both at fault, lest you take my she’s as pointing fingers only at the girl. If their relationship rekindles through cheating how can they ever truly develop trust that will last a lifetime? This just bothered me. Strongly. I felt the need to come back to this after I slept on it a minute. I appreciated and loved the the realistic approach to this topic, let’s face it the Amish are no more immune to human foibles than the rest of us. My concern lies in the feel that this was glorified the idea of emotional infidelity.

The Cedar Chest by Beth Wiseman
Written in a way that only Beth Wiseman can, blending the saltiness of jaded reality with the wholesome outlook of the Amish, this novella packs a lot of punch. A duel timeline, some shady history, a lot of self-doubt, and the redemption that love always wins. I have to admit that there was always this wisp of something just outside my grasp throughout reading this story. Some fact, some truth, some subtle plot point that I just couldn’t quite put my finger on. I never really did figure out that wisp (and it still bugs me!) but I’ll be OK. Rich characters with a plot that ended entirely too quickly this story was truly amazing.

The Treasured Book by Kathleen Fuller
Cevilla! This woman needs to come live in my neighborhood. Cevilla is back and I couldn’t be happier. Seriously, I adore this woman. And she’s not changed one bit. It was lovely getting to go back to Birch Creek for a minute and see not only Cevilla, but Ivy and Noah as well. Cevilla is one of those older honorary aunts in your life that tends to meddle because she cares, she has life experience, and she’s bored. But she’s so endearing and sweet that while you want to tell her off you don’t because you love her. That is Cevilla. It was interesting to see her doubt herself for a minute in this story, something you NEVER see in your honorary aunt (not because she doesn’t feel it but because she doesn’t admit it). Even with new character’s, they fit into Birch Creek so well and the story was so blended that I didn’t care it was short and sweet, it had a fullness that is hard to capture in a novella.

The Midwife’s Dream by Kelly Irvin
Maybe I’m biased as a Missouri Girl who has family that lives near Jamesport (Trenton). Maybe I’m not biased because I’ve not read the author’s previous novels based out of Jamesport. Either way I really enjoyed this story. I have to tell you in the least spoiler-ish way possible that I loved that there wasn’t a perfectly glittered bow of happily ever after. I mean some things were completely wrapped up but there was no guarantee that it would all be gravy. A promise of the potential was perfect for me. I also have to admit that there were parts of me that felt a little like Iris was a tad whiny, a slight bit annoying, and had a touch of a martyr complex. I admire her strength to desire to do what is right but I think she let other people’s happiness cloud her own possibilities. I’ll be honest, I feel like there were possibly little threads where these individuals had other adventures (if you will) that I feel like would have rounded them out for me more, I didn’t feel like I was missing anything. These were strong well-developed people wrapped up in a sweet and heart enveloping story that was truly enjoyable and encompassing and very worth the read.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by NetGalley. I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.

An Amish Heirloom contains four novellas by Amy Clipston, Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller and Kelly Irvin. Legacy of Love by Amy Clipston involves Leon King, a local volunteer fire fighter and carpenter. Susie Bontrager, Leon’s ex-girlfriend, is getting married to Josh Chupp and she wants her grandmother’s rocking chairs repaired for her new home. Leon agrees to restore them for Susie. Susie stops by Lancaster Furniture Sales and Repair each week to check up on the rocking chairs and old feelings begin to resurface for each of them. Leon regrets letting Susie get away, but he does not want to come between her and Josh. Meanwhile, Susie recognizes that she agreed to marry Josh for the wrong reasons. Will the rocking chairs bring Leon and Susie back together?

Beth Wiseman wrote The Cedar Chest which features Emma Fisher and her daughter, Catherine. Emma knows something is bothering Catherine, but she cannot get her daughter to confide in her. They are in the basement and find the cedar chest that belonged to Emma’s great grandmother which has been unopened since her death. Inside are letters written by her great grandparents. They tell the story of how they came to be together. Emma and Catherine decide to read the letters together. Emma is hoping it will allow time for Catherine to open up to her. She is unprepared for the secrets that come to light when they read the letters.

The Treasured Book by Kathleen Fuller takes us to Birch Creek, Ohio. Lucy Fisher has traveled to Birch Creek to assist Cevilla Schlabach while she recovers from a sprained ankle. Lucy is surprised when she is picked up at the bus station by Shane Broyles who is staying with Noah Schlabach and his wife, Ivy. Lucy and her father had helped Shane renovate a home in Iowa. Lucy carries the miniature Bible that Shane gave her and has been careful not to reveal to Shane how much she cares for him. Shane is considering joining the Amish faith and is using his time in Birch Creek to decide. Cevilla wants Lucy to use her time in Birch Creek to build a life for herself and away from her parents. Shane and Lucy spend time together and are becoming closer. Then Shane’s ex-fiancé arrives in town and wants him back.

The Midwife’s Dream by Kelly Irvin is set in Jamesport, Missouri. Iris Beachy twenty-three years old and is the midwife for her community. Her dream is to have a family of her own, but she is still in love with man who is married to someone else. Mahon Kurtz seeks her help with delivering the baby of a teenage Englischer. Jessica and her boyfriend, Quinn are traveling to Texas and are unprepared when she goes into labor early. Iris brings them home and delivers their little girl, Lily Marie. The next morning Iris finds the two teenagers gone, but they left the baby behind wrapped in a beautiful quilt similar to one Iris will inherit when she becomes a mother. Mahon is able to provide sketches of the two teenagers which they use to trace their movements around town. Iris had always considered Mahon her best friends’ older brother, but, as she spends time with him, she sees him in a different light. Mahon has been in love with Iris for years and has just been waiting for her to get over her prior love.

An Amish Heirloom contains four heartwarming stories that captured and held my attention. Each story has great characters and beautiful settings. I like how each story has an antique item that helps bring the couples together. A handmade quilt, love letters, a miniature Bible and antique rockers are the four items that help unite these four couples. The novellas are well-written and have an easy pace. It is nice to take a break from a full-length book and read these shorter wholesome tales. The authors did a wonderful job at interlacing the Christian elements into their stories. In God’s timing, having faith, the power of prayer, and family values are some of the Christian themes. It was delightful to revisit Cevilla Schlabach. She is an entertaining, eccentric character and provides levity to The Treasured Book. I hope Kathleen Fuller will feature Cevilla in future books. In Amy Clipston’s Legacy of Love, I appreciate her featuring Amish volunteer firefighters. Local fire departments in many areas rely on volunteer fire fighter’s, and I did not know that Amish volunteered for this service. Four wholesome, heartfelt novellas from four seasoned Amish writers. Settle into a comfy chair, relax and escape into An Amish Heirloom–a wonderful way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

Four page-turning stories, that kept me riveted and loving these reads, and I wanted more when the last page was turned. I also liked that some of the characters in these stories have been with me before and I learned to care for them.
This read will keep your attention whether you only have a few minutes to give or maybe time to move on to the next. They are all equally great, and you will not be disappointed. Enjoy!

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Zondervan, and was not required to give a positive review.