Four sweet stories about reuniting with the ones you love. Their True Home by Amy Clipston When Marlene Bawell moved from Bird-in-Hand ten years ago, she was in the deepest of mourning for her mother. Now her family has moved back so her father can seek employment after being laid off. To help save money, Marlene works at the hardware store owned by Rudy Swarey’s father. She knew Rudy growing … She knew Rudy growing up and had a secret crush on him, though he never seemed to notice her. But just as a friendship between them begins to blossom, her life is once again turned upside down. Will Marlene ever have a chance to find her own true home?
A Reunion of Hearts by Beth Wiseman
Ruth and Gideon Beiler experienced one of life’s most tragic events. Unable to get past their grief, the couple abandoned their Amish faith and went in different directions, though neither could bear to formally dissolve the marriage. When their loved ones reach out to them to come home for a family reunion, Ruth has reason to believe that Gideon won’t be there. Gideon also thinks that Ruth has declined the invitation. Family and friends are rooting for them to reunite, but will it all be enough for Ruth and Gideon to get past their grief and recapture a time when they were in love and had a bright future ahead of them?
A Chance to Remember by Kathleen Fuller
Cevilla Schlabach, Birch Creek’s resident octogenarian matchmaker, is surprised when Richard, a man from her Englisch past, arrives in Birch Creek for a visit. While he and Cevilla take several walks down memory lane, they wonder what the future holds for them at this stage of life–friendship, or the possibility of something else?
Mended Hearts by Kelly Irvin
At eighteen Hannah Kauffman made a terrible mistake. Her parents and members of her Jamesport Amish community say they’ve forgiven her. But she feels their eyes following her everywhere she goes with eighteen-month-old Evie. Thaddeus, Evie’s father, escaped this fate by running away from Jamesport. Now that Thaddeus is gone, Hannah’s old friend Phillip is stepping up to be by her side. He has waited patiently for Hannah to realize just how much he cares for her. But when Thaddeus returns after two years, Hannah can’t deny the love she feels for him. Does the fact that Phillip has waited patiently for her all this time mean that she owes him something? Can she trust either one of them? Can she trust herself? She has repented and been forgiven by the One who is most important–her heavenly Father. But is she willing to risk making more mistakes by opening herself up to love?
- Each story in this sweet, contemporary collection can be read as a standalone, but the stories are best enjoyed together.
- Book length: approximately 100,000 words.
- Includes discussion questions for book clubs
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I love reading novellas, specifically Amish novellas. They are short, quick reads full of life, love, beautiful characters and inspirational messages. Each author creates a story that is different, yet within the collections they blend beautifully.
I loved all four of these novellas but my favorite was Amy Clipston’s Their True Home. I love Clipston’s writing style and how she instantly hooks you into the story. Her characters are flawed, yet perfect. Her messages flow magnificently within the story and by the time you realize you’re at the end of the story, you want more.
In Their True Home, Marlene returns home, and reconnects with old friends, especially Rudy. But, it’s not easy, and God truly is felt through this story of renewal, faith, and hope. Clipston had me hooked from page one, and I felt myself being transported to Bird-In-Hand, working along side Rudy and Marlene, feeling the emotional roller coaster they went through. The connection between Rudy and Marlene is powerful, and I loved watching them find their true place in life!
If you love the simplicity of the Amish life, the way they love with all they have and the way they believe in hope and forgiveness, then order this book now. It’s filled with tender characters, hope filled messages and beautiful writing styles. Definitely 4 star worthy!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley, Zondervan and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*Amy Clipston Beth Wiseman Kathleen Fuller Kelly Irvin
An Amish Reunion contains four heartwarming and appealing stories. I found them to be well-written with steady pacing. All four stories contain relatable characters and situations. They deal with grief, heartbreak, self-doubt, loss of faith, and trust issues. Grief affects each one of us differently. As one of the characters said in Reunion of the Hearts “people say all kinds of things when they are grieving”. People say things they do not mean and later regret. We get to see how it affected our characters and changed their lives. I enjoyed getting the stories on characters I have come to know and love from these authors series. Cevilla is known for playing matchmaker and now the tables are turned. Hannah was shunned for her disobedience, but while she has been forgiven, no one has forgotten. I have wanted to know what happened to Hannah after her shunning (and now I do). One of the phrases I appreciated from this novella was “it is never too late to right a wrong”. The Christian elements are woven throughout each story. We see the importance of faith and prayer in one’s life. Amy Clipston’s Their True Home was an engaging story. I am drawn in immediately, read too quickly and am sorry when the story ends (best kind of books). My favorite story was A Chance to Remember featuring Cevilla. It was such a sweet story that reminds us it is never too late to reconnect with a friend or to find love. My favorite phrase from that story is from Cevilla “I always put my trust in God and always will”. One expression that is especially meaningful is “love is a home where your heart can live forever”. There are discussion questions after each novella. I delighted in reading these four heartfelt and impactful Amish novellas.
I enjoyed this collection of stories with a second chance at love theme. The circumstances that separated each couple were very different, but a range of emotions was present in each. Sadness, grief, and loneliness created a sharp contrast to the hopeful feelings that the reunions brought, with a blossoming of love not only for each other but for the Lord. The paths our lives take are not always clear, but trusting in God and His will is a strong tenant of the Amish faith. I was engaged as I read about the journeys of these characters and the heartbreak they endured and overcame with a renewed healing.
Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.
Enjoyable Amish fiction!
Short stories to make you smile and enjoy on a long afternoon or unwind in the evenings. Sweet romances from amazing authors.
*I was given a copy by the publisher and this is my honest opinion.
Honest & true to scripture. A pleasant change from secular writings.
This is such a great collection of stories written by four very gifted Amish authors. Every story has a theme of “reunion” of some kind. The ages of the characters run from young adult to senior citizen. The storylines are as varied as the ages of the characters, and involve love, faith, forgiveness, and redemption. I can’t pick a favorite from among the four stories. Each one is special in its own way and I loved reading each page of this book. Even though the stories are shorter, each is very well written and the endings are not rushed. This book serves as a great springboard to discover more great books from these wonderful authors. One of the best collections of Amish stories I’ve read to date.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
This collection has 4 amish stories written by good writer! I recommend it.
a) Their true home – Amy Clypton
review: After Anna and Marlene mother’s dead, her father made the hard decision to went away. they went for 10 years to Indiana and built a new life,then..
b) A reunion of hearts – Beth Wiseman
review: Sad story about a buggie incident. husband and wife react to the grief leaving the amish village. you can feel in the story, the pain, anger, grief, faith.
c) A chance to remember – Kathleen Fuller
review: Richard, after 50 years, goes to pay visit to Cevilla that lives as amish. what good memories, good friends, good talks, nice to meet her again, sweet lovely story.
d) Mended hearts – Kelly Irvin
review: If you make a sin, in the amish villages there are rules to respect. Hannah knows well that, her heart is full of pain. good writer.
Amy Clipston, Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller, and Kelly Irwin … what a great group of writers! And when it comes to Amish fiction, these authors are the cream of the crop. These four novellas are similar in theme, yet each story is unique, beautifully reflecting the author’s individual style. An Amish Reunion is one of my favorite novella collections.
The “reunion” theme – literally referring to people coming together again after a period of separation – easily draws readers in. Reuniting can often be joyful, but as Marlene and Rudy discovered in Their True Home by Amy Clipston, it can also stir up painful memories. I remembered Rudy from a previous story and was pulling for his chance at a happily-ever-after ending here. Marlene, uprooted from her beloved home in Bird-in-Hand when her mother died, searches for a sense of belonging – of home. I enjoyed watching the friendship between these two blossom, even as Marlene’s dad struggled to cope with past heartbreak and memories.
Each one of these heartwarming stories focuses on family and the common need for faith, trust, forgiveness and grace. An Amish Reunion is a thoroughly enjoyable read and I hope for more collections from these talented authors. Recommended.
I received a copy of this book through the Bakery Bunch and Zondervan. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
An Amish Reunion is an endearing novella collection featuring stories by Amy Clipston, Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller, and Kelly Irvin. Set in various Amish communities, this book includes stories in which reunions between friends and family members lead to second chances, renewed hope, and sometimes even a little romance. Each of the stories in this collection includes a very likable cast of characters who bravely endeavor to reconnect with people of their past as they attempt to find belonging, forgiveness, healing, peace, and wholeness.
From the first novella to the last, I truly enjoyed the delightful stories these authors created. I quickly became interested in the plot of each novella, and I also had genuine emotional connections to the characters within each story. Their trials, motivations, fears, faith, and perseverance kept me interested and uplifted page after page.
Creatively connected by the themes of reunion, reconnection, and reconciliation, these novellas are engaging, meaningful, and entertaining. There is an easy flow from one novella to the next as the four special stories highlight the gift of grace, the value of friendship, the power of faith, and the bonds of community.
An Amish Reunion is a book with plenty of warmth and a lot of heart. The novellas it contains are memorable, thoughtful, and inspiring. I eagerly recommend this book to all readers.
*I was given a copy of this book by the author/publisher through Netgalley. A review was not required. The review I have written contains opinions that are entirely my own.
An Amish Reunion is a collection of novellas by 4 leading Amish fiction authors.
Their True Home. Amy Clipston
Rudy Swarey has devoted himself full time to working at his fathers hardware store. The constant work helps him not focus on his past mistakes but he does feel a deep yearning for something more. Marlene returns to Bird in Hand with her father and sister. They have been gone 10 years. Marlene is so happy to return home. She immediately takes a job at Swarey’s Hardware store to help put down roots and rekindles long lost friendships.
Reunion of Hearts. Beth Wiseman
Ruth and Gideon Beiler were a happily married couple until a tragic accident took the life of their young daughter and tore them apart. Both left the Amish lifestyle and entered the outside world. After 5 years of living apart they are returning to divide up their house to sell so that both may move on to live separate lives.
A Chance to Remember Kathleen Fuller
Cevilla Schlabach has a nice record as a matchmaker in her Birch Creek, Ohio community. She has been happy serving the Lord as a single woman over the past 80 years. God brings a long lost friend, Richard Johnson, back into her life who brings comfort and companionship to her life that she did not realize was missing.
Mended Hearts Kelly Irvin
Hannah Kauffman is trying to turn her life around. She is a hard working single parent who made a mistake and feels she will spend the rest of her life trying to undo her past. A young man in the community, Philip, has shown interest in her for the past couple years. It appears as though he is ready to make a permanent commitment to Hannah and her daughter Evie. All moves forward until Thaddeus, Evie’s father returns, wanting to be a part of their lives.
It is a great book!
An Inspirational and Delightful Read
An Amish Reunion is a collaboration by four authors. The stories are about love, faith, hope, family, and healing, and yet, each story is different. Each author has woven these themes into their stories in their own unique way making this collaboration an inspiring and delightful read.
Their True Home by Amy Clipston
After ten years, Marlene Baxwell returns back to her home town. She reintegrates into the community and runs into Rudy Swarey, her former crush from their school days. A friendship blossoms, but will it become more?
A Reunion of Hearts by Beth Wiseman
Can a couple recover what they once had after suffering a tragic loss? Does time heal all wounds? Ruth and Gideon Beiler reflect on these as they are reunited after years of separation. Will love and God’s faithfulness bring these two back together?
A Chance to Remember by Kathleen Fuller
Although one is Amish and the other Englisch, Cevilla Slabach and Richard Johnson were great friends in their younger days. But decades have passed since they’ve seen or heard from one another. However, life situations bring fond memories back to Richard and he decides to try and reconnect with Cevilla. Is love possible after all these years?
Mended Hearts by Kelly Irvin
Mistakes in life are painful. Hannah Kauffman lives this every day as she feels her community has forgiven, but not forgotten. Even so, she works hard and is doing her best in raising her child as a single parent. When Thaddeus Yoder returns home, Hannah struggles even more, not just with what others think, but about what she feels for Thaddeus. He also feels the pain of life’s mistakes, but is working to change and make things right. Will their love grow? Will it bring forgiveness and healing?
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Zondervan through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
An Amish Reunion is a very well-written and enjoyable group of novellas. Each novella is independent of the others in the collection, however, they all have a theme of reunion and coming home.
I enjoyed all four novellas a lot. I had two favorites stories in this collection, A Reunion of Hearts by Beth Wiseman and Mended Hearts by Kelly Irvin. These two novellas really captured so much angst from the past and I felt very invested in hoping that these couples could reconcile and have a future together.
I definitely recommend this collection and enjoyed each of the four novellas that are included in it.
(4.5 stars)
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
I love books like this because readers get to read stories from four amazing authors. They each have a gift for writing and giving us characters we can relate to. Sit back and enjoy these stories about reunions, family, love and hope.
THEIR TRUE HOME by AMY CLIPSTON
It is not always easy to come home especially for Marlene and her family. Her father is very concerned about providing for his family since he lost his job. His decision to return to their home they had ten years ago is very hard on the family. I loved how the family pitched in to help with chores and expenses. Her dad is still grieving the loss of his wife and I think his pride is a little hurt having to return to the town he left long ago. When Marlene finds a job to help out, I wondered if her father would be pleased with her. Rudy and Marlene hit if off pretty well and working together helps build a good friendship. I liked the story and how welcoming the community was to Marlene and her family. What will happen when Marlene’s dad gets news of a job from the town they just left? Can Marlene convince her dad that they are already home? Lovely story of finding your way home and falling in love.
A REUNION OF HEARTS by BETH WISEMAN
My heart ached as I read that Ruth was coming home for a reunion that would bring back painful memories. I could feel her grieve as she relived the day she received news that her precious daughter and mother-in-law had died in an accident. The pain was too much for Ruth and her husband Gideon. They both left their faith and went their separate ways. Will the reunion heal their wounds? Can it bring them back together? Ruth’s fear is great and she will have to let God help her through her grief and take away any fear she has. I felt sorry for Gideon who was hurting but didn’t really know what to say to Ruth. The story is about healing not just from losing someone but losing faith in God. It is emotional at times and I could feel Ruth and Gideon pain as they shared how hard it was for them to lose their child. Can God restore their marriage? Will forgiveness bring them closer to each other ? This reunion is full of tears, dealing with the past and allowing God to heal your broken heart.
A CHANCE TO REMEMBER by KATHLEEN FULLER
There is no way not to fall in love with Cevilla. She is a wonderful character who welcomes Richard and his granddaughter to stay with her while they are in town. I love Cevilla’s take charge attitude and sincere love of life. It had been awhile since Cevilla and Richard have seen each other. The author gives us a lovely story of two mature adults who reminiscence about their past together and along the way find happiness again with each other. Meghan is out of sorts in her live and maybe this visit will be just what she needs. Her love for her grandfather is obvious and together they will come to terms with the past and find new memories to cherish. We are all worthy of love and these characters will find out how much they are loved in this heart warming story.
MENDED HEARTS by KELLY IRVIN
Hannah is a sweet young lady who made a mistake according to the community and had been banned for a period of time. For her it seems like people are still treating her like she has not been forgiven. I liked how Hannah took responsibility and does her best to support herself and her little girl Evie. It angered me to read that the father skipped out and left Hannah all alone with a baby. The story is a wonderful example of forgiveness. I don’t know how I would respond if the father of my child deserted us and then shows up two years later. We all want to be forgiven but for Hannah it is much more than forgiveness. For Hannah it is about trusting someone who broke your heart and left you to face the community on your own. The story is an emotional journey as two people try to repair the hurt from their past. I thought it was a great example of how easy it is to hold on to something you thought you had forgiven.
I received a copy of this book from the authors and Fiction Guild. The review is my own opinion.
I am a huge fan of the four authors in this collection and have read most everything they have written so I knew I would enjoy each of the four stories. I normally don’t have a favorite in these collections but in this one my absolute favorite was penned by Beth Wiseman. I absolutely adored Elizabeth and Gideon Beiler In a Reunion of Hearts.
Their story was the most moving to me and I rooted for them to find the peace and happiness they truly deserved.
One of the other things I liked was reconnecting with characters crafted by Amy Clipston in, Their True Home and Kathleen Fuller in, A Chance to Remember. Admittedly I haven’t always liked Rudy Swarey but Ms. Clipston managed to do what I thought would be impossible by making him likeable so kudos to her for making that happen! I’ve always loved Cevilla Schlabach and I loved her storyline so much. Kelly Long always captures my heart with her writing making her one of my favorite authors.
All of the stories are poignant with characters who you will love making this collection one I highly recommend.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher but was under no obligation to write a review. All opinions are my own.
My opinion is this is the best Amish Novella Collection I have read. What a great list of authors that should have you running to buy. This is an A-list collaboration.
Amy Clipston starts us off with Their True Home. Who says you can’t go home again after 10 years. This story captures your heart and you will admire Marlene’s strength.
Beth Wiseman will draw you into A Reunion Of Hearts. You will definitely need tissues for this amazing read by a must read author. You will be transported into the story of Ruth and Gideon as they walk the road of grief. Facing the difficult things helps us to grow and find healing. This is a must read.
Kathleen Fuller pens A Chance To Remember and has me in my happy place reading about one of my favorite characters, Cevilla Schlabach. What a wonderful twist having an English man from her past visit. This is a rewarding read. Happy dancing.
Mended Hearts by Kelly Irvin shows how finding forgiveness and acceptance after poor choices can be a long road, but repentance and redemption eventually comes if we have the perseverance to endure.
Each story is a stand-alone but they share the theme of a reunion of some sort. You will be enthralled with this one.
I received a complimentary copy from the author/publisher. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.
This is a novella collection of four Amish short stories. Let me tell you how much I enjoyed every story here. I’ve read many book by all of these popular Amish genre writing authors and the shorter stories don’t make the stories any less enjoyable. All of these novellas have complete story lines and I loved them! They all revolve around some type of reunion. We all sin and do wrong sometimes pretty big, wrongs,I love seeing how freely forgiveness is given among the Amish.
Pub Date 09 Apr 2019.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you. All opinions expressed are my own.
Each time I read novellas by these four authors I’m amazed how they can tell such a complete, compelling story in such a short time frame. And they’ve done it once again.
Instead of leaving a review for each story, let me say that they are all incredible. I love the characters, I love the settings. I love everything about these stories. You’ll see old friends again and meet new friends. Riveting story lines will keep you turning the pages to see what’s next.
As always, it’s refreshing to read about people who take life slower than we do, who understand the importance of God and family, and who are not perfect. The romances are clean and suitable for even the teenage reader. I highly recommend An Amish Reunion!
I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.
Wonderful collection of stories about different seasons of change !
In the first story Amy Clipston gives us a story about Marlene and Rudy, a young couple learning change through working together. Marlene navigates the change of moving home after years spent away and she deals with memories of loss associated home. I thought this was a great story on how to push yourself to overcome past sadness and turn it to something new.
In the second story Beth Wiseman tells a story about Ruth and Gideon and how they deal with the loss of a child and the impact on their marriage. They don’t handle the loss well at first, but after five years the Lord leads them home to each other. A great story about grief and the growing that can come out of that time in life.
The third story is by Kathleen Fuller. She tells a story about a wonderful, sarcastic, and straight speaking Grandma type lady who is used to matchmaking for other people. But this time God had something special in mind for her. A very sweet story.
Last but not least we get a story by Kelly Irvin. She tells us a story about a young couple who didn’t wait and it was made worse by some decisions that were made. But through their trials came forgiveness and growing into the people that God wanted for them to be. A particularly good story as it is not always a subject people will face head on. I loved it and I think it was a great representation of the true circumstances that people go through when they have a baby out of wedlock, especially in an Amish community,
This is a great collection of stories that I would definitely recommend reading, it is great encouragement when going through different seasons of change.
I volunteered to read this book from Zondervan Fiction in return for my honest feedback. The opinions expressed within are my own.
This is a wonderful group of 4 novellas. Each story is an Amish romance that is based upon some form of reunion. Each story has wonderful characters and a great lesson to be learned. The four stories are by Amy Clipston, Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller and Kelly Irvin. These were well written and they made me laugh and cry. I really enjoyed this book. I received a copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.