Their love of forbidden music brings them together, but it could be what tears them apart. Musical prodigy Levi Shetler hasn’t touched a piano since he secretly played one many years ago. His strict Amish community forbids instruments or the singing of any music not in their approved songbook. Levi asks God often why music tempts him when playing an instrument isn’t allowed in his world. One … his world.
One person knows Levi’s talents: Mary Hershberger, the girl who promised years ago to keep his secret. Mary comes from a more liberal district than Levi, but she’s facing family troubles of her own. The mutual care for an aging Englischer, Adeline, reunites Mary and Levi as young adults. They realize that, despite their differences, they have a shared love of music–and a shared confusion about whether their talents are God-given gifts or temptations luring them into the Englisch world.
The couple realizes they must compromise or part ways, but a tragic accident shakes their decision. Both Mary and Levi will need to reconcile what they love with what their hearts say is right.
“Beth Wiseman has penned a poignant story of friendship, faith, and love that is sure to touch readers’ hearts.” –Kathleen Fuller, author of The Middlefield Family novels
“Beth Wiseman’s Hearts in Harmony is a lyrical hymn. Mary and Levi are heartwarming, lovable characters who instantly feel like dear friends. Once readers open this book, they won’t put it down until they’ve reached the last page.” –Amy Clipston, bestselling author of A Seat by the Hearth
- Full length contemporary Amish romance
- Includes discussion questions for book clubs
- Part of the Amish Journey series
- Book One: Hearts in Harmony
- Book Two: Listening to Love
- Book Three: A Beautiful Arrangement
more
Box of Tissues warning. You will need them almost from the beginning. This book is beautiful; the love flowing throughout (not just romantic love) makes you believe in the good in the world amidst so much hate we hear constantly on the news. I did not want to put this book down. I found myself reading every little chance I got. Adeline, Mary, Levi, and Natalie felt like friends I had had for life.
Hearts in Harmony is about so much more than the love of forbidden music. It is about doing what is right and loving others for who they are not what they can give or provide you. Mary, Levi, and Natalie show us that being selfless and helping those who need it is what life is about. You can have all the money and possessions on the world but without love you have nothing.
I have already noted in my calendar when the second book releases (September 2019) and am anxiously awaiting to read it.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Zondervan through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.
Beth Wiseman has long been one of my favorite Amish fiction authors, and after reading the first book in the Amish Journeys series, I know that I have discovered a wonderful collection of new-to-me stories. Hearts in Harmony was an endearing novel about caring for others, even if they’re outside our normal circle.
There were multiple characters in this first story which is standard fare with large Amish families. While not explained in too many details, there is a noticeable difference between Mary and Levi’s districts which affects how their families live and work. I felt bad for both of them when they didn’t want the other person to meet their families. Levi is ashamed of how primitive his family lives, while Mary is embarrassed about a situation that involves her sister.
In spite of their differences, they (along with another character named Natalie) are able to come together to care for an aging English woman, Adeline. I loved this part of the story so much because too often, the elderly don’t get as much of our time and attention as they should until it’s too late. We often take them for granted. In the case of Adeline’s character, she begins to have obvious issues with her speech, memory, and general health. It takes all three of them to make sure she gets the care she needs.
This tenderhearted story has the happy and the sad in equal measures, and I won’t lie by saying you might shed a tear or two before it’s all said and done. I love that there is some exploration into music and what is/isn’t acceptable in the Amish culture, but that isn’t the primary focus of the book. Amish fiction can easily become a stale backdrop for any story, but this author consistently writes fresh and unique stories for her readers. I’m excited to read the next book in the series to see what unfolds for Natalie.
Originally reviewed at blissbooksandjewels.com
Helping a family friend brings two Amish young adults together, as well as their shared love for music, which is forbidden.
Levi Shetler longs to play the music that calls to him in his head, naturally gifted he has never had a piano lesson yet he has been blessed with an uncanny talent. But that kind of music is forbidden.
Mary Hershberger is a young woman from a more lenient district than Levi’s Old Order District, she also loves to listen and sing along with banned melodies. She and Levi bond over their shared love of music and their friendship with an elderly English woman.
A series of misunderstandings threaten to keep them apart, does their love have a chance?
A heartwarming Amish read, about family, friendship, and love. Mary and Levi come from different spectrums of the Amish, Mary’s family is more modern and wealthy, while Levi’s large family is more modest and traditional. I loved Adeline and how she embraces Levi, Mary, and Natalie as her friends, finding comfort in their friendship. Adeline is a wonderful woman with a natural gift for hospitality, she doesn’t have much but she shares what she has. I loved how she mentored and encouraged Levi, Natalie, and Mary with love and faith.
Natalie is a hardworking young woman who is branching out on her own after a difficult childhood caught between two fighting parents. She connects with Adeline reluctantly, but quickly is charmed by Adeline’s genuine heart for others, expecting nothing in return. I really like how this book shows how she has grown through her pain.
Overall, this was a quick, enjoyable read from one of my favorite Amish story writers, Beth Wiseman. I liked how she handled the difficult topics that came up in this book, and in the context of this story it worked well. Great start to a series, with many memorable characters, and great interaction. I definitely recommend this highly enjoyable read!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Good story!
Beth Wiseman has penned a poignant story of friendship, faith, and love that is sure to touch readers’ hearts.
I loved it. I love the charactors, charming. I couldn’t put it down.
Beth Wiseman’s Hearts in Harmony is a lyrical hymn. Mary and Levi are heartwarming, lovable characters who instantly feel like dear friends. Once readers open this book, they won’t put it down until they’ve reached the last page.
Hearts in Harmony is the exciting beginning to Beth Wiseman’s series, An Amish Journey. I absolutely loved this story. It is among my favorites that I have read by this author. I enjoyed Levi and Mary. They are two characters that felt connected to. I had to find out what would happen with them next and could not put the book down.
I give Hearts in Harmony a very well deserved five plus stars and I highly recommend it. I can not wait to read the next addition to An Amish Journey series.
I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
What is family? Traditionally, we look at family as blood relatives. However, author Beth Wiseman has created a delightful story which shows that family isn’t just limited to the traditional definition, but it can be so much more.
Adeline, Levy, Mary, and Natalie. At one time, all were strangers, each with his or her own challenges, struggles, and beliefs. However, a series of events unexpectedly brings these individuals together. As they come together, their bond is strengthened through moments of sadness and laughter, moments where beliefs are questioned, moments where challenges are faced, and moments where difficult decisions are made.
Their story will immediately draw you in and keep you turning pages with its twists and turns. There are moments that will have you smiling and laughing while others will have you reaching for tissue. But through it all, the bonds of love, faith and trust in God will bring their hearts together in harmony through the love of family.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Zondervan through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This story seemed to flow easily from the pen of Ms. Wiseman. The book was so full of various kinds of love. There was the love between a man and woman with a long marriage under their belt and told from one perspective. There is brand new love between a young man and a young woman, the love of parents for their children, and a bond of friendship like none these characters have ever experienced before. This story shows how you can form a family without sharing a bloodline. It also demonstrates the love God has for His people.
I truly delighted in this telling and am already looking forward to the second installment of this series. When it comes to delving into an Amish story, Beth Wiseman does not disappoint and I am oh so grateful for that gift!
I was given a copy of the book by the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.
This is such a sweet story !!
It really grabbed my attention from the first page and I couldn’t put it down.
Loved the friendship between the characters and I loved the bittersweet ending. The trials, turbulence, and emotions were very realistic which I appreciate and it was a very touchinging story. I can’t say again how much I loved this book!
I beyond highly recommend reading this book!!
I volunteered to read this book from Zondervan Fiction in return for my honest feed back. The thoughts and opinions expressed within are my own.
This is a wonderful story. Two characters who met years ago as children are reunited. Their faith and love brings them together and proves that love can conquer all.
Hearts in Harmony is the first book in An Amish Journey series. Adeline lives in Shoals, Indiana where she has been having financial troubles since the passing of her beloved husband, Percy. Adeline is a sweet Christian woman who has become isolated in the last eight years. Her health is declining, and she can no longer drive. Mary and Levi enter Adeline’s life which is answer to Adeline’s prayers. She is thankful for their company. Adeline is further blessed when Natalie, a cousin from Percy’s side of the family, begins visiting. Adeline is not the only person to benefit from the arrangement. These four individuals were brought together for a reason as we see in Hearts in Harmony. I liked that the younger people were willing to help Adeline. They were kind, caring and helpful. They were never impatient with her and they genuinely cared for Adeline (a shame we do not see more of this in our world). Adeline was such a sweet, wholesome woman. She is a character that you cannot help but love and root for. It was interesting to see the differences between Mary and Levi’s districts. One district was more lenient than the other because of the bishop in charge. There was also a financial disparity between Mary and Levi’s families. Perceptions, kindness, friendships, music and faith are some of issues addressed in Hearts in Harmony. I liked that Levi and Mary asked those in authority about why they are not allowed to play instruments or sing. Individualism is not allowed (which I find odd since we are all unique individuals). Christian elements are woven into the story. I did feel there was a lack of character development and descriptions of the area. I wish the author had taken the time in the beginning to establish the characters. I found the pacing of the story to be slow (it needed a little pep in its step). Hearts in Harmony could have used some judicious editing. It was too long and needed to be tightened up (would have made it a stronger story). Hearts in Harmon is an amiable story with a delightful ending.
Beth Wiseman is a gifted writer who excels at developing characters and portraying the Amish people in an authentic but not preachy way. As a musician, I appreciated the topic of the love of music! But I found this book confusing since it was published in 2019, yet mentioned a terrible economy; in actuality there was an excellent, booming economy that year. So that derailed me a little bit, making it unrealistic. I am not giving up on Wiseman’s books, however. With this one exception, I have very much enjoyed the rest so far!
Mary and Levi meet while at a estate sale for Ms Adeline. Her husband passed away and she is running low on money. They met years ago in the same house at the gentleman’s funeral. She heard him playing the piano and she gave him her address so he could write her. Which he never did. Seeing the shape of the house now Levi and Mary both volunteer to help Adeline. As time passes they notice some things that are off and try their best to keep things up. One day a distant cousin of her husband shows up . Her mom and dad are divorced and her mom is using her to get info on Adeline. She is hoping to get money from her . Natalie is not happy at all with this plan especially after she meets Adeline. As time goes by Mary and Levi really fall for each other. They are from different types of family. Mary has a small family who has plenty and Levi has a large family that has not as much. But they both have the same love for Ms. Adeline and she for them. The trio of young people find out Ms. Adeline is really sick and take her home and take care of her until she passes . After her passing the young couple find out she has left them the house.. Natalie also get the money she needs for her education. This book shows how people from different backgrounds can love and respect each other. I enjoyed the characters in this book and how they worked together. I received this book as a ARC from net galley for my honest review.
The newest book from the author is a like a sweet melody with words. Her characters blend well together and capture a story of friendship and love.
The Amish have very different beliefs than most and I found it amazing that they weren’t allowed to play an instrument. Levi has secretly played piano since he was a child. His hands sweep across the keys with compassion, but he starts to wonder if he is going against what the bishop has said. It would be so hard to have a gift but not be able to use it. I liked how Levi continually asked a God to show him if he was to play or walk away from it in order to be obedient.
Mary is a wonderful young woman who has known Levi since they were children. I liked how Levi and Mary reconnected after years apart. They have come back together to help out sweet Adeline. Oh how I loved this elderly woman. She was my favorite character because she had so much love to give. She has been lonely for awhile and when these young people show up to help her, it made my heart fill with joy.
Natalie is a little more complicated and I struggled at times trying to like her. She is sent by her mother to spend time with Adeline, who is related to them. It doesn’t hurt that she begins a friendship with Mary and Levi as they get together on Saturdays to do chores for Adeline. As she started to spend quality time with Adeline I could feel her heart soften .
The ending of the story is filled with emotion and shows how valuable it is to reach out to others in their time of need. Adeline not only brings three young people together but gains a family in the process. Her heart is happy as they bond and become like her children. I won’t spoil anything but I will say this is the best book I’ve read by the author. Her heart and soul went into this story and I can’t wait to read the next book in this series.
I received a copy of this book from the author. The review is my own opinion.
This was a really neat story! Although both Mary and Levi questioned the reasoning behind the Amish not allowing musical pursuits, that wasn’t the heart of the book. It was fun, however, to see the role music played in bringing these two Amish people together. I did appreciate the way the two of them handled their uncertainties about this subject.
What this story mainly celebrated was friendship between both young and old, Amish and English, and even the differences between Amish districts. The relationships that developed between Mary, Levi, Natalie, and Adeline were what fueled my enjoyment of this unique tale. I look forward to future books in this series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
This is a story about about two Amish people who love music and are trying to understand if its God given and leading them to temptation and the English world.They met many years at at a friends funeral and meet again as young adults.
They start helping a older English lady and begin to have feelings for each other.I am sure you will love the story as much as I did.
Beth Wiseman begins her latest series, An Amish Journey with the beautifully crafted and aptly titled Hearts in Harmony. What a selfless journey Mary, Levi and Natalie take as they form an unlikely friendship that is built on compassion and respect for their elderly friend Adeline. I absolutely loved the different ages, faiths and backgrounds of the main characters and the bond they formed while giving so much of themselves to one who really needed them.
I became emotionally attached to the characters but Levi was my favorite and the one I wanted a lifetime of happiness for most of all. I loved the way Mary and Levi are reunited as young adults after a chance meeting when they were children and yet very little has changed because they both still love music which is forbidden in their strict districts. The author portrays them as respectful talented people who want to play music and sing Christian songs but yet want to remain true to their values and beliefs which is a very fine line for them.
The storyline is an emotional one that at times had me smiling and at times in tears and most importantly made me realize that the author clearly writes quality Amish fiction. This is one of my favorite books penned by Beth Wiseman and I cannot wait to read the second book in the series. I highly recommend this 5-star book.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and was under no obligation to write a review. All opinions are my own.
A chance meeting of two Amish children at a funeral 8 years prior are reunited when they offer to help the elderly widow. They along with a distant cousin of the widow’s husband, bring joy and family that she had been lacking.
The Amish live 40 miles apart, but when you compare their lives it seems like 100 years, the districts are so different, one progressive and the other, well! This being said, one of the funniest parts of this book happens at the home of the less modern, Levi! Laugh out loud moment.
I loved how these three-showed compassion to their fellow man, and decided to do one of the hardest things, care giving.
We see that these three all live differently, but the family dynamics are not all that dissimilar.
A story full of love, tears, and a few good laughs.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Zondervan, and was not required to give a positive review.