The Healing Jar

Brunstetter, Wanda E. The Healing Jar. Uhrichsville, Ohio: Shiloh Run Press, an imprint of Barbour Publishing, 2019.

When Jesse and his young daughter move to their community, Lenore falls in love with the motherless child. She gets her chance at love, but will Jesse be able to move past his love for his first wife to give Cindy the mother she needs? Threads of the story focus on Sara's pursuit of finding her biological father and Michelle's move with husband Ezekiel to New York. I haven't read the earlier books in this series, but I feel certain they provide additional insights into the characters backstories. While the writing style needs improvement, the story itself is enjoyable and should resound with fans of the Amish fiction genre. Discussion questions at the end provide good fodder for book discussion groups in churches. I received an advance review copy through NetGalley with the expectation of an honest review.

The Amish Cookie Club

Price, Sarah. The Amish Cookie Club. New York: Zebra/Kensington, 2019.

Myrna's gift is organization; however, what is organized to her may not be organized to someone else. Reorganizing merchandise leads to her job loss. She ends up back in her father's hardware store in the back. One of the Amish women who bakes cookies with her mother suggests Myrna might be able to help a widower by caring for his four children and keeping house while he minds the farm. Zeke makes it clear he lacks interest in marrying again. The rumor mill suggests he does not believe in medicine and that he refused medical treatment for his late wife. Everyone who encounters him finds him to very nice and caring and don't understand how he might be so conservative as to refuse medical treatments but still allow running water and other more progressive things. The Amish women wonder almost immediately if Myrna and Zeke will marry. While this is not great literature, it is the perfect escape. It was the right book at the right time--a clean, wholesome romance. This review is based on an electronic copy received through NetGalley with the expectation of an honest review.

The Amish Widow's Rescue

Good, Rachel J. The Amish Widow's Rescue. New York: Forever, 2019.

When Grace’s husband dies suddenly, neighbor Elijah helps with the children as she accompanies her husband to the hospital. He helps with her chores as she manages two children, a baby on the way, a jam business, and household duties. Elijah is distrustful of women after what happened in his own family. The two find themselves being drawn to one another in her year of mourning. The Amish in this novel are more progressive than in many others as they use technology in business with the bishop’s approval. It was an enjoyable summer read embracing truths without being preachy. I received an advance review copy through NetGalley with the expectation of an honest review.