An Amish Love by Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller & Kelly Long

Thomas Nelson publishing company has just sent me a collection of 3 novellas to read, all in one book called An Amish Love, written by 3 familiar authors: Beth Wiseman, Kathllen Fuller & Kelly Long. Each story is around 130 pages and the setting is modern day in Paradise, PA. In A Marriage of the Heart, Abby wishes to escape the lonely life with her widower father, and deceitfully tricks Joseph into marrying her. Joseph has just come back to the Amish faith after living as an Englisher for the past 5 years. Joseph shows her that life in the English world isn't always what it seems, and how to be content in the life that God gave her. In What the Heart Sees, Ellie is blind as the result of an auto accident during her rumschpringe that also took the life of her best friend Caroline. Caroline's boyfriend Christopher is still hurting from her death and has turned away from God and the Amish way of life. Ellie shows Joseph what true forgiveness is and how to accept God's direction in his life, and Joseph realizes that he can still care of someone even if his first love dies. In Healing Hearts Levina and Naaman Lapp were married for 30 years. Then Naaman set off for Middlefield, OH on a type of middle-life crisis where he was trying to find himself. While he is gone for almost a year, Levina takes care of their home and has to deal with the rumors of why her husband left. When Naaman comes home, it is a true test of love, trust, and forgiveness, as well as understanding on Levina's part. They begin to "date" again, and they realize that life just got so busy that they forgot to take time for themselves. I liked all 3 novellas. They made me think of how I would react if I was in that situation. It also challenged me to not take life for granted and appreciate what you have. The characters were strong and easy to relate too. I would have liked it if all 3 novellas had more of an intertwined story. Some of the same characters were mentioned in each book, but only in passing. This is a great read for anyone who likes an Amish story with a happy ending!

A Time to Dance by Karen Kingsbury

A Time to Dance is Book 1 in the Timeless Love Series by Karen Kingsbury. John and Abby Reynolds have been married for 21 years, but in the last couple of years, the fighting has started as they had lead separate lives and neither feels loved anymore. Abby is sure John is having an affair, and John feels Abby criticizes his every move. Then their oldest daughter announces she is getting married on their anniversary in 6 months. Not wanting to upset her happy wedding plans, they vow to wait until after the wedding to announce their divorce plans. As they are thrown together for their daughter they remember what their relationship used to be, and wonder how they got to this place of unhappiness and so far away from God.
I couldn't put this book down!!! And even though I cried through at least half of it, it was easily the best books I had read in months!!! I need to go find Book 2 now! It's a great reminder of God's desire for marriage and how easily it can be to get busy with life- career, kids, friends, etc. and neglect your spouse. It shows how easily temptation can find you when you grow away from God. Every person that is married, or preparing to be should read this book!