Captured my interest...and my heart: My review of "The Amish Groom" by Clark & Meissner
Check out a preview and my review of a wonderful book from Clark & Meissner, courtesy of the publisher and CFBA:
........
This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
The Amish Groom
Harvest House Publishers (April 1, 2014)
by
Mindy Starns Clark
and
Susan Meissner
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Mindy Starns Clark Mindy Starns Clark is the bestselling author of the inspirational Million Dollar Mysteries, the Smart Chick Mysteries, and three standalone mysteries, as well as the nonfiction books The House That Cleans Itself and A Pocket Guide to Amish Life. Her novels include A Penny for Your Thoughts, Don't Take Any Wooden Nickels, A Dime a Dozen, A Quarter for a Kiss, The Buck Stops Here, The Trouble with Tulip, Blind Dates Can Be Murder, Elementary, My Dear Watkins, Whispers of the Bayou, Shadows of Lancaster County, and Under the Cajun Moon, plus other books!
Mindy is also the author of numerous plays and musicals which have been performed all over the United States. She has written textbooks, articles, short stories, and more than 75 computer software manuals. A former singer and stand-up comedian, Mindy lives with her husband and two teenage daughters near Valley Forge, PA. She enjoys speaking to churches, civic groups, and libraries across the country. Her unique blend of humor and insight make her an audience favorite.
Susan Meissner is a multi-published author, speaker, and writing workshop leader with a background in community journalism. Her novels include The Shape of Mercy, named by Publishers Weekly as one of the 100 Best Novels of 2008 and a Carol Award winner. She is a pastor’s wife and the mother of four young adults. When she's not writing, Susan writes small group curriculum for her San Diego church. Visit Susan at her website: www.susanmeissner.com, on Twitter at @SusanMeissner, or at www.facebook.com/susan.meissner.
ABOUT THE BOOK
New from bestselling authors Mindy Starns Clark and Susan Meissner, The Amish Groom (Book 1 in The Men of Lancaster County series) explores the men of an Amish community in Lancaster County, how their Amish beliefs play out in their unique roles, and the women who change their lives.
Born to an ex-Amish mother and an Englisch father, 23-year-old Tyler Anderson was raised as a military kid until the age of 6, when his mom passed away. His dad, shipping off to yet another overseas post, placed Tyler in the care of his Amish grandparents, an arrangement that was supposed to be temporary. It lasted a lifetime.
Rachel Hoeck is the young woman waiting for Tyler’s proposal. She senses that though he loves her and wishes to make a commitment to her and his Amish beliefs, part of him still wonders whether an Amish lifestyle is truly for him. When an opportunity to connect with his father unexpectedly arises, a visit to California causes Tyler to question everything, including a future with Rachel. Will the new girl in his life, Lark, cause him to remain in the Englisch world? Or will he choose to be an Amish groom after all?
A poignant novel of hoping for romance and searching for identity, set in a beloved Amish community.
If you would like to read the first chapter of The Amish Groom, go HERE.
.........
and
Susan Meissner
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Mindy is also the author of numerous plays and musicals which have been performed all over the United States. She has written textbooks, articles, short stories, and more than 75 computer software manuals. A former singer and stand-up comedian, Mindy lives with her husband and two teenage daughters near Valley Forge, PA. She enjoys speaking to churches, civic groups, and libraries across the country. Her unique blend of humor and insight make her an audience favorite.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Born to an ex-Amish mother and an Englisch father, 23-year-old Tyler Anderson was raised as a military kid until the age of 6, when his mom passed away. His dad, shipping off to yet another overseas post, placed Tyler in the care of his Amish grandparents, an arrangement that was supposed to be temporary. It lasted a lifetime.
Rachel Hoeck is the young woman waiting for Tyler’s proposal. She senses that though he loves her and wishes to make a commitment to her and his Amish beliefs, part of him still wonders whether an Amish lifestyle is truly for him. When an opportunity to connect with his father unexpectedly arises, a visit to California causes Tyler to question everything, including a future with Rachel. Will the new girl in his life, Lark, cause him to remain in the Englisch world? Or will he choose to be an Amish groom after all?
A poignant novel of hoping for romance and searching for identity, set in a beloved Amish community.
If you would like to read the first chapter of The Amish Groom, go HERE.
.........
my review.....
Mindy Starns Clark and Susan Meissner have teamed up to create a winning addition to the ever-popular field of Amish fiction in "The Amish Groom". I absolutely loved that this story is written from the perspective of an Amish male - something you don't see often. The premise of the story is a truly unique one, creating a plausible reason for why Tyler would feel torn between the two worlds of Amish and English. Although I felt the story started a bit slowly for me, perhaps capturing the slower pace of the Amish lifestyle, I was soon absorbed in Tyler's story as he came to interact with modern life and the surprising differences between it and the world he'd known most of his life. The reconciliation that graces the pages of this story are truly beautiful to behold, and there are many moving scenes in the book. The writing is beautiful, and the authors have done a fabulous job of blending their writing styles to create a superb combination. The characters are ones you will quickly grow to care about, complete with their mistakes and humanness, tempered by the forgiveness they are able to offer each other out of God's abundant grace. And what I loved best about the story is it truly offers deep wisdom that can speak to us no matter what culture we love in, because it is God's timeless wisdom.
Fans of Amish stories are going to love this one, and readers who may choose to normally stay clear of Amish-themed stories should take a chance too! The plot captured my interest and the characters captured my heart. What more do you need in a good story? 4 out of 5 stars.
Fans of Amish stories are going to love this one, and readers who may choose to normally stay clear of Amish-themed stories should take a chance too! The plot captured my interest and the characters captured my heart. What more do you need in a good story? 4 out of 5 stars.
Book has been provided courtesy of the publisher and Christian Fiction Blog Alliance, for the purposes of this unbiased review.
Link to buy book: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0736957340
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