Blown away by this awesome book: "The Amish Blacksmith" by Mindy Starns Clark & @SusanMeissner

about the book....

New from bestselling authors Mindy Starns Clark and Susan Meissner, The Amish Blacksmith (Book 2 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.

Apprenticed blacksmith Jake Miller is skeptical of Priscilla Kinsinger’s innate ability to soothe troubled horses, especially when he has own ideas on how to calm them. Six years earlier, Priscilla’s mother died in an awful accident at home, and Priscilla’s grief over losing her mother was so intense that she was sent to live with relatives in Indiana. She has just returned to Lancaster County.

Not that her homecoming matters to Jake, who is interested in courting lighthearted Amanda Shetler. But Jake’s boss is Priscilla’s uncle, and when the man asks Jake to help his niece reconnect with community life, he has no choice but to do just that. Surprisingly, he finds himself slowly drawn to the beautiful but emotionally wounded Priscilla.

Jake then determines to prove to her that it’s not her fault her mother died, but what he discovers will challenge everything they both believe about the depth of love and the breadth of forgiveness.

my review....

I was completely blown away by how good "The Amish Blacksmith" was! It's not that I wasn't aware that Clark and Meissner make a powerful writing duo, for I thoroughly enjoyed their first book in this series (The Amish Groom). However, I certainly wasn't expecting to be so completely absorbed in the book that I ended up ignoring the world around me until I'd raced my way to the final page. And I absolutely was NOT expecting to be near the end of the book and find tears streaming down my face! The writing is simply top-notch, and I was totally drawn into the world of Jake Miller and Priscilla Kingsinger and their unexpected relationship. Their interactions are humourous yet natural, and I could have kept reading their story for hours beyond the end of the last page of the book. And as I watched walls come down in both characters hearts, and as they received glimpses of who God had made them to be, I found myself grinning from ear to ear. I also really enjoyed the love that both Jake and Priscilla have for horses, and was especially intrigued by their skills in learning to gentle horses and discover what may have happened in their pasts to make them act unnaturally. There were many parallels to the human experience, and the need for God and his people to help us overcome the impact of challenges we've had in our lives.

The story is filled with unexpected twists and turns, not only in the overall plot but in the friendships and relationships depicted in the story, and I simply couldn't get enough. The story flows with tender emotion and deep wisdom, balanced by a thread of mystery woven into the pages, and I guarantee I am not the only reader who is going to be hooked by this fabulous book!

One final note: fans of Amish fiction will absolutely devour this book. But for those readers who typically don't look for a book labelled "Amish" or as "romance", I encourage you to give it a try too. You will be glad you did. 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Book has been provided courtesy of the publisher, Harvest House. Available at your favourite bookseller!

 about the authors....

Mindy Starns Clark is the author of many books, which include the popular Smart Chick Mysteries, Whispers of the Bayou, Shadows of Lancaster County, and Under the Cajun Moon. In addition, Mindy’s plays and musicals have been featured in schools and churches across the United States.

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 byPublishers 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.