Paperback – May 5, 2015

by Amy Clipston (Author)

Book Description
Publication Date: May 5, 2015Linda is no stranger to hardship. Now she dares to hope for a chance at love and a new beginning.
As the sole survivor of a buggy accident that left her orphaned at age four, Linda Zook was reluctantly raised by her Uncle Reuben. She longs to be worthy of someone, but the lasting trauma of her injuries and embittered upbringing have destroyed her self-worth. When Hannah Peterson asks her to work at the Heart of Paradise Bed & Breakfast, she’s finally able to realize some confidence.
Aaron Ebersol left the Amish community seventeen years ago when he could no longer bear the restrictions or the constant tension with his father. Despite years of unanswered letters to his parents and the roots he’s put down in Missouri, Aaron rushes back to the Amish community of Paradise, Pennsylvania, after receiving word of his mother’s stroke. Hesitant to get too close to the family he was once a part of, he decides to stay at the Heart of Paradise Bed & Breakfast. Talking with Linda allows him to explore his feelings about his family and his position in the Amish community.
As Linda and Aaron open up to each other, their feelings for one another turn into more than friendship, and Aaron must make a decision about his future as an Amish man.
Can Linda and Aaron forgive the family members who have deceived and forsaken them? And will Aaron be able to convince Linda that she is worthy of his love?

I'm a bit reluctant about writing this review, but since I promise the publisher I would, here goes.

I have not read anything else in this series, or by this author, so I was unaware that threads from other books would get tied up in this one. For a first-time reader this may bake for a somewhat confusing or frustrating read.

In my eyes, much of the book was very repetitive - the issues that Linda and Aaron had with their respective families had been repeated often with various other secondary and tertiary characters as well as between the both of them.

I am not a follower of this faith but I do occasionally like to read these types of books so I can get a glimpse into other worlds -this books message did give me a goodly amount to ponder and the Amish parts of it was quit interesting but some of it seemed a bit flawed...unless I don't understand the Amish way of living that I thought I did. I understand that there are different levels of living 'Plain' and this may just had been a level that I had not seen before.

If I were to nit-pick, I would say I was a bit troubled by the author's way or rather a lack I should say, of describing things, places and even the weather. These things are important to me a d allows me to feel a better understanding of what the characters are living through.

We do get a great HEA and Aaron does get to see, if not quite justice done, (that would be sending the wrong message) at least an apology from the one who wronged him.

A good, solid Faith based read that just didn't ring all the important bells for me.