BOOK REVIEW: The Promise of a Letter by Kathleen Fuller

Roman is on the verge of leaving the Amish ways. Feeling confined by the strict rules, he longs to do something more with his life. But when things don’t go as planned, Roman’s prospects outside of the community dwindle. Upon learning that his beloved grandmother has died and left a letter urging him to reconcile with his brother in Birch Creek, Roman decides to return home. But he doesn’t plan to stay for long.

Leanna Chupp has always made her own way in her small community of Birch Creek. Though some may call her unconventional—strange, even—Leanna is happy. Her unique outlook on life has meant she’s never had many suitors pursuing courtship, which Leanna doesn’t mind. She is content being single.

But when Roman and Leanna find themselves working together again, everything changes. Though neither fit squarely within the strictures of the Amish faith, their differences could be the very thing to help them form a deeper connection to their community and to each other. The question remains: will this strengthening bond be enough to make Roman stay for good?

Back to Birch Creek with Jalon and Phoebe and their new fledgling family and a host of community and friends.  Jalon's sister Leanna is still working for their friend and neighbor Daniel in his small engine repair shop.  Not a normal occupation for a female but as a confirmed bachelor (her words not mine) it's what she is passionate about and what she loves.  In the first book, 'Written in Love', where it all started, we met Daniel's brother Roman, briefly.  We knew enough that he was a thorn in Leanna's side as well as his brother's.  After the passing of their Grossmammi he's back to attempt to make amends and reconcile with his brother.  For better or worse, for the love of this woman he is bound to make this work.  But regaining trust is hard, and Roman's ability to stick with it is lacking.

I'll be honest, the brewing romance (come on it's not like you didn't know it was coming) between Roman and Leanna was a bit awkward.  I frequently feel this way in more romantic type books.  Why is so hard to translate the beginning of falling for someone into words?  But then again, we are talking about two awkward adults.  Two people who had sworn off traditional roles of family and marriage and kidlets.  For two sorta, almost different reasons but still.  It's not only finding their way after the disaster that was their first meeting but also dealing with new feelings for themselves and deciding if it's worth the potential hurt to put their trust into another.  It's complicated.  And hard.  And well, it's real life.  

I really really liked this book.  I love these characters, I love seeing these two specifically come into their own and find a way.  I feel like their romance was too fast and the wedding too quick but then I usually do.  I loved the side story of Adam and Karen too.  I can't wait to see where the next book is going to take us, though I've got a gut feeling it's with Ivy.  You know, Leanna's bestie.  Six months, I can wait six months right?

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Kathleen Fuller and Thomas Nelson Publishing.  I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.  I was not required to write a positive review.

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About Kathleen Fuller

Kathleen Fuller is the best-selling author of over thirty books, including the Hearts of Middlefield series.

1. I started writing January 1, 2000. New year, new millennium, new career.
2. I’m a former special education teacher, specializing in teaching the blind and visually impaired.
3. I was born in New Orleans, LA, raised in Little Rock, AR, and call Geneva, OH my home.
4. On June 12, 2013, my husband and I will celebrate twenty years of marriage.
5. We have three awesome kids.
6. I love chocolate. ‘Nuff said.
7. I’ve written and published over twenty-five novels and novellas.
8. I also write nonfiction–interviews, devotionals, Bible studies, essays, blog posts…
9. We have three dogs–Biscuit, Mollie, and Chief. And one cat, creatively named Kitty.
10. If I could go anywhere in the world I would go to Ireland.
 
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BOOK REVIEW: Written in Love by Kathleen Fuller

When a postal error creates pen pals of two young Amish people, can they put behind their past mistakes to see the bright future God has written for them?

Jalon Chupp has a past he isn’t proud to claim. He’s worked hard to overcome his youthful mistakes, and he has recommitted himself to his faith. When he receives a sweet note included in a piece of misdirected mail, he can’t help but write back. Soon, the letters he receives from Phoebe are the highlights of his days, and with a hopeful heart, he suggests they meet in person.

Phoebe, too, looks forward to every single one of Jalon’s letters. Living with her overbearing aunt, Phoebe doesn’t have too much to look forward to. But when Jalon suggests they meet, she panics—although she has shared some of the deepest longings of her heart with him, she hasn’t been entirely truthful about her past. But when Jalon shows up at her aunt’s doorstep, everything is revealed. And she can only pray he’ll forgive her for holding back the truth.

In order to reach beyond the errors of their pasts, both Phoebe and Jalon must put their faith in something—or Someone—bigger than either of them could pen.

Having taken some time off from the blog the last year or so and having limited time I missed out on a lot of amazing books.  I've been so focused on my older books and the super new releases that I missed out on some amazing books that fall between those two timelines.  With the next book in this series coming out next month and knowing I really want to read it I only thought it prudent to read the first one.  Let's face it, a book from a favorite author, a different take on a simple love story and simple people that find themselves in very non-simple situations. Something as simple as an incorrectly addressed letter has the potential to change so many lives.  

I'm having such a hard time reviewing this book.  It was just such a sweet story that involved no small amount of hiccups.  Jalon and Phoebe have secrets that they think won't make a big difference, I mean they just accidentally become pen pals.  They don't see each other, they don't live in the same town or attend church in the same district.  The fact that they develop some pretty strong feelings for each other is purely accidental.  The idea that their secrets will come into play and matter is so small that they can keep their secrets...right?  Well, you know good and well it would not be a book without most of that going out the window. 

It's hard for both of them to reach out and trust the other.  But even trust comes with hiccups.  There's always more to the story.  More to figure out and of course how to integrate the new information into what is already known.  Obviously, this book is more than just a few people with big secrets finding love.  It's a story of love, faith, redemption, and finding new ways.  It's a story taking simple people (Amish) and finding them working their way through real life in a way that could mirror any one of us.  I just loved this book.  It gave me a touch of faith in humanity and the knowing that the still small voice can still lead someone down the right path even when it's hard. 

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About Kathleen Fuller

Kathleen Fuller is the best-selling author of over thirty books, including the Hearts of Middlefield series.

1. I started writing January 1, 2000. New year, new millenium, new career.
2. I’m a former special education teacher, specializing in teaching the blind and visually impaired.
3. I was born in New Orleans, LA, raised in Little Rock, AR, and call Geneva, OH my home.
4. On June 12, 2013, my husband and I will celebrate twenty years of marriage.
5. We have three awesome kids.
6. I love chocolate. ‘Nuff said.
7. I’ve written and published over twenty-five novels and novellas.
8. I also write nonfiction–interviews, devotionals, Bible studies, essays, blog posts…
9. We have three dogs–Biscuit, Mollie, and Chief. And one cat, creatively named Kitty.
10. If I could go anywhere in the world I would go to Ireland.
 
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BOOK REVIEW: An Amish Summer by Shelley Shepard Gray, Amy Clipston, Kathleen Fuller and Kelly Irvin

A new novella collection of sweet, summer romances from some of our favorite Amish authors!
A Reunion in Pinecraft by Shelley Shepard Gray
When sisters Sharon and Sherilyn Kramer attend a wedding in Shipshewana, one of them returns with a new penpal while the other returns to her job at the bakery. After sending weekly letters back and forth, Sherry and Graham Holland arrange a reunion in Pinecraft. Upon Graham s arrival, however, he realizes he s been writing to the wrong sister. He decides to use the reunion as a way to get to know both sisters, but can he sort through the confusion in time to turn the worst vacation ever into something truly wonderful?

Novella's are so hard for me.  I miss out on things that simply can't be accomplished in such a short span.  The author did a really good job of taking a previous event and making it real through the letters and interactions of the participants.  She set the scene of the mix-up so well that you don't feel like you missed a terrible lot.  It did bothered me that he seemed so clueless and wasn't able to separate what was in his eyes from what was in his heart and head from the letters. I feel like opportunities to develop more into these characters was lacking and there were a few phrasings that seemed awkward and off.  Gaa, to review a short novella in a short paragraph is hard!  This was a great first story to this compilation and I'd definitely be interested in seeing these characters in a full length novel.


Summer Storm by Amy Clipston
Arianna is counting down the days until her wedding to Jesse. They have been friends longer than Arianna can remember, and that friendship turned into love over the past couple of years. But when Arianna s brother Isaac, who happens to be Jesse s best friend, gets them both into trouble, Arianna's father puts an end to her engagement to Jesse. Some summer storms pass quickly, but Arianna is afraid the damage from this one may be too much to repair.


I feel like I just read the Amish version of an After School Special.  Only better.  And not cheesy.  The author managed to build characters, a plot, and a cohesive story in a novella package that leaves you feeling like you almost read a short full-length novel.  An emotionally abuse father, poor choices as teens that affect how other's view you as an adult, and using alcohol as a coping mechanism.  Any of that feel like it would easily describe any English family on any street in America?  It's not just any English family in America, it's the Smucker family in Amish country.  It's real and gritty and engaging and I don't think I'd want it any other way.


Lakeside Love by Kathleen Fuller
Esther has always lived in the shadow of her beautiful younger sister Sarah. Even the boy she has known and loved her entire life, Judah, only has eyes for Sarah. But when a handsome young Englischer comes to live with the family for a summer, everything begins to change.

How do I begin to review this novella.  I really liked the story in that it pulled everything together in such a sweet way without resorting too much into cliche.  However, there were a few near pet peevy things that my mind keeps wandering back to.  Not soap box material but well...I don't know.  What bothered me the most is the way Judah and Ester's feelings changed so quickly.  While it's more realistic to think that Judah did realize quickly what he had been missing with Ester, how Ester's change in thought and belief I just can't buy.  When you feel backseat your entire life and someone that you care for suddenly professes their love it's not an 'oh really, I love you too' moment.  It's more a are you pulling my leg, what do you want, why do you tease me sort of moment.  It's a taking time to show over and over again that it's real and developing trust in new feelings. This story was sweet and engaging.  The characters were well developed for such a short time span though with the 'one year later' after part I feel like so very much was lost.  These characters would do better as a full length novel where their whole story could come to life.  

One Sweet Kiss by Kelly Irvin
Everybody in little Bee County, Texas, can see the obvious: Jacob King and Martha Byler are meant to be together. Everyone, that is, but Martha. Ever since her mother died when Martha was a young girl, she has taken over the role of caregiver to her large family. And reckless Jacob, who has had a little too much fun on his rumspringa, only seems to add to the list of people to manage. But one summer changes everything, and these two may just find a way to meet in the middle and share one sweet kiss.

 What could have been an incredible story lost something at the edges.  First, it was hard to truly get into sync with the characters as they seem to have ties into an ongoing story-line elsewhere so there was history and development that are lost.  I feel like Martha uses her mother as a crutch to not make changes for herself and move forward.  Don't get me wrong, I can't begin to imagine the long term effects of such an event happening at such a tender age, but she brings it up as an 'excuse' at such awkward moments that don't blend well to the story and leave me a little bamboozled.  Like the first story in this book, some of the phrasing was off and read awkwardly.  There were some rough scene transitions as well.  I loved the side story of Simon and Amanda.  This story would have greatly benefited from my knowledge of events that played out here but are obviously referenced in other books.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Kathleen Fuller and NetGalley.  I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.  I was not required to write a positive review.

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About Shelley Shepard Gray

Before writing romances, Shelley lived in Texas and Colorado, where she taught school and earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education. She now lives in southern Ohio and writes full time. Shelley is married, the mother of two children in college, and is an active member of her church. She serves on committees, volunteers in the church office, and currently leads a Bible study group, and she looks forward to the opportunity to continue to write novels that showcase her Christian ideals.
When she’s not writing, Shelley often attends conferences and reader retreats in order to give workshops and publicize her work. She’s attended RWA’s national conference six times, the ACFW conference and Romantic Times Magazine’s annual conference as well as traveled to New Jersey, Birmingham, and Tennessee to attend local conferences.

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About Amy Cliptson
I enjoy spending time with my family, including my hubby, my two wonderful sons, my mom, and my four spoiled-rotten cats. I love reading.
I'm an advocate for organ and blood donation. I donated a kidney on June 14, 2011, at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Through my donation, my husband received a second kidney transplant. My husband and I matched another couple and we swapped kidneys with them. I gave a kidney to my husband's donor's wife. Feel free to email me and ask me what it was like to be a kidney donor. It was one of the most amazing experiences in my life. If you're healthy, please donate blood! Also, become an organ donor.

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 About Kathleen Fuller

Kathleen Fuller is the best-selling author of over thirty books, including the Hearts of Middlefield series.

1. I started writing January 1, 2000. New year, new millenium, new career.
2. I’m a former special education teacher, specializing in teaching the blind and visually impaired.
3. I was born in New Orleans, LA, raised in Little Rock, AR, and call Geneva, OH my home.
4. On June 12, 2013, my husband and I will celebrate twenty years of marriage.
5. We have three awesome kids.
6. I love chocolate. ‘Nuff said.
7. I’ve written and published over twenty-five novels and novellas.
8. I also write nonfiction–interviews, devotionals, Bible studies, essays, blog posts…
9. We have three dogs–Biscuit, Mollie, and Chief. And one cat, creatively named Kitty.
10. If I could go anywhere in the world I would go to Ireland.
 
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Goodreads

About Kelly Irvin

The Kansas native is a graduate of the University of Kansas School of Journalism. She has been writing nonfiction professionally for more than thirty years, including ten years as a newspaper reporter. She recently retired after working 22 years in public relations for the City of San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and Alamo City Christian Fiction Writers.
Kelly is married to photographer Tim Irvin.  They make their home in San Antonio, Texas. They have two young adult children, two grandchildren, and two ornery cats. In her spare time, she likes to write short stories and read books by her favorite authors, especially mysteries and romantic suspense novels.

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