Favorite Christian Books

Archive for the ‘Lori Copeland’ Category

The second installment of the Amish of Apple Grove series is as good as the first and maybe a little better. This story focuses on the younger Switzer daughter, Rebecca, who has never given up on the love of her life, Jesse Montgomery, that she met four years earlier. She is determined to find Jesse and prove they are meant to be together. What she finds is a whole lot of trouble as she travels to Lawrence in search of Jesse.

This story made me laugh several times as Rebecca found herself in more and more trouble. I loved how the authors pulled aspects from the first story into this one. However, you don’t have to read the first book to enjoy the second one.

The characters in this story are wonderful. Rebecca is stubborn and feisty while Colin is looking for the simpler life as a pastor. The secondary characters add so much to the story, especially Sassy. There was lots of fun watching the contrast between Rebecca and Sassy.

This is a great story for anyone who is looking for a relaxing, entertaining story with fun characters. It was one of those stories that I could guess how things would turn out, but it was a very enjoyable story. I can’t wait to see what happens next to the Amish of Apple Grove!

I’d like to thank Harvest House Publishers for the opportunity to read and review this story. I am under no obligation other than to give my honest opinion.

If you would like to know more about the authors you can check them out at: http://loriandginny.squarespace.com/ 

You may enjoy checking out a blog post Virginia Smith did on the Sexual Habits of the Amish and Other Things I’ve Learned

The Heart’s Frontier, The Amish of Apple Grove Series #1 By Lori Copeland & Virginia Smith / Harvest House Publishers Kansas,1881-On a trip to visit relatives, Emma Switzer’s Amish family is robbed of all their possessions, leaving them destitute and stranded on the prairie. Walking into the nearest trading settlement, they pray to the Lord for someone to help. When a man lands in the dust at her feet, Emma looks down at him and thinks, The Lord might have cleaned him up first. Luke Carson, heading up his first cattle drive, is not planning on being the answer to anyone’s prayers, but it looks as though God has something else in mind for this kind and gentle man. Plain and rugged-do the two mix? And what happens when a dedicated Amish woman and a stubborn trail boss prove to be each other’s match?

Summary:  This was a fun and entertaining book of the clashes between two very different worlds.  The characters were fun and each played an important role in the story.  This is one of the few Amish based stories I’ve read which I found several of the situations interesting. Likewise, it is the first story based in the 1800’s on the Chisholm Trail where cowboys drove cattle to the railheads. This story provided not only a sweet love story but it had humor and the main characters ended the story better people than when they began. (Not that either of them were bad)

Digging a Little Deeper:  Widower Jonas Switzer wants to find a suitable husband for his daughter, Emma. So the decision is made that Emma and her grandmother, maummi, will live with an aunt in a bigger Amish district where a suitable husband can be found. Their journey is hits a rocky spot early on when they are robbed of all their possessions. Soon afterwards they meet Luke Carson who is retrieving one of his cow hands from a saloon. Luke can’t walk away and not help the Switzers.

As I got to know the characters I feel in love with almost all of them. Emma loves her Plain life, yet she finds herself questioning some of her teaching and loving the opportunity to ride a horse. Luke is one of those guys that is rugged and a hard worker, but has a tender heart for people and not just for the Amish.  The no nonsense Maummi comes across as cranky but she has a heart for her family and isn’t afraid to go toe-to-toe with a certain cowboy or two.

What follows are mishaps and adventures that are both funny and at times a little intense. But the biggest part of this story was two very different worlds learning to understand, respect, and support one another. 

As you can tell I really enjoyed this story.  I enjoyed learning about the Amish, I loved the interactions between the characters and the story provided a variety of emotions. 

I want to thank the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book and look forward to future installments.

Giveaway: I would love to share my copy of this excellent book with one of you. Please leave a comment along with the state you’re from and I’ll choose a winner on April 15 at 9:00PM PDT.  Open to US residents.