I loved how this one took place in Kansas. The book was a fun read. ( )

Tim Roper thought he had left his Mennonite background far behind when he left home as a young man. Twenty years later, he was unhappy to learn that his new neighbors were Mennonites. He had no idea just how much he had in common with his new neighbor. Amy's life had been fraught with loss and sadness just as his had been, but instead of turning away from God, she had learned to trust Him. Would Tim still continue to hide behind the walls he had built, or would he open his heart to love?



For some reason, the popular theme in Christian fiction right now is to write about the more unusual religious groups. The Amish have been popular for the last few years and now the Mennonites are being given their turn in the spotlight. Fortunately for me, I find these groups to be very interesting. Ms. Sawyer has portrayed the Mennonites very nicely; she shows their differences from the outside world while avoiding stereotypes. Although both of the main characters had been through horrendous tragedies in their lives, the author has not made this a tear-jerker. The characters feel real, pulling the reader in and causing her to feel empathy toward them. I hope that Ms. Sawyer will continue to write in this vein; if so, I will happily read more of her work.

4 stars



Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Bethany House book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” ( )

What a great read, took less than a day and I couldn't put it down. Such a warm, sweet read, filled with faith.
When Amy Knackstedt moves with her children to Weaverly, Kansas to find a new beginning. Three years ago her husband had had an accident at a Grain Mill, and the pain of loosing him, and living with the memories in her small town. She purchased a new, well older home, with some land that other Mennonites who also moved from Ohio...are going to farm.
What she doesn't know is that next door is a man fighting his demons. His wife and son had died in a motor vehicle accident 5 years ago. He is still healing, and being a former Mennonite does not relish the idea of having a family living next door.
Love how the children worm their way...without realizing it into Tim Roper's life. Will he begin to heal, or are the memories of his lost family going to be his demise? Will Amy find the peace she has wanted, and be able to begin a new life for her children.
God has his hand in all of their lives, and I could just feel him there. Be ready for some sweet and loving times, and some heartbreak. Kim Vogel Sawyer has gifted us again with her magic with words...Thank You!

I received this book from Bethany House Publishers and was not required to give a positive review. ( )

Each of us observes our faith in our way, just as we deal with grief as best we can in our own personal manner. The loss of loved ones may result in a loss of faith, or it may send one into deep religious contemplation--"prayer without ceasing". Children and adults may also see death in a very different light, and often the adults cannot answer the simple, powerful questions that only a child will ask. Young widow Amy Knackstedt and her three children leave behind the life they have known in Ohio and move with other Old Order Mennonites to a new life in Kansas. Hoping to distance her family from the speculation over her husband's tragic death, Amy lets her faith guide her as works to provide for her children's future through her quilt business. Tim Roper is the owner of the apple orchard near Amy's new home, and he is not pleased to learn of his new neighbors. A former member of the same religious order, Tim left the Mennonite way of life behind years ago. As a young man, he had forsaken his Mennonite upbringing and legally changed his name from Rupp to Roper. Later, the loss of his wife and son in a car accident drove him even further away from his faith, touching him with bitterness. He doesn't want to hear the sound of children's laughter, or see the unspoiled innocence of their hearts, but the Knackstedt children find a way to break through his barriers. As they help him work in his apple orchard, they also work their way into his heart. Thirteen-year old Bekah acts out her grief over losing her father by wanting to be like Mr. Roper and leave the order. Eleven-year old Parker, who will always be somewhat off-pace due to a brain injury, declares Mr. Roper to be his best friend. Five-year old Adrianna, both precious and precocious, is just plain irresistible. Most disturbing of all to Tim is his emotional response to Amy's gentle beauty and the warmth of her concern for her family and those around her. While Tim tries to think of a way to distance himself, circumstances continue to conspire to keep them in each other's company. When he acknowledges to himself that he loves Amy and the children, he must also make a choice of whether he can return fully to the ways of the Old Order Mennonites. Amy cares deeply for Tim, but she is afraid to give her heart to someone not fully committed to the faith as she is. When a previously unrealized connection from the past comes to light, can Amy and Tim let hope fully bloom? Simple pleasures such as sun-warmed earth and working in harmony with nature, the pull of a needle through cloth to make a quilt, and the satisfaction of nurturing others through the preparation and serving of needed sustenance are all healing in their own way. Go forward in faith, let your heart find its solace, and live each day to the fullest.

Review Copy Gratis Bethany House Books ( )