Pamela Desmond Wright

I love a good, sweet Amish romance and I am a big fan of Pamela Desmond Wright, so I couldn’t wait to pick up Bonding Over the Amish Baby.

This story really touched my heart and reminded me that just because life doesn’t go out as planned doesn’t mean that God doesn’t have something even better in store for me. The characters are so warm and instantly drew me in. I love that the author took their story in a direction that I was not expecting, as I love a good surprise in my reads.

I felt an instant kinship with Rebecca. Life hasn’t went the way I’ve expected in some major ways but I too have learned to roll with the punches and, like Rebecca, I have been blessed.

There are some topics that are tackled or alluded to that could be triggering including infant abandonment and adoption, not-graphic domestic violence, and addiction. I personally didn’t find them triggering, as they are all mostly hinted at, and handled with the utmost care.

Since I am a true blue Texan I appreciated the Texas ranch setting and could easily see this story occurring near my in-laws property, which also happens to be one of my favorite places on earth. I loved this sweet escape and hope the wait for the next novel in the series isn’t as long as the wait was for this one, even though the wait was totally worth it.

*I have reviewed a copy of this book which I received from the author. All views and opinions are completely honest, and my own.… (más)

"The Cowboy's Amish Haven" by Pamela Desmond Wright: This book surprised me because I didn't know there were Amish in Texas and some have ranches. It was a pretty good story with the usual romance and peril.
"Her Secret Amish Match" by Cathy Liggett: Hannah had made a lot of matches but she hadn't considered a match for herself. Levi, a widower with three children, and his now deceased wife had been friends with Hannah forever, so she didn't really think of him as a match for herself even though she become very close with him and his children.
I thought both of these stories were good for this type of book and were a good "double-header."… (más)

Noem and Lavinia both find themselves in unique circumstances that pull them together in a way that neither of them could ever imagine. Both being Amish, and wanting to do the right thing not only for each other but for their respective families, Noem and Lavinia wed out of necessity and not love. What follows is every day life adjusting to this new normal and all the emotions that go along with it.

Both Lavinia and Noem are characters with integrity, something I greatly admire especially when you look at their circumstances. Gabriel, Noem’s widowed father, also lives with the couple, and was a hard pill to swallow for the first part of the novel, but his redemption was one of my favorite transformations out of all the characters, especially when you fully understand the reasoning behind his sour demeanor.

Lavinia freely gives her heart to the children but carefully guards her heart when it comes to Noem, fearful of repeating past mistakes, her past choices haunting her like a ghost. This is something we can all identify with, as many of us are haunted by our past. Pair that with a caring and nurturing spirit, and you have a heroine that your heart can’t help but connect with.

Noem is an upstanding character who wants to do right by his family, and I love seeing a strong male figure that is sure of himself and knows how to take care of his duties. I don’t see many men being able to do what he does, taking on such sudden an incredible burden and doing it all without complaint, and without losing himself in the process. If anything, it made his goodness shine through and made him a better man.

Witnessing the healing in the lives of these wonderful characters was truly a sight to behold. The pace of this novel was perfection, the writing flowing at such a serene tempo, even in the more tense and emotional scenes. I felt such heart in this story, the narrative authentic and true to life, something that grounded and comforted me. Even in fiction it never ceases to amaze me what God can do when we truly give it all up and give it to Him.

*I have voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book which I received from the author/publisher through JustRead Tours. All views and opinions expressed are completely honest, and my own.… (más)