The first installment in the Love and Promises series, The Amish Teacher's Gift by Rachel J. Good is a heartfelt romance between an Amish schoolteacher and one of her student's father.

Widower Josiah Yoder dearly loves his six year old son, Nathan, and he is heartbroken by the boy's obvious distress following his beloved Mamm's death. He is also quite bewildered by the young boy's volatile and violent reaction to Josiah's presence. The problem is compounded by his inability to communicate with his deaf son, so he is very open to sending Nathan to the newly formed school for special needs.

Nineteen year old Ada Rupp is excited but concerned about her new position as a schoolteacher at the special needs school. Despite her youth, she is very well suited to the job since she has been caring for her seven younger siblings for much of her life. Ada is a gentle soul with infinite patience and a great deal of responsibility resting on her more than able young shoulders.

Ada is immediately infatuated with Josiah but she knows a relationship between them is impossible. Trying to focus on the charges in her care, her life becomes soon becomes entangled with Josiah and Nathan as she attempts to understand the reason behind Nathan's extreme reaction to his father. Since she takes her job very seriously, Ada not only attempts to ensure the young boy is not in physical danger but she also continues trying to help father and son bridge the gulf between them.

Josiah is equally enamored of Ada but he knows he cannot yet act on his growing feelings for her. Instead, he tries to focus on improving his relationship with Nathan. He also finds himself in a difficult situation at work when the construction owner challenges him on his adherence to the tenets of his faith. This lack of understanding about the Amish faith leads to some very prickly interactions and leaves Josiah worried about his future with the company.

Josiah and Ada both experience a great deal of inner turmoil over their inability to act on the growing feelings for one another. There are many misunderstandings between them since they only communicate well on matters pertaining to Nathan. Some of their interactions become a bit repetitious as they continue to experience the same thoughts and feelings each time they are together. Later in the story, an added complication is the Bishop's wife Betty's obvious animosity toward both of them as she jumps to erroneous conclusions about the nature of their relationship.

The Amish Teacher's Gift stands out from other Amish novels due to special needs aspect of the storyline. Rachel J. Good's research into the various teaching methods for special needs students is absolutely impeccable and provides added depth and authenticity to the plot. The relationship between Josiah and Ada is sweet despite a little unnecessary angst and drama. This engaging beginning to the delightful Love and Promises series will leave readers eagerly awaiting the next installment. ( )

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Josiah Yoder is reluctant to have his six-year-old deaf son start school. Young Nathan has terrible tantrums whenever Josiah gets close to him. How will Nathan manage in school when Josiah cannot even communicate with or even control him?

Ada Rupp is nineteen years old and is overwhelmingly responsible for her seven younger siblings. Furthermore, she is about to begin her new job as a teacher in the special needs school that Nathan will be attending. Although Ada has a deaf brother, she has no other training with special needs children.

Both Ada’s and Josiah’s stories are heartbreaking. Ada’s mother has recently passed away and something has happened to her father. Nathan is a widower and his son is absolutely terrified of him. They both have devastatingly stressful situations and must now work alongside one another for Nathan’s sake. A problem quickly occurs when the two are drawn to one another. Josiah is still in mourning and Ada has a sensitive secret that bans her from courting.

Only at 6% and I wanted to bawl. I managed to hold myself back but continued reading with a huge lump in my throat. Upon extension we learn much more about Josiah’s and Nathan’s delicate relationship as well as Ada’s wonderfully warm connection to her siblings.

Problems occur on many levels for Ada and Josiah. She has her job and her siblings which are of primary concern and he has got to figure out how to properly father his son. Ada agrees to help Josiah learn sign language, but their chemistry is palpable and they both experience extreme conflict, both internally and externally.

I have never read an Amish love story before, but what a great way to start! While reading the acknowledgments at the beginning of the book, readers will discover how the author did the extensive research that went into in creating this amazing story. She not only developed a fine inspirational romance, but there was wonderful information gleaned to see how she was able to write of the children in the story and make their needs and development incredibly genuine.

When I received the ARC of the second book in this series, The Amish Midwife’s Secret, I definitely wanted to read this story first. I am incredibly happy that I chose to do so, and I read this wonderful story from cover to cover in just a few hours. Ms. Good is an extremely skilled author with the talent to draw the reader into the story. Let me tell you, I read the second book immediately after this one and was just as impressed. Review to follow. ( )

The Amish Teacher's Gift is a beautiful story about Ada Rupp; Ada is not just teacher at the special needs Amish school, but a parent to her siblings, after her mother passed away and her father became sick. And while that is enough work for everyone, Ada is determined to make things work and be the best teacher she can be.

Josiah Yoder is a widower, and struggling to deal with his young son Nathan, who is deaf, and has violent temper tantrums, but when Josiah takes Nathan to school, a who change comes over Nathan, when he meets his new Teacher Ada, but then again, a change comes over Josiah too.

The Amish Teacher's Gift is such a beautiful story, that in parts reduced me to tears. As I live in Pennsylvania Amish country, I appreciate the realism this book provides, and love the fact that the author brings the characters to life, not just make them one-dimensional cardboard characters.

I give The Amish Teacher's Gift 5 Stars ( )

Great story telling how the Amish teach their children with special needs.

This was quite different than most Amish novels. This showed a little bit on how the Amish handle their children that have special needs and their education. I was surprised by some of what I read but in a good way. This had good romance also. I loved how Ada worked with the children. I wish I had that kind of patience. I did not want to put this book down. I received a copy of this book from Celebratelit for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will. ( )