Healing Hearts

Healing Hearts

by

Beth Wiseman

Stories previously published in "An Amish Christmas, "An Amish Gathering and An Amish Love."

"A Choice to Forgive" is about widow Lydia who is raising her three children. Her husband died two years ago. Imagine her surprise when her shunned brother-in-law Daniel comes home. Daniel was Lydia's first love before she married his brother Elam. Daniel has a secret on why he left Lydia on Christmas Eve several years ago. The secret involves her late husband. Will Lydia forgive and forget the past? Read to find out.

"A Change of Heart" I have read before. Leah is not your typical Amish young lady who knows how to cook, clean, sew etc. Leah loves to write books. Her father can't understand her. He can't help but wonder if she will ever get married. Who would want her? Her two sisters are engaged to be married. Her sister Edna mentions that her fiances brother Aaron is interested in her. Will Aaron accept Leah as she is or will she have to cook, clean and sew for him to be happy?

"Healing Hearts" I have also read before. With all the Amish books I have read, I have never read a book about an older Amish couple before. Levina Lapp has carried on with her life for one year on her own. Her husband, Naaman, left her for that long. Could it be that all of their children were raised and out of the house? Did they not know each other anymore? When he returns home, she and their children have a hard time getting to know him again. Can they trust him? Will they have further difficulty or will they be able to reconcile?

Here are some ATCs that I made for a swap. We received an envelope full of items that we were to make three ATCs from. I love the vintage look and this is what I came up with.

Here is a sample of what I created at the Favorite Things crop this weekend. A 4x4 chunky page book. This is a swap that I will send out. Thinking of entering it in our county fair this week.

Treasuring Emma

Treasuring Emma: A Middlefield Family Novel

By Kathleen Fuller

Yet another book I am reviewing for Booksneeze. If it is Amish, I read it! This one especially caught my eye when I read it was set in Middlefield, OH. I was recently in that area and so want to go back and explore.

The book starts with a death in the Shetler family. Emma is left with her grandmother. She tended to her sick mother and takes care of her grandmother. So much responsibility for her. Keeping up with the house, chores, etc is a challenge.

Neighbor and friend Adam was living the English life in Michigan. Emma's grandmother wrote Adam a letter stating she was worried about his mother. Adam heads for home to find out what is going on. He is not welcomed back with open arms from his father. Since Adam was shunned, some people are not wanting to be around him.

Emma's sister Clara and husband Peter are down on their luck. Peter has been out of a job for awhile and hasn't been able to find anything. Clara is upset that he hasn't found work yet. She takes it upon herself to come up with a business plan.

In the meantime, Peter's cousin Mark comes for an upexpected visit. He stays with them but has another motive. Clara has her eye on Mark from the start. Things with her and Peter have been rather tense. Clara and Mark come up with a plan to have Mark get intersted in Emma. They also start Clara's business plan.

Adam and Emma have been close and when Adam up and left, Emma was heartbroken. Adam sees how Emma's place is rundown and needing a lot of work. He tends to her horse Dill. Will Adam and Emma mend their relationship? Will Mark get in the way?

A good book to start this series off. I will be anxious to read the next books in this series.