Good Amish Love Story

The single child in an Amish family with, Mary Katherine moved into town to live with her grandmother and work at her shop to get away from her domineering father. Jacob a local Amish man wants to court Mary Katherine, but she has some problems to work out, so Jacob agrees to be friends. Then, Daniel, another Amish man from Florida, turns up. Mary Katherine has to choose whether to join the church or not, but problems come up at the store, then when her mother has a heart attack, Mary Katherine has to move back home. Mary Katherine has to find her way through her problems, making choices that will affect the rest of her life.

This is a great Amish love story, not too sweet, with enough twists to keep it interesting. It is always interesting to read about the Amish way of life, and this is an interesting example of some of the difficulties they face. the characters have enough depth to keep the story interesting, and the troubles ring true.

Received Galley from NetGalley.com

Mary Katherine lives with her Grandmother, actually she feels like she was given a new lease on life when her Grandmother asked her Father if she could live with her and help in her shop in town. Mary Katherine's Daed never treated her right and ridiculed her about everything. There was no physical abuse but there was emotional abuse, not only to Mary Katherine but toward her Mother also. Weaving was Mary Katherine's favorite thing to do and since moving in with her Grandmother she was free to weave whenever she felt like it.

Jacob has known Mary Katherine since they attended school together. What she didn't know was that he loved her quietly, he never said or did anything to let her know. Love and marriage was the farthest thing from her mind though, she wanted nothing to do with any man, she thought all men were like her Daed. She was confused as to where she belonged in this world, she has an Englisch friend, Jamie, and sometimes feels like the Englisch world would be a lot better than being Amish.

When Daniel, another schoolmate, returns from Florida to sell the family farm, he shows an interest in Mary Katherine. Jacob doesn't like what he see's and starts to show an interest also. Mary Katherine doesn't realize that they are both vying for her attention.

When Mary Katherine's Mother has a heart attack she returns home to take care of her because she knows her Daed won't do anything for himself and her Mother will be doing the daily chores before she's completely recovered. She was right too! Her Daed had not changed at all during the time she'd been staying at her Grandmothers house, IF he ever talked to her, it was to cut her down. She finally had enough of his treatment and leaves, taking off walking to town on a rainy day.

What will happen to Mary Katherine? You'll have to read for yourself, no hint from me. I really did enjoy this book, I think it's the first book I've read that Barbara has written and I must say that I'm looking forward to finding some more by her. You will not be sorry if you purchase this one.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the NetGalley book review 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."

This is the first book in the author's new series Stitches in Time. Mary Katherine is restless and hounded by others to join the Amish church. Raised by an overly strict father and a pushover mother, Mary Katherine has little confidence in herself, but begins to heal emotionally when she moves in with her grandmother Leah. She works in Leah's craft shop, along with her cousins Anna and Naomi. Each cousin has talent in various handcrafts, and Mary Kathrine's is weaving. Thanks to her father's criticism, Mary Katherine knows that words can hurt more than physical wounds, and the emotional pain takes much longer to heal.

I found myself pulling for Mary Katherine right away, and also drawn into Naomi and Anna's lives as well. Leah is the kind of grandmother that we all wish we could have, wise and compassionate, knowing when to push a bit and when to back off. In some ways, Leah reminds me of my grandmothers. I also enjoyed the cameos and short updates on characters from Barbara's Quilts of Lancaster County series. I can't wait for the next book in the series, scheduled to release this autumn. :-)

Barbara Cameron in her new book, "Her Restless Heart" Book One in the Stitches in Time Series published by Abingdon Press takes us into the life of Mary Katherine in the Amish community in Lancaster County.

From the back cover: Looking outward, searching inward

Mary Katherine is caught between the traditions of her faith and the pull of a different life. When Daniel, an Amish man from Florida, arrives, Mary Katherine feels drawn to him and curious about the life he leads away from Lancaster County.

But her longtime friend Jacob has fallen in love with her, and he's afraid of losing Mary Katherine to this outsider.

Will the conflicted Mary Katherine be lost to the Englisch world, or to Daniel, who may take her away to Florida? Or will she embrace her Amish faith and recognize Jacob as the man she should marry and build a life with?

In "Her Restless Heart" worlds collide; Lancaster County, Florida and the Englisch world. For Mary Katherine each has something to offer that she needs and she is torn between them all. This is a story of self-esteem and the things we do as human beings to build our self-esteem when our parents have not given it to us. We build our relationships on who is helping to support our self-esteem whether they are good or bad. On top of everything Ms. Cameron manages to weave a romance into this story that just captivates you. She makes you care for all the characters and their journey. This is also just plain fun and exciting as well. Don't start this book late at night because it will cost you sleep. I look forward to the next book in the series.

If you would like to listen to interviews with other authors and professionals please go to Kingdom Highlights where they are available On Demand.

To listen to 24 hours non-stop, commercial free Christian music please visit our internet radio station Kingdom Airwaves

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Abingdon Press. 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."

In Her Restless Heart, Book One of Stitches in Time Series, Barbara Cameron has crafted a wonderful Amish tale which takes place in Paradise, Pennsylvania; with its small town atmosphere, Amish quilting shops, quaint restaurants, and beautiful scenery! Our heroine, the lovely Amish Mary Katherine, works at Stitches In Time with her grandmother and two cousins, busily creating artistic quilts, handknit items, and other beautiful handmade articles for both the Amish and Englisch communities alike.

After a lifetime of abuse from her father, Mary Katherine is determined never to marry, and is hesitant to make a commitment to join the church. The Bishop is seemingly very cold and the rules very stringent, leaving Mary Katherine to wonder if there is something else out there she may be missing out on. When Daniel, a handsome, charming Amish Mennonite from Florida, shows up in Paradise to sell his parent's house, Mary Katherine becomes even more restless, and wonders if the grass might not be greener on the other side.

Jacob has been Mary Katherine's friend since childhood, but feels very threatened by Daniel's appearance in town, even though she has made it clear to Jacob that she only wishes to remain friends. Will Mary Katherine be able to overcome her fear of her father and ever commit to any man?...to the Amish church and to Jacob? Or will she choose the church in Florida that seemingly offers more freedoms?...and Daniel? Will she ever overcome her lack of self-esteem that has been brought on by years of verbal abuse from her father?

I have been wanting to read a book by Barbara Cameron seemingly forever, and I was not disappointed. Her intriguing storyline kept me turning those pages to see what the outcome was going to be, and her characters were very likeable and realistic; unlike many Amish books that make it seem as though the Amish are infallible. *Spoiler Alert* One disappointing factor for me was the fact that Daniel wasn't around as much as I would have liked (to really provide competition for Jacob), but that didn't ruin the story for me. What a wunderbaar book, Barbara Cameron!

I received a copy of this book from Net Galley and was not required to write a positive review.