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Loading... Home to Paradiseby Barbara Cameron
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Sign up for LibraryThing to find out whether you'll like this book. No current Talk conversations about this book. This book is the exciting and anticipated conclusion to the Coming Home Series, and it does not disappoint. This is Rose Anna and John’s story, her two sisters and his two brothers have already tied the knot together, and Rose Anna is hoping that John will make the decision to return to their community. John going to be the hardest to get to come back, and will he ever be able to forgive his father, that would be part of being true to his faith, but he hasn’t yet decided to return and join the Amish Church. Rose Anna is biding her time, and does seem to be looking at other men, but we know her heart will she change in order to marry and have her own family? Part of this story my mind figured out way in advance and I was right, but I loved how the story does unfold and kept my attention all the way to the end. There is a bonus of some yummy looking Amish recipes, and I might just try a few. Wish there was another book in this series, but I loved that the author has includes characters from her other books into this novel and we catch up on their lives. I received this book through Litfuse Publicity Book Tours, and was not required to give a positive review. We come to the end of a great series that has enchanted us and given us a glimpse into the Zook and Stoltzfus families. I have loved getting to know them and am sad to see it end. The author has done a great job of describing Amish life and making readers feel like they are watching the story unfold before them. I love how the story flows and the delicious sounding recipes at the back of the book. Rose Ann is the youngest and unmarried daughter in the Zook home. She has longed for John for so long and still has hopes they will marry someday. She is a good cook but I think at times she focuses too much on getting married and not being content with where God has her. Will she learn to be patient and stop being manipulative? John has turned away from his abusive father and now living on his own. He has chosen to live the way of the English and that has put a strain on relationships. I like his determination to make his life better and loved reading about the uncertainty he has about the Amish life. Will he return to his roots or stay in the English world? The author does a great job of showing the inner struggles John has and I loved how he learned lessons along the way. What I am most impressed with is the mention of PTSD and domestic abuse in the book. I think the author did an amazing job of talking about both subjects in a gentle way. I loved how there were people willing to help those with PTSD and making them feel welcome . Domestic abuse happens everyday and I found it interesting when the author put in the story that abuse doesn't just happen in the English world. Overall the book has a lot to offer and really does a great job of talking about characters who learn to forgive, repair relationships and follow God's plan for their lives. I received a copy of this book from Litfuse. The review is my own opinion. no reviews | add a review
Belongs to Series
"Rose Anna Zook has watched her two older sisters marry two Stoltzfus men and has always thought she and John, the third Stoltzfus brother, would marry, make a home together, and have children. But John has other ideas. He's enjoying his Rumschpringe in the Englisch world a little too much and isn't interested in returning to the Amish community--especially to marry. Rose Anna is determined to bring her man back into the Amish fold. John is equally determined to live his life free and unencumbered. Who will win this battle of wills? Will love prevail?"-- No library descriptions found. |
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)813.6Literature English (North America) American fiction 21st CenturyLC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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ISBN13: 9781426769931
My thoughts: This is a gentle story about a young woman and young man who really care for each other but whose lives aren't meshing as they would wish. For personal familial reasons, John and his two brothers had left their Amish home and community and ventured into the outside community and away from the Amish. Eventually John's two brothers returned to the Amish community and church and married young Amish women. John just couldn't seem to do this and his former sweetheart, Rose Anna, really wished he would return back to the Amish fold and to her.
John does live and work nearby on a horse farm owned by a retired big city attorney but he also works two other small jobs. He is not in the Amish church and this is the major reason he can not court and marry Rose Anna. John does help his two brothers on their farms typical of the way that the Amish have of helping each other.
His relationship with Neil, the owner of the horse farm, soon becomes close and similar to that of father and son. John truly finds joy in working on the horse farm and is considered a "horse whisperer."
The gentle story is somewhat predictable but there is a nice surprise twist or so to it. Barbara Cameron's writing is very enjoyable. I highly recommend this delightfully clean read.
I was provided a copy by Litfuse Publicity to facilitate a review of my honest opinions which are freely given. ( )