Kelly Long

I'm trying to gather my thoughts as I savor the blessing this book was. There are so many great lessons to receive from this story that I'm not sure I will write an adequate review. The author definitely has a gift of painting a picture with words. I could hear the horses as they galloped on the road. The laughter of children as they played outside whispered in my ears. The gracefulness of a young woman named Lilly could be seen in her bright eyes.

Lilly has always taken care of someone. She show more has never complained when her father took ill. Lilly honored her father with her quiet words and unconditional love. Her love for children is evident as she patiently teaches them every day. When her mother became ill, she gave all she could to make her mother feel safe. I loved Lilly so much and wished I had her patient, caring and giving heart.

Jacob is hard working and in love with Sarah. I think he has had eyes only for her since he was young. I could feel his heart break in two as his one true love marries another. Will he ever find that kind of love again? Jacob is very family oriented and close to his younger brother who I adored. I won't say how it came to pass, but before you know it two people are married and I questioned their hearts. What is the reason they decide to marry? Do they love each other like a husband and wife should?

The story is very touching and I loved reading how the characters start to share their innermost dreams. They each have a desire to be loved, but something is holding them back. The beauty of the story is how two people come together and through misunderstandings, jealousy, dreams shared, and the gift of unconditional love find joy. I loved how Lilly and Jacob found a way to show how much they care by the special gift each gave to the other. It is truly a love story that captures the message of forgiveness and putting others before yourself.

This review is my own opinion. show less

Good, multi-layered story of love, faith, and overcoming the past. Stephen left his home on Ice Mountain after he was accused of murder and shunned. Even though he was proved innocent, he no longer felt at home there. Instead, he moved to an Englisch town and worked as a firefighter. His life took a dramatic change when he rescued a young woman from a burning building. Ella was pregnant, abandoned by the father of her baby, and in danger from a greedy aunt and uncle.

I really liked Stephen show more and Ella. He is kind, honorable, and protective. He is well-liked by his fellow firefighters and has a strong friendship with his doctor roommate. Though he no longer lived in the Amish community, his faith was still strong and guided his behavior. Ella is sweet, determined, and feisty. She was determined to give her baby the best life possible, even under the most difficult of circumstances.

Stephen and Ella met when he saved her from a burning building. There was a connection between them from the very start, both physical and emotional. Stephen was drawn to Ella in a way that he'd never experienced before. He wanted to take care of her and her baby, at the same time he found it almost impossible to keep his hands off of her. Stephen's kindness to her is something that Ella hasn't felt in a very long time. She's attracted to him but doesn't feel she deserves the compassion of such a good man. I loved the protectiveness Stephen experienced when she went back to her old job, and the actions he took to show it. When they found out that the fire was deliberately set in an attempt to kill Ella, Stephen was determined to save her, even if that meant returning to Ice Mountain.

I liked the development of the relationship between Stephen and Ella. Stephen fell fast and hard for Ella and wanted nothing more than to make her part of his life forever. I loved how he already thought of her baby as his own. Ella felt the same about him but worried that their differing lives would make it impossible. I loved how easily she fit into the community and the hope that it gave her for the future. There were many sweet scenes between them as they got to know each other. I especially loved the way Ella took care of Stephen after the bear attack. There were also some fun scenes of his friends giving him a hard time over his feelings for her. Both were a little wary of expressing their feelings, but when a crisis threatened their lives, they realized that life was too short not to take the risk.

There was an element of mystery/suspense that ran through the book. We found out early on that Ella's life was in danger. There were several twists and turns that kept me guessing as to what would happen. I was intrigued by the first man sent to kill her. His actions were not what I expected, and I found my opinion of him changing rapidly. He redeemed himself quite nicely by the end of the book. The second killer was creepy and evil, made even worse by the connection he already shared with Ella. The final confrontation was intense and had me on the edge of my seat until it was over.

Part of the story dealt with Stephen and his relationship with his mother and aunt. After meeting them, I completely understood the strain he'd been under as a kid and teenager. I thought it said a lot about his need to protect Ella that he even considered going back to that toxic atmosphere. It was interesting to see how the time away, plus his feelings for Ella, helped Stephen move past the resentment toward forgiveness. I also liked seeing the changes that Stephen's mother went through and how she faced up to her mistakes. There was a neat little twist involving her at the end of the book. show less

Amish Christmas Kinner contains three novellas by Lenora Worth, Rachel J. Good, and Kelly Long. I enjoyed reading the three sweet Amish stories. The three tales are Christmas Eve Baby by Lenora Worth (The Shadow Lake series), Best Christmas Program Ever by Lenora Worth (Surprised by Love series), and Loving Luke by Kelly Long (The Amish Mail Order Grooms series). I thought all three were well-written with steady pacing. They are stories of romance and faith. We get to see how the Amish show more celebrate Christmas. I like their holiday traditions and how the holidays center around family. I did feel that Christmas Eve Baby was a tad long (when you begin to wonder if it will ever end, you know it is too long). Forgiveness, new beginnings, letting go, family, and faith are the themes. Best Christmas Program is the story that really tugged at my heartstrings. While each novella is part of a series, each one can be read on its own. Amish Christmas Kinner is a collection of stories that can be read at Christmas or anytime of the year. This is a heartwarming anthology. show less

Mail order brides are commonly found in novels, but mail order grooms are certainly a new topic! "Marrying Matthew" is the first in a series of Amish fiction novels that feature mail order grooms, not to mention feisty, independent women.

As heiress to her dad's mill and woodworking business, Tabitha has successfully avoided men who want to marry her in order to take over the business. However, Tabitha determines to marry on her own terms, so she places an ad for a groom. She never intends show more to fall in love with her mail order groom.

Matthew King answers her ad with the intention of gaining woodworking skills from Tabitha's dad, with marriage as an incidental. However, he never planned to fall in love with his new wife. Matthew also failed to consider the reactions of the men at the mill, or the independent attitude of his wife.

Another romance brews between Abner and Anke, older individuals who hide their secrets from each other. However, they find it increasingly difficult to hide their growing attraction to each other.

Of the many Amish fiction novels I have read, this one definitely contained many nuances that set it apart from the others. The story line includes twists and turns that motivate the reader to continue reading. Mystery and suspense also add to the unpredictable nature of the plot. The mountain setting and descriptions of the Mountain Amish community also display a unique aspect to this series.

The characters are interesting, likeable, and well-drawn, with depths to their personalities and motives. Although a "sweet" story, the novel contains a bit more spice than most Amish novels, although always within the bounds of good taste. Readers who enjoy Amish fiction will find this a thoughtful and well-written change of pace. I am looking forward to reading the next installment in the series.

I received this novel from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own. show less