When the Morning Comes

This was very good, and well written, and I found myself staying up way to late because I just had to finish the story; but I must say I didn't like how it ended (although there is still time for things to reconcile with book 3 in this series). If you want to be thoroughly frustrated and angry at people at times, then you will definitely like this story! I am starting book 3, "When the Soul Mends", right away, because I can't believe this is the end of a relationship that I have been pulling for all along.

Hannah Lapp has fled her Old Order Amish community and finds a new home in Ohio with her shunned aunt Zabeth who she has never met before. Things aren't easy for Hannah at the beginning, but she is not a quitter and has more strength show more and determination than most people would realize. Her heart is breaking over losing the love of her life Paul, her health is in danger from her miscarriage, and she has no one but her Aunt to turn to. (I highly recommend you read these stories in order because it is like reading one whole book, just printed with 3 different covers and titles).

Hannah will eventually find a good job, start schooling for a nursing career and find love and acceptance from her Aunt and from others. One of those "others" is a good friend and almost a family member of Aunt Zabeth, Martin Palmer. But back home in Pennsylvania, Paul never stops thinking of and hoping that Hannah will come home. There is much going on in that part of this story also, and some of it made me so angry I wanted to stop reading, but couldn't put the story down until I read how things would work out for everyone involved. And although I love this Martin character and appreciate what Hannah and him have together, I never stopped believing in Paul's love for Hannah and hoping they would come together again. I really hope the final story in this series ends well, because so far I am on pins and needles waiting to see what the future holds for everyone. show less

This second book in the trilogy has Hannah learning and thriving albeit quietly in the English world. With help and love from her aunt's former charge (she was his nanny,) she gets her GED and works toward a nursing certificate. I loved her response when Martin gave her a lot of things to do for the second time in one evening: Did you invent the to-do list or something?"
Things happen back in Owl's Perch, PA and the end of the book has Hannah returning for a visit to help her sister Sarah and go to a funeral. I was glad I had picked up the third book at the same time, so I didn't have to wait to start it.

TALK ABOUT A CLIFF HANGER! Dudette, you can not just leave me hanging like this, I don't know how I'm suppose to make it to September! Ugh! This book was really great, better than the first, and I really enjoyed that one. There is real issues that are tough on life and hard, but there is goodness. There are more characters to fall in love with in this book and the personalities are so real and so great, that you do not know who to love more as a reader and feel just as confused as the character and then realize the things that you know that she/he doesn't and your heart breaks for them, but you still do not know which would be better! I could not read this book fast enough to find out what happens and each part is really unexpected and show more fascinating. I earnestly cannot wait for the next book! show less

I thought this was an excellent Book 2 in a Trilogy. Knowing how the first book ended, the ending to this book was obvious, but the path to that ending was nonetheless an enjoyable read. Staying true to her style in the first book, the author did not sugarcoat many of the emotional issues explored in the series. I felt that there were a few things that weren't fully explored in this book, however, and it's my hope that these things will be presented more fully in Book 3 (which I have yet to read).

Review for Book #1:
I expected this to be complete fluff like most of Christian fiction I've read, but found instead an emotionally complex story that was skillfully written. It's hard to believe that this is the author's first novel. I show more recommend this to readers who typically prefer literary fiction and are leery about Christian fiction. While maintaining the books' Christian roots, the author does not fall into the trap of sugarcoating things that many Christian authors do, and I found that refreshing. show less

I really loved this book. It helped answer a few questions I had left over from the first book. I can't wait to read the third. I am really glad of how Hannah was able to move on and I hope with time I am too after my tragic ordeal.

Hannah has traveled to Ohio to find the mysterious Zabeth, her father's sister thst was shunned several years earlier. Hannah winds up in the hospital and since she is still 17 years old, the doctor threatens to contact social services unless Hannah can give him a good reason not to make the call. Hannah breaks down and explains everything that has happened to her, including her plans to marry Paul and his eventual rejection. With little trouble, Dr. Lehman is able to locate Zabeth and Hannah's life begins to change drastically from what she had imagined living in Owl's Perch.

A more hopeful book than the first in the series; this volume sees the heroine Hannah moving along with her life, making progress in healing from the trauma introduced in the first book in the series.