Category Archives: Amish Brides of Birch Creek Series

January 8, 2020 · 11:58 pm

Review: The Innkeeper’s Bride by Kathleen Fuller

Title: The Innkeeper’s Bride by Kathleen Fuller
Amish Brides of Birch Creek Series Book Three
Publisher: Zondervan
Genre: Contemporary, Amish, Romance
Length: 320 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

With two matchmakers on the loose in the Amish community of Birch Creek, the new innkeeper doesn’t stand a chance in this sweet Amish romance.

When Selah Ropp returns to Birch Creek, she is a different person than when she left. I know I haven’t done much listening in the past, Lord, she prays. But I’m listening now. Her new friend, Cevilla Schlabach, urges her to let go of regrets and allow this to be a fresh start. Cevilla herself, though, hides a secret longing behind her weathered face.

Levi Stoll and his family spent a year transforming a large English house into a small inn. Now that they are open for business, Levi is pleased to have Selah join them as an employee—as long as his grandmother doesn’t try any matchmaking schemes on the two of them. After all, Selah seems as guarded as he feels, and the last thing he wants is for anyone to remind him of his history.

With Kathleen Fuller’s trademark humor and memorable characters, The Innkeeper’s Bride reminds us that God’s grace in the present and our hope for the future is stronger than any pain of the past. 

Review:

The Innkeeper’s Bride by Kathleen Fuller is a heartfelt and engaging Amish romance. Although this newest release is the third installment in the Amish Brides of Birch Creek series, it can be read as a standalone.

As much as she loves her brother and sister-in-law, Selah Ropp  is ready to move on to the next phase in her life plan.  But in order to accomplish her goal, she needs to find a job. Luckily, Levi Stoll and his family are looking for someone to work in their newly opened inn.  Selah enjoys her new job and her employers but she is troubled by her feelings for Levi. She is cautious about revealing much about her past but Levi is patient and understanding when her issues arise. Will Selah open her heart to an unexpected chance for love?

Just as the family’s inn is about to open, Levi must take on a bigger role than anticipated when his father is injured.  He grows concerned about the family’s finances but he knows that he must trust God’s plan for them. Levi is not looking for love and certainly not with an employee, but he is quite smitten with Selah.   Not wanting to make her uncomfortable, Levi retreats when their relationship ventures into romantic territory. But will a little help from a pair of crafty matchmakers change his mind?

Octogenarians Cevilla Schlabach and Richard Johnson are still deciding the future of their relationship. Cevilla tries to give Richard the time and space he needs to plan his next step, but she is becoming impatient with his lack of communication with her.  A decision made in haste threatens their happiness but will a little well-meaning interference from her friend Delilah Stoll help the couple work through their problems?

The Innkeeper’s Bride is a delightful romance with a wonderful undercurrent of faith. Selah’s battle with depression is realistically depicted and her fears about a relationship with Levi are understandable. Levi is an outgoing young man with an optimistic outlook on life. The Stoll family is close-knit and supportive with a strong faith that guides and sustains them as they launch their Inn.

Old and new fans  are sure to love this heartwarming addition to Kathleen Fuller’s marvelous Amish Brides of Birch Creek series.

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Filed under Amish, Amish Brides of Birch Creek Series, Contemporary, Kathleen Fuller, Rated B+, Review, Romance, The Innkeeper's Bride, Zondervan

June 3, 2019 · 11:57 pm

Review: The Farmer’s Bride by Kathleen Fuller

Title: The Farmer’s Bride by Kathleen Fuller
Amish Brides of Birch Creek Series Book Two
Publisher: Zondervan
Genre: Contemporary, Amish, Romance
Length: 304 pages
Book Rating: B

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

From bestselling author, Kathleen Fuller, comes another heartwarming romantic comedy set in the beloved Amish community of Birch Creek. 

“Once you open the book, you won’t put it down until you’ve reached the end.”—Amy Clipston, bestselling author of A Seat by the Hearth, for The Teacher’s Bride

They promised to keep each other’s secrets . . . not realizing they were about to make some of their own.

Martha Detweiler has a problem many Amish women her age would envy: she’s the only single woman in a community of young men, and they’re all competing for her favor. Overwhelmed by the unwanted attention, Martha finds herself constantly fleeing from her would-be suitors, dismayed at what her life has come to.

Birch Creek’s resident matchmaker, Cevilla Schlabach, suggests a solution: Martha and the bishop’s son, Seth Yoder, should pretend they are dating. What better way to keep the other young men away?

But Seth is the only man around not interested in Martha. He has a secret hobby that keeps him away from social gatherings: woodcarving. Having grown up in poverty, he’s determined to keep his father’s farm successful, even if it means he has no time for dating. Then Delilah Stoll, a new resident of Birch Creek, eyes Seth as the perfect man for her granddaughter. Suddenly Cevilla’s proposition doesn’t seem all that ludicrous. Can Seth and Martha convince their family and friends to leave them alone?

The second book in bestselling author Kathleen Fuller’s Amish Brides of Birch Creek series, The Farmer’s Bride celebrates the unexpected power of love and the joy of discovering God’s calling.

Review:

The Farmer’s Bride by Kathleen Fuller is a delightfully heartwarming Amish romance. Although this latest release is the second installment in the Amish Brides of Birch Creek, it can be  read as a standalone.

Martha Detweiler has zero interest in a romance. Her last relationship ended badly and she has yet to recover from the emotional scars. As the only single woman in Birch Creek, she is actively pursued by the single men in the community. Fearing hurting their feelings, Martha instead runs from conflict.  A discussion with local matchmaker Cevilla Schlabach leads to a bit of an unusual remedy for Martha’s situation. But will Seth Yoder agree to a pretend romance to help Martha escape the unwanted attention?

Seth works hard on his family’s farm but he would rather be woodworking than planting crops. But he is an obedient young man who remembers all too well the family’s financial struggles before their farm became so prosperous. Seth reluctantly agrees to help Martha, but he soon feels guilty participating in such a duplicitous scheme. He is unexpectedly drawn to Martha but is Seth willing to turn their pretend romance into a real relationship?

Martha is surprised by how much she enjoys Seth’s company but she too feels a great deal of remorse for deceiving everyone.  Just as they are about to reveal the truth, their situation soon becomes even more complicated when newcomer Delilah Stoll decides Martha would be the perfect match for her grandson, Levi.  She is also certain that Seth is the perfect man for her granddaughter, Nina. Further difficulties ensue when Delilah and Cevilla clash right from their first introduction.

Martha and Seth’s paths have crossed several times in the past, but it is not until their pretend romance they begin to see another in a different light. Despite their unanticipated interest in each other, they know they cannot continue to deceive their loved ones. But will revealing the truth mean the end of their chance for a future together?

The Farmer’s Bride is an endearing Amish romance with a wonderful cast of charming characters. Martha and Seth are wonderfully developed characters who are perfect for one another. The romantic aspect of the storyline is understated but Seth and Martha’s feelings for one another ring true.  With valuable lessons about trust and forgiveness, Kathleen Fuller brings this marvelous novel to a heartfelt conclusion. This newest addition to the Amish Brides of Birch Creek series is an engaging  romance that is sure to delight readers of Amish fiction.

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Filed under Amish, Amish Brides of Birch Creek Series, Contemporary, Kathleen Fuller, Rated B, Review, Romance, The Farmer's Bride, Zondervan

November 26, 2018 · 11:58 pm

Review: The Teacher’s Bride by Kathleen Fuller

Title: The Teacher’s Bride by Kathleen Fuller
Amish Brides of Birch Creek Series Book One
Publisher: Zondervan
Genre: Contemporary, Christian, Romance
Length: 320 pages
Book Rating: B+

Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley

Summary:

Beloved and bestselling author of Amish romance Kathleen Fuller reminds us that sometimes opposites really do attract.

If there is one thing Christian Ropp will not allow in his classroom—or his life—it is chaos. So why is he drawn to Ruby Glick, a woman who seems to bring mayhem wherever she goes?

Christian Ropp moves to Birch Creek to accept a teaching position in the rapidly growing Amish community. He’s determined to put the rambunctious school in order as well as check another task off his list: finding a wife. Of course, that would be much easier if women were like textbooks, straightforward and logical.

When an accident puts Christian out of commission, a new community member named Ruby Glick takes over his classroom. But Ruby’s exuberant teaching style clashes with Christian’s careful methods and he worries his students will never be the same.

With a track record of catastrophe, Ruby always feels too clumsy, too distracted, too . . . much. Desperate for a chance to prove that she can do more than make mistakes in her life, she throws herself into her new teaching position. But when Christian can’t seem to stay out of her way, she finds herself slipping into old, chaotic tendencies.

What she doesn’t anticipate is that Christian’s heart is slowly catching up with his mind—and she, too, must decide whether to follow logic or love.

Review:

The first installment in the Amish Brides of Birch Creek series, The Teacher’s Bride by Kathleen Fuller is a very heartwarming and entertaining romance.

Twenty year old Ruby Glick decides to move from her hometown of Lancaster to Birch Creek where her brother Timothy and his wife Patience live. Unsure of what she wants to do other than settle down and marry, she is delighted to discover several single men to choose from. Ruby is upbeat, positive and kind-hearted but she finds it difficult to talk to the young man she is interested in.  Beset by nerves, her attempt to catch his eye ends in a bit of disaster which is unfortunately, not an unusual occurrence for her.  Thankfully, Ruby’s attention is diverted to school teacher Christian Ropp, whom she has agreed to help figure out how to get to get to know the young woman he is would like to date.

Christian is meticulous, socially awkward and quite reserved. He runs a well-ordered classroom and he  is trying very hard to engage his students and foster a love of learning. Like Ruby, Christian is ready to wed and with a dearth of marriageable young women, he has set his sights on his sister Selah’s friend, Martha Detweiler. Unfortunately, Christian cannot quite work up the nerve to talk to her. So when Ruby offers to give him tips about getting to know women, he eagerly accepts her help.

Christian and Ruby are complete opposites but they perfectly complement one another. Christian is introverted and finds it difficult to express his feelings. Ruby is rather impulsive and although her heart is in the right place, she fails to think about the consequences of her actions.  Christian finds it easy to talk to Ruby and she does not hesitate to point out when his social skills are lacking. Christian can be a bit oblivious at times, but he quickly picks up on Ruby’s  lack of self-confidence and  he gently encourages her. They are a surprisingly perfect fit for each other but Christian’s inability to express his feelings jeopardizes their chance at happiness.

The Teacher’s Bride is a fast-paced romance with winsome characters and an endearing storyline.  Ruby is a charming, lively young woman who is very easy to like. Christian’s reserve is a bit off-putting initially, but it does not take long to warm up to him as he interacts with his students and Ruby. Although their romance is a bit unorthodox, it completely fits with their personalities.  The conflict that arises between them leaves their future together looking rather rocky and uncertain. Kathleen Fuller brings the novel to a uplifting conclusion that is incredibly sweet. A sneak peek at the next book in the Amish Brides of Birch Creek series will leave readers impatiently awaiting its release.

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Filed under Amish Brides of Birch Creek Series, Christian, Contemporary, Kathleen Fuller, Rated B+, Review, Romance, The Teacher's Bride, Zondervan