Customer Reviews

An Amish Gathering (Inspirational Amish Romance Collection)

5 star:		(16)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

These three stories are inspirational. I can relate to someone in each and every story. They make you believe that God does have a plan for everyone, even if they can't see that plan.
In the first story Leah is a little lost as an amish woman. Will she follow her calling to be a writer or will she succome to her father's wishes to be a "gut" amish wife and learn to cook, clean, sew and garden? She does not see getting married in her life, all she wants to do is write and inspire people and help them to see God's way. Will she find someone who accepts her the way she is and will she fulfill her dreams along the way?
The second story will touch everyone. We have all lost someone in our lives. Who, but God determines how we heal, and how long it takes. But God does allow us to heal and to move forward.
The third story shows that God does allow us to find our way, with some gentle guidence. If we just stop and listen we will hear God telling us the way.
All three show that there is someone out there for everyone, no matter what their shortcomings are.
This book will make wonderful gifts.

These three authors - Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller and Barbara Cameron, share their knowledge of Amish life in a very realistic way. All three stories are easy reading and hold one's interest from beginning to end. The Glossary is definitely a plus, and the recipes at the end are a delightful bonus.
Recommended reading for those who like stories about Amish life.

This book covers three stories. Unfortunately, the first, "A Change of Heart," focuses too much on negative aspects of the main female, Leah, at a certain point in time, eventually leaving the reader with the impression that it's OK for her to actually shirk family responsibilities because she's a writer, even when she marries.

Not only that, Leah's message in her writings is supposedly Christian, showing, not telling, others about the Lord. This actually makes no sense. Either show and tell us, as readers, via the story, or move along to other fiction types or topics. In short, it's not OK to be so self absorbed that you are unaccountable for working within a family unit, either as a single or married person. And it's not OK to write about being Christian while you are not being one; i.e. that comes across as a hypocrite.

This story needs much better focus and more time in development phases. Certainly more happened in this main character's life than the last year or so with the total self absorption with writing, otherwise, the strict Amish parents would have stepped in sooner, as is custom. So go there: present a real character, one more rounded and believable. And make the character a Christian, not just a person writing about being a Christian. This could have helped the tone and storyline much more. Christian fiction needs to have the main characters be or become Christian at some point, or what is the point?

While the negativity of this first story was still a bit overwhelming for an Amish book found in the Inspirational Christian category of the Walden's bookstore, moving on to story #2, "When Winter Comes," isn't much better. Yes, someone died, a youth, but instead of a write up of the event, similar to the death in story #3 with Josiah's `mamm,' we are hit over the head with it multiple times, dragging mourning out over 5 years while everyone needs to hand-hold the main character, Rebecca. Yes, this is fiction, but in the real world, that doesn't happen - or rarely so, as life moves on at a fast pace. To fictionalize it otherwise, especially with Amish culture, seems to focus on something too difficult to believe at any level. Again, we're talking Amish here. Amish move on. They don't focus on such a theme as this for so long. Touch on it in the story, sure. Carry mourning in the heart for years, sure. But have plenty of other activity - -LIFE - going on, as it does in the last story with Amanda and Josiah. Otherwise, what's the point: dragging readers into negative depths from story one, then on to story two?

Once the first two stories are read, the third, "A Place of His Own," is a welcome relief, a solid Amish tale of two young people building on a past relationship. There is plenty of Amish spirit, helping one another, forgiveness, moving ahead. And there is plenty of healthy Amish interaction of children, neighbors, relatives. Worth hanging in there to read, this story is the best of the three by far. Had the other two stories tried to emulate this one, the entire book would have been a 5-star publication. This story reflects the true essence Amish for today's Inspirational Christian shelves of Walden's and other book stores. Well done.

I really enjoyed the first two romance stories in "An Amish Gathering"."A Change of Heart" by Beth Wiseman and "When Winter Comes" by Barbara Cameron were good stories with nice themes of forgiveness,and nice likeable characters that you cared about,but I don't feel that the third book "A Place of His Own" by Kathleen Fuller should have been included in this novella at all! It does not have the same spirit at all,and I couldn't stand the lead male,and then detested his father. I would never choose to read any story about child abuse,and I did not appreciate such a story being included with two stories that were uplifting,then to throw in such a mean-spirited story that stirs up totally different emotions,was a total letdown,that made me angry.

I would advise anyone who gets this novella to skip the last story. There is nothing redeeming about it,IMO. After reading 2 uplifting stories it will just bring you down.

Three wonderful stories by three wonderful authors. Each story brings a challenge to the heroine and hero, and each one also ties in the characters in some way, to all three stories. This is like having a triple series book all in one, even though each story features a new heroine and hero. Kept my interest, and I was not bored for a minute. Excellent writing and storytelling.

I really enjoyed these 3 Amish stories - each was uniques & neat - these seperate but flowing stories were good...one of them started a lot slower, but still ended reasonably strong - it was a tad difficult to get into that character, but once I did, it was a good story. That was the first story: the other two I like more - my favorite was the second story, about Joshia & Amanda.

These 3 novellas combine to create a heart-warming story about Amish couples in Lancaster County, PA: I definitely recommend this (and the other 3 story novella book about Amish Christmas). It was a delightful read, that delved into the Amish community quite a bit (and I have some first hand experience interacting with the Amish), weaving in faith in God above, and making a reader truly care about what happened in each of their lives: nice and heart-warming...

Three heartwarming tales of old friends and new beginnings that span one year in an Amish community

A Change of Heart by Beth Wiseman--Leah doesn't care anything about the usual domestic work that an Amish woman does. She only cares about writing. Her daed is at his wits end what to do with her, when an ex-Amish Angel comes into Leah's life. What will it take for Leah to find her way?

When Winter Comes by Barbara Cameron--Rebecca has loved to ice skate, and she was good at it, until a winter accident takes her twin sister, Lizzie. A young man has been waiting for Rebecca to grow up, and waited longer for her grieving to end. Has too much time passed for her to find love?

A Place of His Own by Kathleen Fuller--Josiah has left his Amish community long ago, after his mother died. Now he's back, but only long enough to put the family farm up for sale. He has no desire to face the demons of the past. But his next door neighbor, his former best friend, Amanda, seems to have him in her sights. Amanda can't seem to penetrate the walls Josiah has erected, but will she be able to watch him walk away again.

AN AMISH GATHERING is a collection of three Amish novellas by three popular Amish authors. I enjoyed reading When Winter Comes the most, but the other two were good as well.

I love reading Amish fiction, so it was a nice treat to be able to pick up this book. The stories were well-paced and a quick read, I finished two in one sitting. If you love Amish fiction, you won't want to miss AN AMISH GATHERING. Discussion questions are included at the end of the book. I gave this book 4 stars because one of the stories wasn't up to the same standards as the other two.

I was honestly a bit off-put by the idea of reading an Amish story, which I believed would be full of preachy, wholesome wisdom. I am happy to be wrong (about the preachy part, that is) and equally happy for taking what seems like an unlikely chance on this collection of Amish love stories.

The book was written by three authors with very similar styles, and is comprised of three short stories that build off one another. I have ranked them in order of my preference:

A Change of Heart - Beth Wiseman (4.5 stars)
This story centers around two young people who aren't certain of their feelings for each other or their paths in life. The heroine, Leah, is headstrong and fiercely independent to the point of convincing her parents she will never be fit to recommend herself as a proper Amish wife to any respectable Amish man. Much to Leah's dismay, however, she captures the attention of the handsome Aaron Lantz. Leah and stud-muffin Lantz find common ground in sharing Leah's stories and a relationship blossoms as the two discover Leah's talent as an author is more than enough to keep a man's interest. Will it be Mr. Stud-Muffin who captures her heart?

When Winter Comes - Barbara Cameron (3.5 stars)
This story centers around two young people who appear doomed to bad timing and prevailing cross-purposes. The heroine, Rebecca, carries a heavy burden of grief over lossing her twin sister and is haunted by the belief she might have prevented it. It was his intent five years earlier, before losing her sister, that Ben Weaver would make Rebecca his wife, having loved her all his life. When the timing becomes conducive for Ben to pop the question and for the couple to begin their happily-ever-after life together, a series of events unfold that play out an emotional tug-a-war that makes for an interesting, light read.

A Place of His Own - Kathleen Fuller (3 stars)
This story centers around two young people learning to heal old wounds and support each other. The story has two equally strong characters; Josiah, who returns just as suddenly as he left the Amish village more than a decade ago without even a good-bye to his best friend and neighbor, Amanda, has no intention of mending fences with Amanda or sticking around long enough to care. Amanda, still hurt and confused by her best friend's behavior a decade earlier, is determined to pick up where they left off and, if she's really daring, take their friendship to the next level. While Josiah works at a fevered pace to fix his dilapidated childhood home in order to sell it and move on with is life forever away from his Amish roots and distracting neighbor, Amanda insinuates herself in his life (by way of his kitchen) and challenges him in more ways than she's aware. Will Josiah continue running from his past or will he take a chance on love with Amanda?

LIKES
The first-person perspective of both the male and female lead characters as well as other key characters throughout the stories.

The easy way all three authors incorporate the Amish dialect into every-day conversations between characters. I did not need to refer to the glossary while reading since the meaning of many words and phrases was understood from context.

GRIPES
The contrived and predictable story lines that pretended to be otherwise, particularly with the last two stories, which tended to draw out, longer than was necessary in my opinion, the tension and climax of the story. The last two stories read overly dramatic and unrealistic "big secret" or misunderstanding scenarios, which lead to so much heartache between characters, when revealed proved untrue to character and tended to dilute the plot and moral of the story.

OTHER COMMENTS
Feminists be warned. As one might expect, Amish values are traditional,including those about women's roles; while women are respected in Amish society they typically earn that respect through their contribution in the kitchen (boy is there a lot of eating and cooking in this book) and house-keeping. In a small, fleeting way this book taught me to value the simpler, more traditional ways I contribute to the happiness of others, like cooking a meal or fixing a hem, as opposed to the more familiar ways in which I tend to feel the greatest sense of contribution to others...work. An overall refreshing read, I would recommend this book.

Highly recommend this book and author. I have never been disappointed in them. And you wonbt either.

i like a book where there are 3 stories in 1 box written by 3 authors