To Love and to Cherish (The Bliss Creek Amish) [Paperback]

Kelly Irvin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2012 | Series: The Bliss Creek Amish (Book 1)

In author Kelly Irvin's first installment in the Bliss Creek Amish series, readers will find a charming, romantic story of how God works even in the darkest moments.

It's been four years since Carl left. Four years since he left the safety of the small Amish community for the Englisch world. And in four years, Emma's heart has only begun to heal.

Now, with the unexpected death of her parents, Emma is plunged back into a world of despair and confusion. It's a confusion only compounded by Carl's return. She's supposed to be in love with him...so why can't she keep her mind off Thomas, the strong, quiet widower who always seems to be underfoot? Could the man she only knew as a friend be the one to help her to heal?

In a world that seems to be changing no matter how tightly she clings to the past, this one woman must see beyond her pain and open her heart to trust once again.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Kelly Irvin is a Kansas native and has been writing professionally for 30 years. She and her husband, Tim, make their home in Texas. They have two children, three cats, and a tankful of fish. A public relations professional, Kelly is also the author of two romantic suspense novels and writes short stories in her spare time. To learn more about her work, visit www.kellyirvin.com.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (February 1, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9780736943710
• ISBN-13: 978-0736943710
• ASIN: 0736943714
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.8 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #201,268 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Kelly Irvin is the author of of the Bliss Creek Amish series published by Harvest House Publishers. The series, set in Kansas, includes To Love and to Cherish, A Heart Made New, and Love's Journey Home. Love Still Stands, the first novel in a spin-off series New Hope Amish, will debut in September. In the New Hope series, familiar characters from Bliss Creek will move to Missouri to start a new district and a new life.

Kelly is also the author of two romantic suspense novels, A Deadly Wilderness and No Child of Mine, set in San Antonio, Texas.

The Kansas native is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Sisters in Crime. In addition to attending the ACFW annual conference regularly, she has attended the Glorieta Writers Conference. She also serves as secretary of the ACFW San Antonio local chapter Alamo City Christian Fiction Writers.

A graduate of the University of Kansas William Allen White School of Journalism, Kelly has been writing nonfiction professionally for thirty years. She studied for three semesters at the University of Costa Rica, learning the Spanish language. As a journalist, she worked six years in the border towns of Laredo and El Paso, where she was exposed to culture and language that serves as fodder for her fiction writing. She has written hard news, features, entertainment pieces, restaurant critiques, editorials, and weekly columns. Writing awards include the Silver Star Award from the Texas Mental Health Association for articles pertaining to mental health and numerous awards in news, feature, and editorial writing from the Texas Press Association and Texas Press Women.

For nearly twenty years, she has worked in public relations for the San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department, where her duties include writing and designing an employee newsletter, writing news releases, collaborating on marketing campaigns, coordinating ribbon-cuttings and groundbreakings, coordinating press conferences, updating the web site, and acting as a media spokesperson. She also proofreads trial transcripts for three court reporters.

Kelly has been married to photographer Tim Irvin for twenty-five years, and they have two young adult children. In her spare time, she likes to write short stories and read books by her favorite authors.


For more information, visit http://www.kellyirvin.com

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Amish Fiction February 14, 2012

By Courtney

Format:Paperback

There is nothing like starting off a book with a massive tragedy! Wow!! Right from the start we are sucked in to the story of Emma and her family - be warned the tears might start flowing! Emma loses her parents in a terrible accident and is suddenly found in a difficult spot. Her older brother Luke moves in with his wife Leah and helps Emma with the responsibility of caring for her younger siblings and the farm. There are lots of issues when you mix the two families together and it is bumpy road they travel as their emotions run high.

Not only is Emma dealing with the tragedy of losing her parents and caring for her younger siblings but she is also struggling with issues of the heart. Her ex beau Carl is suddenly back in the picture after breaking her heart in to a million pieces four years ago. On top of the new hurts she is dealing with now that Carl is back in her life, her good friend Thomas is suddenly showing an interest in her. As her heart begins to heal she can't decide who she wants to be with. You'll be wondering who will win her heart the whole time.

To Love and Cherish has everything I love in an Amish story, and a romance. There is a tragedy that tests the faith of all the characters and a story of forgiveness and redemption. There is a love interest that doesn't just fall in your lap but develops and strengthens as we read. You'll laugh and you'll cry! Best of all there are lots of unexpected events and you can't really predict what the ending will be! This was truly a great read and I'll be looking in to more books by Kelly Irvin.

I was provided with a copy of this book by the Publisher Harvest House, and was not required to give positive review.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Amish Action Adventure February 10, 2012

By Cindy Loven

Format:Paperback

Wow!! I have never read a book that has so much happening in it. Buggy accident, tornado, barn raising, rebellious son coming home, and leaving,a nervous breakdown, a missing child in a snowstorm and that is not even a drop in the bucket. This book has lots of action. An Amish Action Adventure book, truly at times it was a bit overwhelming however, Kelly Irvin does an awesome job of keeping everything straight and tying the story together. This was a great story of learning that just as everyone does, the main female character in this story (Emma) struggles with forgiving and has for years. It began with her intended, leaving the faith, he had already been baptised, so he was not in rumspringa, but left to see what was out in the world. Emma struggles for four years to forgive Carl, but it is harder than she thought, and friends marrying and having babies makes the wound open up over and over. The death of her parents, even adds to the burden of forgiveness. How will she forgive the driver of the truck that struck their buggy, and how will she forgive God for taking her parents away? A great story that you have to read!! I loved the book and look forward to reading more books from Kelly Irvin. A 4 star rating is what I give this book! This book was provided for review purposes only, no payment was received for this review.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Strong characters March 6, 2012

By lvsue

Format:Kindle Edition

I loved the characters in this book. At times I wanted to shake Emma -- she got to me! This book is the first of a series and I am eagerly waiting for the next one.