Customer Reviews

Rachel's Garden: Pleasant Valley Book Two (Pleasant Valley Series)

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Even within the Amish communities, there are struggles to deal with in life. Faith does not automatically solve everything. It takes time. Rachel deals with the death of her husband, raising his children and trying to run the Dairy Farm alone. Family pitches in but like all families they can be trying on you. Ezra's brothers help but also cause hardships upon Rachel in trying to force their decisions on her. Families seem to think they always know what is best for you. Rachel has to struggle with issues dealing with Gideon, Ezra's best friend, and Isaac and William, Ezra's brothers and yes, even her own parents. Rachel has to think about what is best for her and he children. She has dreams but she isn't always supported in those dreams.

But like all parents eventually her parents come around and support her in her dreams. They are always there to help even when they disagree.

Then Leah is her best friend and she feels at first like she loses her support to. But it was just her misunderstanding what Leah meant. Good friends always work through situations. Rachel is there to help Leah when her baby is born.

Rachel and Gideon's relationship starts off with Gideon building a greenhouse for Rachel because it was to be Ezra's gift to her. But he wasn't prepared for his heart to open up to love again as he was still grieving the death of his wife and baby.

Hardships hit the Amish as they do us (referred to as Englishers) and life is the same whether you are Amish or not. We all face situations where our faith is tested.

I received this book at a time I was dealing with hurt from a lady in church, health situations, the loss of my Mother, etc. So it was very uplifting and encouraging.

I highly recommend this book to inspire and encourage you every day in your walk through life.

In Pleasant Valley, Pennsylvania, Widow Rachel Brand has no time to grieve the death of her husband Ezra in an accident. Instead she has a farm to keep and three young children to raise by herself though she knows her Amish neighbors will offer help.

Ezra's best friend Gideon Zook, who survived the accident, wants to honor his deceased buddy by completing a project he was going to do for his wife. Ezra intended to build a greenhouse for Rachel. However, her family pressures her to sell the farm instead of starting a nursery. However, questionable accidents leaves Gideon and Rachel to wonder if someone covets the land so much as to drive the widow away and to reconsider what happened to Ezra even as they fall in love.

The second Pleasant Valley Amish romance (see Leah's Choice) is an interesting look at two people who lost their first cherished mates who are falling in love but are in denial about how they feel. The lead couples makes the tale as the ghosts of Ezra and Naomi stand in their way as Gideon is unable to move on; somewhat because he suffers from survivor guilt and somewhat from his disbelief that one can love twice. Fans will enjoy a trip to Lancaster County as Marta Perry provides a charming second chance at love romance.

Harriet Klausner

It has been a year since Rachel Brand lost her husband Ezra. His untimely death was attributed to an accident. His memory still lingers fresh in her mind each time she looks into one of her three children's faces.

Rachel is determined to do whatever it takes to save her dairy farm. She readily accepts help when her Amish friends offer her assistance. Gideon Zook was Ezra's best friend. He was with him the day that he died and his memory is still haunted by that horrific day.

Gideon offers to fulfill a promise that Ezra had made to Rachel, to build a greenhouse. With a heavy heart she accepts and allows him to being building. Her family is against her starting a nursery; instead they insist she sale the farm.

Gideon is plagued that he was able to survive the accident where as Ezra lost his life. Working at Rachel's farm he sees her for the beautiful woman that he has always known her to be. The daily interaction has both of them experiencing feelings they never thought possible. Will they be able to put the past behind them and focus on the future?

There is one who is intent to see the young widow is driven to sale. With each hardship Rachel experiences they grow closer to seeing her lose her farm. Will this madman succeed in driving Rachel away from her land?

Rachel's Garden - Pleasant Valley Book Two is second in the Pleasant Valley series. Once again Marta Perry has done an exceptional job in writing a riveting book that is assured to keep you glued to your seat. I look forward to the next installment in this highly addictive series. The simplistic life of the Amish lifestyle mixed in with an element of greed makes for one outstanding novel.

I absolutely loved the first book in this series, Leah's Choice: Pleasant Valley Book One. I didn't find this book quite as good. It was a sweet story, but I didn't feel the character development was quite as good. I didn't feel I got to know the main characters quite as well. Rachel's progression from the grieving widow into love for another man was not very well portrayed. It was a sweet enjoyable story line, but the characters didn't quite come to life.

Still, it was an enjoyable quick read. Since I so greatly enjoyed the previous book in the series, I will go ahead and get the next one in hopes that I'll find it back up to par with the original.

If you happened to read my review of book 1, Leah's Choice, you would know how unlike the author that book read and how disappointed I was in it. But still recommend you read before reading Rachel's Garden.

This book, Rachel's Garden is a great story by Marta Perry. Rachel is a strong, intelligent woman who must come to grips with the death of her husband and dealing with family and friends who think they 'know' what she should be doing and what is best for her and her children. There is also a slight 'mystery' involved that is so typical of Marta Perry's books. Even though there is sadness, personal turmoil and clashing of wills, this is a story of love, forgiveness and ultimatly great joy.

I hope Anna's Return is just as good. I can't wait to start reading it. If you like Amish Romance and have read other books by Marta Perry, I am sure you will like Rachel's Garden. It is one of those stories you can just relax and enjoy!

When Rachel Brand lost her husband Ezra, it's like she lost her very life. And when Ezra's friend, Gideon Zook shows up at her door, determined to make her the green house that Ezra had been planning on building, it just seems to tear all the old wounds open - after all, Gideon survived the tragedy that too Ezra away. A bedrock teaching of the Amish community is that one must forgive, but all too often the forgiveness is difficult, especially if the one to be forgiven is oneself!

This is a very good book, and a very excellent sequel to Leah's Choice. I liked the characters and the situation, and the overarching theme of forgiveness. Great book, a real pleasure to read!

[By the way, an excellent book on Amish faith and forgiveness is Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy. Check that one out as well.]

Rachel is struggling with memories of her husband, who died in an accident. His friend Gideon survived however, and both of them in their different ways, deal with survivor's guilt. Seeing Gideon coming to her farm to build the greenhouse that her husband Ezra had promised her brings up the painful memories and showcases the fact that Gideon survived while Ezra did not. For Gideon, his guilt over surviving is exacerbated by his growing realization that his feelings for Rachel and fondness for Rachel and Ezra's children are growing with each visit he has to the farm. Are his intentions purely helpful and platonic? Or is the purpose of his visits to Rachel's farm, and his building of the greenhouse turning in to something else altogether?

Subplots of family conflicts join in with the above to build a satisfying read. While I did not find the book to be the pinnacle of suspense (since it is not suspense genre after all), or a flaming page-turner, I was happy to find this author's book Rachel's Garden, and have already gotten Anna's Return to read next. I am hoping to find Marta another Amish-genre writer to turn to in addition to the others I read. Thanks!

What a refreshing look at Amish Life! Marta Perry takes us into a world that she obviously loves and respects in her second "Pleasant Valley" novel.

In Rachel's Garden we learn to know Rachel, who was introduced to us in the first book of this series, Leah's Choice. In the time between the two books, Rachel's husband has been killed in a tragic accident, and the Amish community in Pleasant Valley comes to her support. Even with the help of her family and church, Rachel's winter has been long and dark, but with spring comes a glimmer of hope and the comfort of her beloved plants and garden.

But will Rachel be able to support herself and her three children? Will she be forced to sell the dairy farm that was Ezra's dream for his children? And in the midst of her struggles, her husband's best friend Gideon insists on building a greenhouse for her - Ezra's last gift to her, planned long before his death. Will Rachel ever be able to forgive Gideon for surviving the accident that claimed her husband's life?

This is a sweet story of forgiveness and love in the aftermath of a great loss. Don't miss this series!

Marta Perry has done it again! What a good book, I enjoyed it so much. I just pre-ordered Book 3 coming out June 1st and can hardly wait for it to get here. A truly talented author and I love her Amish books! Thanks so much Marta for a wonderful reading experience. God bless and keep you writing! Bettie Rogers

I loved this story, I have enjoyed all of the amish romance novels written by this author..