Customer Reviews

Rachel's Secret (The Riverhaven Years, Book 1)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Length:: 2:08 Mins

Rachel Brenneman is an Amish widow with a deep faith and an even deeper secret. She goes about her daily routine, all the while agonizing over what she keeps hidden. Then Irish riverboat captain Jeremiah Gant bursts into her home in the middle of the night. He's shot, delirious, and barely alive, and he carries his own yoke of secrets. Will he survive the night? Will her heart survive if he does?

Don't miss this amazing story!

I brought this book to work to read on my lunch break and every day had to force myself to shut it and go back to work! Loved the characters, loved the story line, loved everything about it...except it ended too soon! :-) Am anxious to find out what happens to Asa...Gant...Gideon...Rachel...don't leave me hanging too long, BJ!! :-)

One of BJ Hoff's cornerstones is character development. In Rachel's Secret, not only do we step into the lives of memorable characters, this particular story's opening chapters make it impossible for the reader to put the book down. A perfect blend of people, drama, and faith, salted with a touch of gritty reality--another of this writer's hallmarks. I particularly admired the way the author develops Rachel's internal struggle to live by her Amish faith in a world that is often cruel, evil, and unfair. Can't wait for the second book in this series.

I just couldn't wait to give my review on this book. It is so heartfelt and dear to me. I live in Pennsylvania, and have always been curious about the Amish, this book has inspired me greatly. What a pleasure it is to get lost in the lives of these wonderful characters. I am also African American and know that this is a part of my ancestors and my history, I love it. I'm a fan of BJ Hoff's work forever more.

This was my first experience reading this author's work,and I was very pleased.Excellent and very thorough character development kept me interested throughout. The info about Amish society,and the Undergound Railroad,plus the bounty hunters who chased after runaway slaves and those who helped them,added considerable tension.

Add to that,the problems associated with an Amish person having feelings for a non Amish outsider that they are forbidden to even have more than limited contact with, will leave you wondering if two such relationships in this story, will be able to flourish.

I anxiously await the second book in this series "Where Grace Abides",due out in Oct. In the meantime I will be reading more work by B.J. Hoff.

I highly recommend Rachel's Secret for an interesting twist on 'Amish-Themed' reading.

I tooik this book with me ,to one of my husbands doctor appointments. I started it. Surgery was done and I didn't want to close the book up,cause he was done. Excellant book, everyone will enjoy. Maxine

Rachel is a young widow, her husband died mysteriously. Her mother is also a widow with two children still at home. Gideon is the family rebel, and Fannie is the family sweetheart. Both their lives take some unexpected turns in this book.

But Rachel is the one to love. She is Amish through and through and strives to obey all the rules. However, she is tender and sensible about things that cannot be changed. Here is where the reader is on pins and needles.

This is the first time I have read an Amish fiction book that intertwined with the Underground Railroad, and the author did a fine job mixing the characters. There is some violence, some religion, and a lot of love. The Amish certainly do love their families and community, but they have absolutely NO room for the unexpected or disapproved.

If I could, this book would get 7 stars, and I already have pre-ordered the next book in the series, out in about 6 months, if I can wait.

A late knock on Rachel Brenneman's door pulls her into a world of secrets and deception. She opens the door to find a large black man named Asa carrying a white man who has been shot. Rachel has a lighted candle in her window and forgotten to bring in a quilt from off the line, both signals to members of the Underground Railroad this is a safe house. Rachel is a widow, living alone, and she is Amish. Therefore, she is forbidden by the rules of her community to shelter a strange man in her home. Gant, as he prefers to be called, is an outsider, no one a devout woman should become involved with. Rachel takes them in, and minister's to Gant's wounds, even knowing that having him here will cause her problems with the leaders of her community. Both Asa and Gant are deeply committed to helping runaway slaves escape from abusive masters, and even though Rachel isn't involved with the movement, she is determined to keep their secret. She is drawn to Gant, even though she knows their love is also forbidden.
A fascinating story of a man and woman stepping out in faith, even though they realize they may have to pay a high price. B.J. Hoff has a delightful writing style that captures the reader from the first page. Readers who loved her Mountain Song Legacy series will be thrilled with this new Riverhaven Years series. I'm looking forward to the next one.

I have honestly never really read a book about the Amish before, but this story was fascinating! I was hooked on this story right from the start, and it taught me a lot about the culture. I read it in 3-4 days time - a record for me, and I just hated to put it down! I loved the way the characters came alive, and can't wait to see what is going to happen next! September is so far away - what will we do until then??!!

I tried this book based on the other reviews; but it just didn't impress me as it did others. It's not a bad book, but I had no problem setting it down when there were other things to do. I thought the story and the side-stories were a little far-fetched and I didn't really develop a relationship with the characters. Not sure I'll read the sequel.