About the book:
Katie Ann lost the love of her life. Then God offers her a new beginning in Colorado.
Katie Ann Stolzfus lives in the small Amish community of Canaan, Colorado. At forty she is widowed and raising her first child. But baby Jonas will never know his father, and Katie Ann wonders if her Heavenly Father hasn't forgotten about her as well. Is it really God's plan for her to be a single parent?
Eli Detweiler has come to Canaan for a wedding and a long vacation. Having raised six children following the death of his young wife, Eli is finally an empty-nester. He's enjoying the slower pace of having no one to care for but himself.
When Katie Ann and Eli meet, there is an instant connection. Yet as strong as the attraction is, they both acknowledge that a romance would never work. He is done parenting, while she has just begun. But as their friendship slowly blossoms into feelings that are as frightening as they are intoxicating, Katie Ann and Eli question if the plans they made for themselves are in line with God's plans.
Can Katie Ann entrust her heart to another man, and rediscover the wonder of God's love?
Link to buy the book: The Wonder of Your Love
About the Author:
Beth Wiseman is hailed as a top voice in Amish fiction. She is a Carol-award winner and author of numerous bestsellers including the Daughters of the Promise series and the Land of Canaan series. She and her family live in Texas.
Beth Wiseman is hailed as a top voice in Amish fiction. She is a Carol-award winner and author of numerous bestsellers including the Daughters of the Promise series and the Land of Canaan series. She and her family live in Texas.
My Take:
I recently read this first book in this series (you can read that review here), so as I began this one, I felt comfortable with the characters and I was very familiar with what was going on in the continuing stories. That is one thing that I really like about reading books in a series.
I also like the characters in this book, especially Katie Ann and Eli. Katie Ann’s character was so well-developed in the first book that I just went right along with her in her story. I loved the humor Eli’s character displayed, and I enjoyed reading about how good he was with children after rearing six children on his own.
Yet I felt as if I was reading a very similar storyline to the one I had read in the previous book. Although the main characters are dealing with different backgrounds and situations, it seemed that the same factor was keeping them apart…that they think they should just be friends, no matter their availability and attraction. It just didn’t make as much sense this time around. With the characters in the first book, they were younger and didn’t talk openly much at all until closer to the end. With Katie Ann and Eli, they are older and had talked through their situation extensively. They seemed to be acting like teenagers rather than middle-aged folks.
Also, this novel did not seem as authentic to me as other Amish novels at times. Now, I am not an expert on the Amish faith or lifestyle. I only know what I have read from a few other books, and I am sure that the author has done her research. But some of the traditions and interactions among the Amish people felt more “English” than Amish. Maybe this is because they are dealing with situations that I have not read about much in other Amish novels. Maybe it is because the setting of this novel is not traditionally Amish (which I actually like, by the way). Or maybe it is because I have a really hard time thinking that an Amish bishop would be okay with his people having cell phones! (Just for conversation…not for emergencies or business).
While it might not seem as if I enjoyed this novel very much, I actually was interested in the story. I feel as if I was able to pick up a few hints as to what the next book will be about. I am interested in seeing what happens in Canaan, Colorado, in the next book in the series.
I will give The Wonder of Your Love … 3 BookWorms
The Party:
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers through LitFuse Publicity. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this is accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
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