A Review: Mail Order Husband by DiAnn Mills

VOTED FAVORITE HISTORICAL BOOK AND FAVORITE HISTORICAL COVER IN 2002

As a widow, struggling to raise two boys and keep her Nebraska farm operating, Lena Walker knows the pang of loneliness. None of the nearby men meet her expectations, so she decides to advertise for a husband in newspapers back East. After all, she figures, men find wives that way. In Philadelphia, Gabe Hunters has spent his life buried in books, believing every question can be answered from the printed page – especially of the Bible. When he sees Lena’s advertisement for a husband and father, he senses God pulling him to a place he’s never before seen and work he has never done. Lena is confident that God doesn’t make mistakes – but Gabe isn’t at all what she expected. How can she ever learn to love this man?

I am an avid reader of DiAnn Mills’ books so I was eager to start on this book from the Truly Yours Series as soon as I purchased it. I instantly sympathised and connected with Gabe. His past has left him with scars that make it hard to let people in and yet his faith in God prompts him to open his heart to his new family. Although Lena’s temper is discussed frequently in the book, the few times it came to the fore it wasn’t quite as volatile as I expected. Much was made of how she struggles to control it but really it was not that frequently seen. Lena also seemed to control it fairly well. In some ways, her temper flare ups felt much like anyone else’s, rather than something specific to someone who instantly flies off the handle.

Mills’ is able to capture the simply magic of the family bond in this book in her typical fashion, which I loved to see. The love between Lena and Gabe is lovely to watch as it unfolds and I felt happy that they didn’t have to overcome too complicated a hurdle, just a couple of misunderstandings. The secondary characters didn’t feel as alive to me as in other books by Mills but in the end, I didn’t mind all that much.

I would recommend this book to a friend, who wanted a lovely romance to read that wasn’t too complicated.

A Review: Fields of Grace (Heart of the Priarie Book #4)

With their eldest son nearly to the age when he will be drafted into military service, Reinhardt and Lillian Vogt decide to immigrate to America, the land of liberty, with their three sons and Reinhardt’s adopted brother, Eli. But when tragedy strikes during the voyage, Lillian and Eli are forced into an agreement neither desires. Determined to fulfill his obligation to Reinhardt, Eli plans to see Lillian and her sons safely settled on their Kansas homestead and he’s equally determined that the boys will be reared in the Mennonie faith. What he doesn’t expect is his growing affection for Lillianand the deep desire to be part of a family.

I just adored this book – the fourth in Sawyer’s Heart of the Prairie series. I immediately fell in love with the character of Eli with his easy-going nature and strong faith. I admired and respected Lillian’s ability to rise above the tragedies she suffers and to look forward to the future. The story itself was engaging and I empathised with Eli and Lillian’s struggle to reach her son, Henrick. What struck me most was how much Henrick’s choices resembled those made in the story of the Prodigal Son. I fully expected Henrick to return home at some point, realising that he had perhaps made the wrong choice in leaving. Even though that didn’t happen, I was thoroughly satisfied with the conclusion and to be honest, in my head, Henrick does return at some point in the future and the family achieves reconciliation. I thought the entire narrative was well-drafted and it complimented the world that Sawyer had created in both “Waiting for Summer” and “Where the Heart Leads.” Once again the Mennonite faith took centre stage in a favourable way, painting a genuine picture of a real frontier immigrant family and their struggles to build a new life together. The ending was beautiful – I read that chapter three times before I could officially close the book. I would definitely recommend this book and I would definitely read it again. I just loved it!

A Review: A Promise for Spring (Heart of the Prairie Book #3)

England-born Emmaline Bradford pledged her life to Geoffrey Garrett and then bid him farewell when he sailed to America. Although Geoffrey anticipated only a short separation, several years passed before he was able to send for Emmaline. By then the fiery flame of her youthful love had all but died. Shocked by the conditions on Geoffrey’s Kansas sheep ranch, Emmaline wishes to return to England immediately. Geoffrey offers a compromise: If Emmaline promises to stay until spring, he’ll pay her return fare if she decides to go back to her home country. When spring arrives, will Emmaline return to England, or will she marry Geoffrey and carve out a life with him in Kansas?

While this is not my favourite book of the series, it is worth persevering with. The only thing that stopped me from engaging with the characters immediately was Emmaline’s sheltered naivety. It was initially difficult for me to like her. I found it hard to understand how she could set off on this journey to America, knowing that she was meant to marry Geoffrey, having been in love with him once, only to arrive and refuse to go through with it. It’s not as if he was a complete stranger to her. It seemed to me that she was very juvenile in her approach to her circumstances – perhaps too juvenile for a twenty-two year old woman. Her continual rebellion at the beginning of the novel grew tiring after her second attempt at leaving Chetwynd Valley.

That being said, I ended up enjoying the novel and I’m glad I persevered. Both characters mature into likeable, engaging people, who both carry the story to its satisfying conclusion. I would have liked to have seen Geoffrey open up about his own insecurities to Emmaline (especially considering he is just as culpable in their initial misunderstandings as she is) but by the last page, I had accepted the fact that he hadn’t done so and I didn’t dwell on it. I would recommend this book by saying that the ending is well worth persevering with the beginning.

A Review: Where the Heart Leads (Heart of the Prairie Book #2)

After his graduation from college, Thomas Ollenburger is filled with big dreams and many questions. What will he do for a career? Should he marry? Where will he call home? Torn between his Mennonite roots on the Kansas prairie and his love for the big city of Boston, as well as his affection for a girl in each location, Thomas is unsure of his place in the world. He has always sought God’s leading in his decision-making, but now it seems as if God is staying silent. Has Thomas’s heart led him astray?

I loved this book. It was a fantastic sequel to Waiting for Summer’s Return. It wasn’t clear to me initially who the real love of Thomas’ life was going to be, but the journey that Thomas endures was definitely interesting and compelling. I thought Sawyer really brought him into his own as a man of faith by the end of the book. Once again the Mennonite faith was centered in the plot in an honest way, which I enjoyed immensely. I would definitely recommend this book to others.

A Review: Waiting for Summer’s Return (Heart of the Prairie Book #1)

All alone on the Kansas prairie, Summer Steadman has few options. With her husband and children lost to illness, she has no desire to continue on farther west to where she and her husband planned to build their future. Instead, she seeks employment in a small Mennonite community in order to be near the graves of her family. Widower Peter Ollenburger, the local gristmill owner, needs someone to teach his young son. When he hears of a “learned woman” in town, he believes she is the answer to his prayers. He soon discovers, however, that helping this outsider may have troublesome consequences. There is little this father will not do for his son, but as the boy begins to look at Summer as more than a teacher, Peter must make a choice. Does he marry this woman to give his son a new mother, or does he marry only for love? Will Summer’s broken heart ever be able to love again?

The first in Sawyer’s Heart of the Prairie series truly captures the imagination from the first page. Her characters are well-written and well-developed. Summer’s grief over the loss of her children is as real as her journey towards knowing God. Peter’s genuine faith and open compassion woo and romance her, even before she realises that her heart is opening once again. His son, Thomas, is caring and loving and just what Summer’s burdened heart needs to heal. I loved every page of this story. The way the two characters help each other on their own respective journeys is truly inspiring. I fell in love with Kim Vogel Sawyer’s style after reading this book and her depiction of the Mennonite immigrants is real and engaging. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who asks me about it.

A Review: Kiowa Husband (Nebraska Legacy Series) Book 3 by DiAnn Mills

Sarah Jane’s future lies in Oregon – or so she thinks when her parents pack their belongings to leave their home and friends in Nebraska. But typhoid strikes along the trail – and the Bensons are cut from the wagon train to protect other travelers from the dreaded disease. Sarah Jane needs help to care for her parents, and the only person willing to stay is the group’s scout, Painted Hands. Troublesome stories surround the man, and Sarah Jane is terrified. Her fears only grow when the wagon master insists they marry for propriety’s sake. Can true love grow out of an arranged marriage? Can Sarah Jane trust God to see her through these troubled times?

I adored this book from the very first page. Sarah Jane’s faith and resilience instantly captured my attention while I immediately became invested in Painted Hands’ development as a man. Their shared journey was really well-written and their blossoming romance was completely engaging. I never wanted the book to end! I recommend this to anyone who loves a good romance set on the wagon train of America. I know I will read this book again and again.

A Review: The Jewel Series by Hallee Bridgeman

Sapphire Ice

To Robin Bartlett, men were nothing more than violent users. After a hair-raising childhood, Robin and her two younger half-sisters battled simply to survive. Determined to give her sisters a very different life from that of their mother; to never have to rely on a man for anything, she worked two jobs and put them both through college, while accepting help from no one. Her heart had turned to ice and she had no use for men or God.

Antonio “Tony” Viscolli had grown up on the streets, homeless. At seventeen, he entered a downtown church with the intent of casing it, but found himself on his knees at the altar. After being fostered by the youth minister, Tony followed God’s leading and eventually became a very successful and powerful businessman. In a fallen world, he was a gem.

When Tony bought the restaurant where Robin tended bar, she immediately resented his intrusion into her well-ordered, but exhausting, life. She suspected his offering her special attention and constant kindness was merely his way of expecting something from her in return, something she wasn’t willing to give. Tony knew God had led him to Robin. Would she ever allow herself to trust him? Could she ever allow herself to trust God? Or would the winter of their tragic youth rise from the shadows of the past and freeze any chance at happiness?

My sister came across this book one day while scrolling through Amazon for great Christian fiction. She couldn’t put it down and insisted that I read it too. As soon as I started the first page, I was hooked. Bridgeman has managed to present a faithful, loving man, who is instantly endeared to the reader because of the way he loves and care for those around him. Despite all the reasons Robin has not to trust Tony, his patience and his genuine honesty break down her walls. Robin’s reservations are also instantly understood by the reader, even if the reader is not someone who went through the kind of abuse Robin did. Immediately, the reader wants these two to be together. Every twist and turn in the story makes total sense and engages the reader’s imagination. I love the way Robin and Tony love each other and I have to say that I could not put it down and finished the whole thing in a 24 hour period. I would definitely recommend it!

Greater than Rubies

*** 2014 EPIC eBook Awards™ Finalist for the Spiritual category ***
Robin Bartlett said, “Yes!” Will she say, “I do,” when the big day arrives? From his cultured handsome looks to his vast fortune, Antonio “Tony” Viscolli is every girl’s dream. Robin comes from a blistering past, struggling for survival in a cold, cruel world. Robin never had a chance to dream of a white wedding gown or a prince charming. Instead, her dreams were nightmares — dark and clouded with fear and desperation. By the time Tony thaws her heart, she has known hunger, poverty, violence, and want.

For months, Tony courted the blond beauty with the sapphire eyes. He showered with attention, respect, and charm and covered her in diamonds, sapphires, and rubies. Finally, Robin came to understand God’s love for her as imitated by the unconditional love Tony freely offered. On a sunny Florida beach, Tony proposed.

Back in bitter cold Boston, doubts about becoming a billionaire’s bride begin to burden her hopes for happiness. Robin struggles to cope with the never-ending details of the shower, ceremony, reception, and honeymoon; the prospects of changing her name and relocating; and the very public image she must suddenly adopt; all while dealing with her father’s very serious legal problems.

As the date draws inexorably near and the pressure mounts, Robin questions whether she is truly the woman God has made for him. Is she the girl of his dreams? His vast material wealth begins to overwhelm her. Nightmares from a forgotten past return in full force, reminding Robin of an even deeper and more terrifying prospect. Will she give in to her insecurities and cancel Boston’s “Royal Wedding” for good? Or, with God’s guidance, can Tony sacrifice everything to prove to his beloved Robin her true worth

Inspired by the Critically Acclaimed Christian Anthology – The Jewel Trilogy — Greater Than Rubies takes place immediately after book 1 and before book 2.

Having read and loved Sapphire Ice, I was always a little disappointed that it did not include Robin and Tony’s wedding. So, I have to say that this book is the much needed conclusion to their romance. Despite some of Robin’s demons rearing their ugly head, I was constantly rooting for their wedding to happen. The way the wedding was planned, complete with the theme and colours was beautiful and as was the continuation of the love story of their relationship. It was worth every twist and turn and I plan on reading this book again and again!

Emerald Fire

A terrifying past imprisoned Maxine Bartlett all her adult life, shackling her with fear anytime a man even touched her. In a spontaneous weekend, she unintentionally elopes with an unlikely groom. After a magical wedding night filled with love and passion, “Maxi” finally discards her dreadful chains. She doesn’t know that her new husband has turned his back on God. Worried over how the world might see the completely unexpected – and some would certainly say inappropriate – marriage, in his pride he promises Maxine a quiet annulment.

Maxine refuses to cooperate because she is unwilling to let their marriage disappear as if it never happened. Seeking God’s will, she moves in with him and informs him that when he decides to act like her husband again, he will find his loving wife waiting for him right there in their home. As the days stretch into weeks, the newlyweds slowly begin to trust and even love each other. Then, just as they begin to live the “happily ever after” love story that neither of them ever dreamed could come true, a sudden and nightmarish catastrophe strikes that could wreck everything. Will her husband realize that he must trust God once more? Can he find peace and strength enough to carry them through the flames?

I have to say, despite how much I enjoyed Sapphire Ice and Greater than Rubies, Emerald Fire by far is my favourite in the series. It’s a fantastic sequel to Sapphire Ice. The love story between Maxine and her husband is touching and instantly captures the reader’s imagination. I thought the writing was well done and the character of Maxine, which I have to say I wasn’t sure I completely understood in Sapphire Ice, suddenly sprang to life as someone I could engage with and identify with. It’s that good! Thoroughly enjoyed it, would definitely read it again and would certainly recommend to a friend.

Topaz Heat

The very moment Derrick meets Sarah, he realizes he has a reason to live. Sarah sees only an unshaven tough kid covered with tattoos and shuts down every advance. Sarah Thomas has no memory of her broken young life leading up to the tragic murder of her mother. Her memory begins the morning she wakes in the home of her loving adoptive parents. She doesn’t even know her sisters exist until her 15th year. She learns to love her siblings, but always feels a little out of place in their presence.

A benevolent billionaire offers Derrick DiNunzio a home and an education. Fresh off the streets and rescued from a criminal future, Derrick sheds his old life. He trades his ripped leather jacket for silk suits; dealing drugs for mentoring “at risk” youth; lock picking and back door jobs for the rigors of mountain climbing and hotel management. Sarah cannot seem to see beyond the past Derrick left behind … until one day she does. When they finally come together, an indictment threatens their future. Now the heat is on. Will Sarah finally set aside her prejudices and open her heart to true love or will the long forgotten past tear them apart forever?

In so many ways, Topaz Heat needed to be written to help the reader understand Sarah. I always found Sarah a little hard to connect with before this book. Her inability to remember her broken home and years of abuse is a blessing but it also prevents her from being able to connect with her sisters. I loved Derrick and the way he constantly rubbed her up the wrong way. I also loved the way Sarah’s prejudices were (finally) explained in a way that you didn’t hate her. I really enjoyed this final book in the Jewel Series and it was a lovely note to end on.

A Review: Divergent Series (Books 1-3) Plus Free Four, the Transfer & World of Divergent by Veronica Roth

No. 1 New York Times bestsellers DIVERGENT, INSURGENT and ALLEGIANT in collector’s trilogy set.

DIVERGENT – a major motion picture in 2014.

Divergent:
Sixteen-year-old Tris has been forced to make a terrible choice. In a divided society where everyone must conform, Tris does not fit. So she ventures out, alone, determined to find out where she truly belongs. Tris can trust no one in this brutal new world, but she is drawn to a boy who seems to both threaten and protect her.

Insurgent:
Tris has survived a brutal attack on her home, but she has paid a terrible price. Wracked by grief and guilt, she becomes reckless as she struggles to accept her new future. If Tris wants to uncover the truth, she must be stronger than ever as more shocking choices and sacrifices lie ahead.

Allegiant:
The faction-based society that Tris once believed in is shattered – fractured by violence and power struggles and scarred by loss and betrayal. So when offered a chance to explore the world past the limits she’s known, Tris is ready. Perhaps beyond the fence, she will find a simple new life, free from complicated lies, tangled loyalties and painful memories.

But Tris’s new reality is even more alarming than the one she left behind. And once again, Tris must battle to comprehend the complexities of human nature – and of herself – while facing impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice and love.

Well, firstly, let me just say that I practically inhaled this series, finishing all three books plus the extra short stories in 6 days. Purchasing the series rather than each book individually really worked for me as a result of this. Veronica Roth has created a new world with a complex social structure. She takes her reader on a journey through that society in each book, which starts by examining the flaws in the faction system. By the end of Allegiant, the reader is able to look back at the factions with a wistful fondness. The fact that this is possible for the reader, despite the many injustices and atrocities they have seen the factions commit, is largely due to Roth’s writing talent.

Not only has she created a world that instantly engages the reader, she has also created in Tris and Four individuals that the reader wants to believe in. Both Tris and Four are strong, admirable characters but it’s their flaws that make the reader fall in love with them as individuals and also as a couple. Writing a review of a series is difficult because if I were to launch into a detailed review of each book, it would give so much away too quickly.

Both Tris and Four feel things deeply and they also have serious life and death trauma to deal with. Roth manages to take them on a journey where they learn and grow from their experiences but she doesn’t minimise the toll that it takes on them and on their relationship. As a result, the reader is pleasantly surprised to find fleshed out, human and three-dimensional characters, who are not perfect and who are not always right. However, they are both heroes and you love them, warts and all. She also doesn’t minimise the impact of the violence and bloodshed on the society as a whole. War is messy and neither side is ever completely right. Roth deals with collateral damage in a real way, allowing our characters to feel the losses and process them in their own time. No one walks away without scars, not even our heroes.

I would read this series again and again. I would also recommend it to anyone. Fantastic read.

A Review: Hope in My Heart by Alexis A. Goring

By her own admission, Alexis Goring hopes that her stories will touch hearts, bring smiles to faces and inspire minds to seek God whose love for humanity is unfailing.

Love Unexpected

In this first story, a minor car crash brings commitment-wary Sebastian and career woman Chandra together. Neither is looking for romance, but those around them see the potential, and Sebastian and Chandra discover that sometimes love shows up unexpectedly.

I think we all know a guy like Sebastian – he’s not a bad guy but rather, he’s a good guy, who is just a bit too used having a certain effect on women. Watching him fall in love with Chandra made me smile so many times. I just loved him in Love Unexpected. Chandra’s dramatic personality was interesting to watch. While I instantly connected with Sebastian, it took me until Chandra opened Sebastian’s card that came with his flowers for me to really identify with her. Goring manages to capture the initial magic of falling in love with a simple joy that warms the heart. The magic in the story is in seeing two people, who for various reasons always believed they would be alone, finding a genuine connection with each other. Their happy ending was engaging and sincere.

The Best Gift

The second story is set at Christmastime, which meant that I was instantly drawn in and attracted to the magic of this special time of year. Christina wants to lose ten pounds so that she can fit into her dress for her sister’s wedding. Jordan wishes her mother would simply stop trying to marry her off. And Joshua hopes to be reunited with his ex-girlfriend but eventually leans that the best gift this Christmas will be the restoration of his relationship with God.

I instantly sympathised with Christina’s plight. Wanting to look nice at your sister’s weddings is something most of us can relate to. The pressure that Jordan felt from her mother to tie the knot was also something that I could relate to, whereas Joshua’s desire to connect with God was refreshing to read. Interestingly enough, of the three stories, I became most invested in Joshua’s journey to grow closer to God. He seemed to transform on the page from self-absorbed to Christ-like in his ability to touch other people’s lives. There was a simply magic in watching three people set off down an unexpected path and have each one turn out well. The positive outcomes really warmed my heart.

Peace and Love

Three people living in a metropolitan area are desperately searching. Elle (a starving artist) aspires to become a paid professional. Eric (a divorce attorney) wants to resolve his issues concerning his parent’s divorce. Kristine anticipates finding her birth mom before she marries Derek. All of them pray their searches will conclude this holiday season and fill their hearts with peace and love.

In Peace and Love, I instantly connected with Eric. His working life has been impacted by his painful past and even though his intentions are honourable, each day simply dredges up his old memories. It is difficult handling this type of work, even for the most energised, positive person. Kristine’s touching story about finding her birth mother was sweet and sincere. I thought Goring’s ability to create three dynamic characters that you relate to, who do not have anything to do with each other, is very skilful. Elle’s quest for a job is something I think everyone can relate to. We’ve all been there at one point or another. It is a good reminder that God cares about even the minor things in our lives. He provides for our needs with a kindness and compassion that we can’t truly understand this side of eternity.

Alexis Goring’s style is sweet and each of her characters is clearly their own person. It’s not like we are reading the same character react and handle different situations. I do think that her characters settle into their stories. What I mean is that it takes a bit of time for the reader to get a handle on each person’s motivations and their emotions. If I could make any suggestions, I would say that if Goring could capture her characters’ personality quirks, motivations and emotions at the very beginning of each story, the reader would find themselves instantly attached to them. This is not a criticism though because there is nothing wrong with having those things gradually emerge naturally. It’s more of an observation that I would look forward to seeing in future work by Alexis Goring.

I would recommend this book for a younger female audience. It contains beautiful, hopeful stories that warm the heart; so really, each story does exactly what Alexis Goring wanted it to do: inspire hope in the heart.

A Review: The Plain Fame Trilogy by Sarah Price

This is a joint review of the trilogy itself so if you haven’t read the books, be warned that there will be (unavoidably) some spoilers below.

Plain Fame

Amanda Beiler is a young Amish woman traveling back to Pennsylvania from a visit in Ohio. Alejandro Diaz is a famous Cuban singer living the life in the limelight of the international media. Their worlds collide on the streets of Manhattan when an accident that brings them together and, despite their efforts, will not let them be apart. What happens when that bridge is crossed between two very conflicting worlds and two extremely different cultures?

The first instalment in the Plain Fame series presents us with innocent Amanda Beiler, who has lived a Plain life without much interest in changing that.  At least that’s how she is painted in the first book.  She has quietly accepted her lot in life so when she meets Alejandro, she does not know what to make of him.  In anyone else’s hands, Alejandro’s desire to escort Amanda back to the farm after being hit by his limousine would have come across as purely selfish.  In Price’s hands though, the reader loves Alejandro and believes the best of him.  As a reader, I was a little jolted by the final conversation between Amanda and her parent’s when she is about to leave with Alejandro.  At no time previously did it appear that Amanda had unresolved deep-seated issues with her parents so it was a bit of a shock to hear Amanda claim that her parents blamed her for her brother’s death.  It seemed to come out of nowhere.  That being said, this first book is not overly complicated and the reader is engaged quickly in the love story that is unfolding before her eyes.

Plain Change

Book 2 of 3 in the Series

After being forced to leave the farm, Amanda Beiler, a young Amish woman from Lititz, Pennsylvania finds herself immersed into the world of Alejandro Diaz, a famous Cuban singer living the life in the limelight of international media. As she travels with Alejandro, she begins to see more of the world and, despite the apparent differences, also recognizes that their lives are more similar than she thought. What happens when that bridge is finally crossed between two very conflicting worlds and two extremely different cultures?

The second instalment presents us with an altered perception of Amanda Beiler, which is surprising.  It is not often that an author attempts to flesh out main characters by re-telling the narrative that the reader has already accepted.  In the first book, Amanda is presented as an innocent Plain girl, who by chance becomes entangled with Alejandro.  In the second book, Price provides the reader with snap shots of Amanda’s memories, growing up Plain.  The reader is forced to re-examine their characterisation of her and comes to realise that Amanda did not necessarily simply accept her Plain life before.  She always had questions and hidden frustrations that she is only now addressing.  Alejandro begins this second instalment by simply trying to protect Amanda long enough to get her back to her Plain roots, should she choose to return.  I had a slight problem with the fact that sheltered Amanda seemed to have no qualms living with Alejandro and appeared to give very little thought to how it would look to her community.  In my opinion, her ability to choose to return to the community became non-existent the minute she left with Alejandro, although I’m prepared to admit that I could be wrong on that front.  It just seemed a little difficult to swallow that the community would allow her back into the fold without questioning her virtue, after she’d spent time living with an unmarried man, unchaperoned.  It also felt a little odd that Amanda didn’t miss having her parents and sister at her wedding.  I would have also enjoyed seeing Anna in some of those snap shot flashbacks.  Regardless of these small criticisms, I enjoyed the book and genuinely felt swept up into a fantasy world, where true love conquers all.

Plain Again

Book 3 of 3 in the Amazon Top 100 Best-Selling Plain Fame Trilogy

Only weeks after being married, Amanda is back at her parents’ farm in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania to tend to her ailing father while Alejandro is back on the road performing for his adoring fans. How will time and distance impact their relationship? Will the demands of his fans overshadow his love for Amanda? And how will the Amish community react to Amanda’s presence (along with the return of the paparazzi) in their community?

Plain Change (Book 2) set up the final drama found in this third instalment by hinting at interference by Mike, Alejandro’s manager, and the infamous Maria.  Naturally, all of the drama that was hinted at then took centre stage in the final book in the series.  I was frustrated by a couple of things though.  The reader found out in the first book that Alejandro fathered a child and appears to have financially met all of his obligations.  The whole way through this series the reader is told again and again how much of a family man Alejandro is.  So my expectation was that, through knowing Amanda and loving her, Alejandro became a better man.  A better man would take his role as a father seriously.  When that didn’t happen, I was disappointed and it made Alejandro seem less of a man to me.  Also, when the reader finally meets Anna, she seems to be a capable, responsible woman.  As a result, it doesn’t quite make sense to me that Amanda felt like she had to do it all: remain on the farm, keep it running and take care of her father once Anna and her husband arrived.  Anna was stronger than I expected her to be, having been told about her earlier depression, so I agreed completely with Alejandro and thought that Amanda’s trip back to Lititz was unnecessary.  My final criticism was that Anna (in my opinion) made a good point to Amanda about the place of God in her life and yet, this was never addressed.  As soon as Alejandro and Amanda were reunited, it was forgotten.  I would have liked some attention to how Amanda was going to handle her relationship with God, her Plain roots and her future with Alejandro going forward.  I felt that she was heading towards a realisation that she needed to take charge of certain aspects of her life, rather than simply holding Alejandro’s hand as he led her down his path for his life.  So, in summary, I enjoyed the series – truly, I did.  My criticisms aside the love story itself was a total escape for me from reality, which I loved.  It felt like I stepped into another world where true love is real and conquers all.