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aliceshepherd's review
5.0
Okay - so I almost cried at the end of this one.
Leah, a young Amish girl, meets David, a young Mennonite missionary waiting on assignment, and differences are really brought out. Do they fall in love and not follow their heart? Do they fall in love and turn their back on God? Do they fall in love and do what is necessary to have a life together?
On to #5.
Leah, a young Amish girl, meets David, a young Mennonite missionary waiting on assignment, and differences are really brought out. Do they fall in love and not follow their heart? Do they fall in love and turn their back on God? Do they fall in love and do what is necessary to have a life together?
On to #5.
danicapage's review
4.0
This is a condensed version of my review. The extended version can be found here.
Disclaimers: I received an e-galley of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.
My Overall Thoughts/Impressions: First off, this is the first book I've read by Emma Miller and I can assure you it won't be the last. This book was definitely one of my favorite Amish fiction novels of the year.
This was in large part due to how much I adored the character Leah and Daniel. I also just loved the mix of Mennonite and Amish themes into this novel. I've read a lot of books about these two groups and I loved that they were mixed together in this novel.
Leah was an intriguing character that I loved reading about. She was such a good person. She was nice, charitable, dutiful, respectful, and daring. She seemed to always be helping somebody else out and yet she was a realistic character that I could relate to. She had her doubts, but she kept pushing forward.
Daniel was another character I really enjoyed reading about. He was so patient with Leah as she tried to figure out the ramifications of their relationship. He also had a peace and serenity. He was confident in his calling in life and his relationship with God. He was just a really good guy that I was rooting for from the very beginning.
The Amish/Mennonite themes were nicely balanced with other themes. Miller did a good job of tying in issues of faith into a cute and inspiring love story that I absolutely adored. Once again the writing appeared to be fairly simple on the surface, but it was actually quite brilliant. Her writing drew me into the story from the very beginning.
In Summary: Easily one of my favorite Amish fiction novels of the year. Emma Miller's writing drew me in from the very beginning. She weaved characters that I loved into an inspiring and entertaining read that I would definitely read again.
Disclaimers: I received an e-galley of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.
My Overall Thoughts/Impressions: First off, this is the first book I've read by Emma Miller and I can assure you it won't be the last. This book was definitely one of my favorite Amish fiction novels of the year.
This was in large part due to how much I adored the character Leah and Daniel. I also just loved the mix of Mennonite and Amish themes into this novel. I've read a lot of books about these two groups and I loved that they were mixed together in this novel.
Leah was an intriguing character that I loved reading about. She was such a good person. She was nice, charitable, dutiful, respectful, and daring. She seemed to always be helping somebody else out and yet she was a realistic character that I could relate to. She had her doubts, but she kept pushing forward.
Daniel was another character I really enjoyed reading about. He was so patient with Leah as she tried to figure out the ramifications of their relationship. He also had a peace and serenity. He was confident in his calling in life and his relationship with God. He was just a really good guy that I was rooting for from the very beginning.
The Amish/Mennonite themes were nicely balanced with other themes. Miller did a good job of tying in issues of faith into a cute and inspiring love story that I absolutely adored. Once again the writing appeared to be fairly simple on the surface, but it was actually quite brilliant. Her writing drew me into the story from the very beginning.
In Summary: Easily one of my favorite Amish fiction novels of the year. Emma Miller's writing drew me in from the very beginning. She weaved characters that I loved into an inspiring and entertaining read that I would definitely read again.
liralen's review
3.0
You know how sometimes there's, say, a sweet that you've been wanting to try? You know you'll probably still prefer chocolate, and you know the sweet will just rot your teeth, and there's an outside chance that you'll enjoy it enough to want more, but really, you don't need more sweets.
Well. There you have Amish romance. I have now read one. My teeth are, I think, all in one piece...and I still prefer chocolate.
Well. There you have Amish romance. I have now read one. My teeth are, I think, all in one piece...and I still prefer chocolate.
chrissymcbooknerd's review
4.0
I must admit that I have a guilty pleasure for reading novels about the Amish, one that started when I discovered my first Beverly Lewis series. So when I saw that LEAH'S CHOICE by Emma Miller was available to read at Netgalley, I jumped at the chance to take another peek into the world of the Amish.
Now, I didn't realize at the time that this was a part of a series, but luckily for me it works perfectly fine as a stand-alone novel. And, I can't deny that the pink cursive "Love Inspired" font at the top made me a bit nervous. I tend to run screaming from romance novels, afraid that they'll be too gushy or too sexual or too unrealistic for my tastes.
I was pleasantly surprised all around with this little gem!
Our main character here is Leah, a devout young Amish woman who has never quite questioned her stance upon the plain people. That is, of course, until she meets Daniel, an enthusiastic Mennonite missionary who shakes her world, challenges her believes, and forces her to make very difficult decisions about her life.
In this story, we learn that the Amish tend to see themselves as a people set apart, believing that the truest expression of God's Word is to live a completely separate life free from the taint and trouble of the outside world. On the other hand, the Mennonite believe that they are called to share the Gospel, maintaining that the purest expression of the Faith is a life that reaches out to help the needy and the unbelieving beyond themselves. As an Amish woman, Leah knows that a decision to marry Daniel would be a decision to leave her family and her faith forever. As a Mennonite missionary, though, Daniel feels that he could never fit the mold of a plain man, content to isolate himself from the traveling life of ministry that has been his calling.
While I was a bit put off by the insta-love, which is only slightly more appealing in Christian fiction than in the young adult novels that seem to abuse it so frequently, I was surprised to find a delicate level of depth and warmth behind the story. The characters were likeable, their decisions were relatable, and the overall message was inspirational without being overly saccharine to the common reader.
For any fans of Amish fiction, romance, or Christian literature, definitely give LEAH's CHOICE a fair chance. I'm interested to find the other books in the series to get a bit deeper look at the other sisters mentioned in this novel.
Now, I didn't realize at the time that this was a part of a series, but luckily for me it works perfectly fine as a stand-alone novel. And, I can't deny that the pink cursive "Love Inspired" font at the top made me a bit nervous. I tend to run screaming from romance novels, afraid that they'll be too gushy or too sexual or too unrealistic for my tastes.
I was pleasantly surprised all around with this little gem!
Our main character here is Leah, a devout young Amish woman who has never quite questioned her stance upon the plain people. That is, of course, until she meets Daniel, an enthusiastic Mennonite missionary who shakes her world, challenges her believes, and forces her to make very difficult decisions about her life.
In this story, we learn that the Amish tend to see themselves as a people set apart, believing that the truest expression of God's Word is to live a completely separate life free from the taint and trouble of the outside world. On the other hand, the Mennonite believe that they are called to share the Gospel, maintaining that the purest expression of the Faith is a life that reaches out to help the needy and the unbelieving beyond themselves. As an Amish woman, Leah knows that a decision to marry Daniel would be a decision to leave her family and her faith forever. As a Mennonite missionary, though, Daniel feels that he could never fit the mold of a plain man, content to isolate himself from the traveling life of ministry that has been his calling.
While I was a bit put off by the insta-love, which is only slightly more appealing in Christian fiction than in the young adult novels that seem to abuse it so frequently, I was surprised to find a delicate level of depth and warmth behind the story. The characters were likeable, their decisions were relatable, and the overall message was inspirational without being overly saccharine to the common reader.
For any fans of Amish fiction, romance, or Christian literature, definitely give LEAH's CHOICE a fair chance. I'm interested to find the other books in the series to get a bit deeper look at the other sisters mentioned in this novel.
xakyr's review
3.0
This was more of a 2.5 star read for me, but it is worth rounding up to 3 stars. We return to Hannah Yoder and her daughters, and the focus of this book is on Leah, who is having trouble fitting in after her return from caring for her grandmother in Ohio.
While I normally can sink into an Amish novel, Leah didn't sit right with me. She was too quick to deceive her family, but also internalized much of her thoughts and struggles, even from the man she was interested in marrying! I also couldn't see much of a connection with God in this story, even though Leah claimed to pray about her feelings. As such, I felt that what little romance there was moved too quickly for my tastes.
This book felt like it was written under pressure and slapped together rather quickly, so new readers don't get much of a sense of community from this installment of the series. That being said, the subplot with Leah's sister Johanna did take an interesting turn in this book, so it is worth reading just to keep up on that situation.
While I normally can sink into an Amish novel, Leah didn't sit right with me. She was too quick to deceive her family, but also internalized much of her thoughts and struggles, even from the man she was interested in marrying! I also couldn't see much of a connection with God in this story, even though Leah claimed to pray about her feelings. As such, I felt that what little romance there was moved too quickly for my tastes.
This book felt like it was written under pressure and slapped together rather quickly, so new readers don't get much of a sense of community from this installment of the series. That being said, the subplot with Leah's sister Johanna did take an interesting turn in this book, so it is worth reading just to keep up on that situation.
pixieauthoress's review
4.0
GENRE: AMISH ROMANCE
PUBLISHER: LOVE INSPIRED
PUBLICATION DATE: APRIL 17, 2012
RATING: 3.5 OUT OF 5 – GOOD
PROS: Interesting details about Mennonite missionaries; good continuity about the Yoder family from previous books; sweet romance
CONS: Romance moves very fast; Leah isn’t as developed as previous characters in the series
After having spent some time away from her conservative Amish community in Delaware, Leah Yoder is struggling to fit back in again. Although she’s long beyond the typical age for joining the Amish church, Leah still doesn’t feel ready to make that sort of commitment, especially with family members and neighbours watching her every move and pointing out her mistakes. She particularly struggles to heed her family’s advice when she meets kind and charismatic Mennonite missionary, Daniel Brown. The two bond while looking for a missing Amish boy, and soon their lives are fused together. Yet in spite of Daniel’s best efforts to prove to Leah’s family that his intentions are honourable, her mother and sisters are disapproving of their friendship. Leah’s mother knows firsthand the heartbreak of marrying someone from a different faith, and would never wish that sort of hurt upon her own daughter. But the more her family warns her against a relationship with Daniel, the more she feels drawn to him. Is there any hope for Leah and Daniel’s relationship, or are the restrictions of their different faiths too complicated?
Love Inspired novels can often be hit or miss for me, but Emma Miller is one author that I know will never disappoint. I’ve been following this series ever since the first book, Courting Ruth, was released in 2010, and I love that Emma makes an effort to let readers know how characters from previous books are getting on in their lives. That’s one thing that makes the Hannah’s Daughters series so enjoyable to read. By the time I got around to reading Leah’s Choice, I had a firm vision in my head of what the Yoder house looked like, as well as the surrounding area. But as much as I enjoyed visiting with these characters, I didn’t find Leah’s story quite as compelling as that of Ruth or Anna’s. Leah was only introduced in the third book in the series, so perhaps this explains why I didn’t relate to her character quite so much.
At times, Leah seemed quite immature for her age, and I wished I had been able to read about her rumspringe years in order understand how she’d become the woman she was in Leah’s Choice. But, all things considered, she and Daniel were a good match. Despite having worked as a missionary for years, Daniel was still scatter-brained and constantly forgetting to do essential things, such as putting gas in his car or leaving his passport behind before driving to the airport. I won’t deny that Leah and Daniel made a good couple, but I did wish their relationship hadn’t moved quite so fast. The first chapter of this book leapt right into the action, with Leah and Daniel heading off to look for a lost child. Their relationship seemed to move by leaps and bounds, rather than the relaxed pace that you often come across in Amish novels. I wished I had had time to get to know Leah and Daniel as separate characters before being thrown into the midst of their blossoming relationship. Their romance was incredibly sweet, and I especially loved the epilogue to Leah’s Choice, even if everything did seem to move so fast for this couple.
As I said before, one of my favourite aspects of this series is the continuity. I love catching up with Ruth, Miriam and Anna, even though they’ve moved out of the Yoder household and started families of their own. Leah’s grandmother, great-aunt and two younger sisters also featured in this novel, often spouting advice about Leah’s relationship and whether she should join the church. I was also pleased to see that an overarching storyline about another Yoder sister, Johanna, was concluded in this book. When we were introduced to Johanna in the first book in the series, it was clear that, although she was married with two children, her marriage wasn’t a happy one. Several sisters have already voiced their concerns about Johanna’s husband over the course of previous books, and the situation comes to a head in Leah’s Choice. Abuse within the Amish community isn’t a topic I’ve come across in this genre before, and I think Emma Miller dealt with it quite well. It was certainly difficult to read about Johanna’s situation, but I felt that the end of the novel offered hope for her.
Since this is a series I’ve followed since its beginnings, it’s hard to decide whether or not Leah’s Choice can be read as a standalone novel. All of the characters are introduced in such a way that a new reader won’t feel too confused if they start with the fourth book in the Hannah’s Daughters series, but I think readers will appreciate the secondary characters and overarching plotlines more if they start with Courting Ruth.
Although Leah’s Choice is definitely not my favourite novel in the Hannah’s Daughters series, it was a relaxing, easy read, and I enjoyed catching up with characters from previous books. I did wish that Leah’s character had been a little more developed and that her romance hadn’t moved so quickly, but I was pleased with the conclusion to the novel. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series, Redeeming Grace, later this year.
Review title provided by Love Inspired.
PUBLISHER: LOVE INSPIRED
PUBLICATION DATE: APRIL 17, 2012
RATING: 3.5 OUT OF 5 – GOOD
PROS: Interesting details about Mennonite missionaries; good continuity about the Yoder family from previous books; sweet romance
CONS: Romance moves very fast; Leah isn’t as developed as previous characters in the series
After having spent some time away from her conservative Amish community in Delaware, Leah Yoder is struggling to fit back in again. Although she’s long beyond the typical age for joining the Amish church, Leah still doesn’t feel ready to make that sort of commitment, especially with family members and neighbours watching her every move and pointing out her mistakes. She particularly struggles to heed her family’s advice when she meets kind and charismatic Mennonite missionary, Daniel Brown. The two bond while looking for a missing Amish boy, and soon their lives are fused together. Yet in spite of Daniel’s best efforts to prove to Leah’s family that his intentions are honourable, her mother and sisters are disapproving of their friendship. Leah’s mother knows firsthand the heartbreak of marrying someone from a different faith, and would never wish that sort of hurt upon her own daughter. But the more her family warns her against a relationship with Daniel, the more she feels drawn to him. Is there any hope for Leah and Daniel’s relationship, or are the restrictions of their different faiths too complicated?
Love Inspired novels can often be hit or miss for me, but Emma Miller is one author that I know will never disappoint. I’ve been following this series ever since the first book, Courting Ruth, was released in 2010, and I love that Emma makes an effort to let readers know how characters from previous books are getting on in their lives. That’s one thing that makes the Hannah’s Daughters series so enjoyable to read. By the time I got around to reading Leah’s Choice, I had a firm vision in my head of what the Yoder house looked like, as well as the surrounding area. But as much as I enjoyed visiting with these characters, I didn’t find Leah’s story quite as compelling as that of Ruth or Anna’s. Leah was only introduced in the third book in the series, so perhaps this explains why I didn’t relate to her character quite so much.
At times, Leah seemed quite immature for her age, and I wished I had been able to read about her rumspringe years in order understand how she’d become the woman she was in Leah’s Choice. But, all things considered, she and Daniel were a good match. Despite having worked as a missionary for years, Daniel was still scatter-brained and constantly forgetting to do essential things, such as putting gas in his car or leaving his passport behind before driving to the airport. I won’t deny that Leah and Daniel made a good couple, but I did wish their relationship hadn’t moved quite so fast. The first chapter of this book leapt right into the action, with Leah and Daniel heading off to look for a lost child. Their relationship seemed to move by leaps and bounds, rather than the relaxed pace that you often come across in Amish novels. I wished I had had time to get to know Leah and Daniel as separate characters before being thrown into the midst of their blossoming relationship. Their romance was incredibly sweet, and I especially loved the epilogue to Leah’s Choice, even if everything did seem to move so fast for this couple.
As I said before, one of my favourite aspects of this series is the continuity. I love catching up with Ruth, Miriam and Anna, even though they’ve moved out of the Yoder household and started families of their own. Leah’s grandmother, great-aunt and two younger sisters also featured in this novel, often spouting advice about Leah’s relationship and whether she should join the church. I was also pleased to see that an overarching storyline about another Yoder sister, Johanna, was concluded in this book. When we were introduced to Johanna in the first book in the series, it was clear that, although she was married with two children, her marriage wasn’t a happy one. Several sisters have already voiced their concerns about Johanna’s husband over the course of previous books, and the situation comes to a head in Leah’s Choice. Abuse within the Amish community isn’t a topic I’ve come across in this genre before, and I think Emma Miller dealt with it quite well. It was certainly difficult to read about Johanna’s situation, but I felt that the end of the novel offered hope for her.
Since this is a series I’ve followed since its beginnings, it’s hard to decide whether or not Leah’s Choice can be read as a standalone novel. All of the characters are introduced in such a way that a new reader won’t feel too confused if they start with the fourth book in the Hannah’s Daughters series, but I think readers will appreciate the secondary characters and overarching plotlines more if they start with Courting Ruth.
Although Leah’s Choice is definitely not my favourite novel in the Hannah’s Daughters series, it was a relaxing, easy read, and I enjoyed catching up with characters from previous books. I did wish that Leah’s character had been a little more developed and that her romance hadn’t moved so quickly, but I was pleased with the conclusion to the novel. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series, Redeeming Grace, later this year.
Review title provided by Love Inspired.
chelseavk's review
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
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