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A review by chrissymcbooknerd
Leah's Choice by Emma Miller
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.