| Title | : | A Wish for Home (Secrets of Bliss Valley #1) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0369700732 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780369700735 |
| Format Type | : | ebook |
| Number of Pages | : | - |
| Publication | : | Published March 30, 2021 |
Lauren Nolt hasn’t forgiven the Amish community of Lancaster County for shunning her parents. But returning as a successful Englischer working for large developers is just what she needs to get a promotion and give her parents the life they deserve. Coming face-to-face with her childhood bully, Amish widower Adam Hershberger, is the last thing she wants. Yet when her world’s shaken by a shocking discovery, Adam’s the only one she can confide in…
Adam’s never forgiven himself for the part he played in Lauren’s past, nor what drove him to do it. But as developers threaten his great-grossdawdi’s farm, she’s the only one who can help. And with his little girl determined to bring him and Lauren together at every turn, keeping his distance is impossible. Now they must learn to trust each other—even as their secret feelings grow stronger. But is love enough to bridge the gap between their very different worlds?
Secrets of Bliss Valley
A Wish for Home (Secrets of Bliss Valley #1) Reviews
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I was excited to have a chance to read this first book in the new and exciting program Harlequin’s Love Inspired imprint is launching a trade fiction program.
I have read many books by Jo Ann Brown over the years through Love Inspired and was excited to have a chance to read her latest.
We all do things we regret in our formative years. Things we'd rather never think of again, things bringing us shame that we'd rather never seeing the light of day again.
An unfortunate mishap caused by an ice storm brings her back from the Englisher world back to her roots in the Amish world.
Unfortunately being in Bliss Valley brings her back in contact with Adam Hershberger. Time has past and he is now a widower with a daughter.
Very realistic as it shows the tension between Lauren and Adam that is rekindled as they spend time together. It was charming seeing the relationship between Lauren and his daughter develop.
A strong focusing on forgiveness and redemption, though we know it's the right thing to do it's not always easy to forgive others.
Delightful first book in the series. I look forward to returning and visiting these characters again.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own. -
A WISH FOR HOME is the very first book I’ve read by Jo Ann Brown but it definitely won’t be the last. I loved this story from the very first page and I’m sure you will too. It is the first book in the Secrets of Bliss Valley series and I’m so excited to continue with the series.
I found myself thinking about Lauren and Adam long after I finished their story. I was totally invested in their lives and was cheering for them the whole time I was reading. Often, I was yelling at Lauren not to make the choices she was making and sometimes I was laughing out loud at the things she was saying. A WISH FOR HOME is filled with love, forgiveness, letting go, and romance. Once I started reading, I couldn’t stop. Jo Ann Brown’s writing held me captive from the very first page until the last page. I can’t wait to read the next book in the Secrets of Bliss Valley series.
A WISH FOR HOME is about Lauren coming home to a place where she used to be part of an Amish community. Its been many years since she lived there and is there to try and get a casino built close by. As secrets are uncovered I was holding my breath, praying everything would work out in the end for Lauren and Adam. Flashbacks to when they were teenagers give the reader a taste of what they were like back then and what they were going through. Brilliant Jo Ann Brown, just brilliant! She made me sad, then the next moment I was smiling and giggling out loud! I’m so excited to continue with this series. You can never go wrong with a Jo Ann Brown book if you are a fan of the Amish genre. A WISH FOR HOME is a heart tugging story that will hold you hostage until the very last page. Once I started this heartwarming story, it was very hard to put down!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from JustRead Publicity Tours. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given. -
I do love a good Amish story, and A Wish for Home grabbed ahold of me and wouldn't let go until I reached the last page. Lauren and Adam's story was one of redemption and second chances, letting go of old hurts and forming new memories.
From the very beginning, I was drawn into Lauren's story of an Amish upbringing. Lauren's parents left the Amish lifestyle when she was a young child, but she was never told the reason why. In the years since, she went to college and became a very successful professional who came back to Bliss Valley to help in the discussions of a local casino development. If not for a freak spring snowstorm putting her car in the shop, Lauren wouldn't have landed back at her great aunt's inn, nor have been roped into helping her run it. She also wouldn't have run into Adam Hershberger, her childhood tormentor.
There was more to this story than just an English girl coming back into an Amish settlement, and I really don't want to spoil all the surprises that were scattered all through this book. Lauren's parents have kept a few secrets from her in her life, two of which had enormous consequences. She had to learn to forgive them while also forgiving Adam for his cruelty towards her when they were in school together. Adam had a secret of his own, and when I realized what it was, my heart broke for him.
Two characters that stole the show were cute little Mary Beth and Lauren's great aunt Sylvia. Mary Beth's personality was just the balm that both Lauren and Adam's hearts needed to mend their past, and her desire to spend time with Lauren drew Adam like a moth to a fly toward her as well. Great aunt Sylvia was a no-nonsense lady who never failed to say exactly what she thought. I loved her for it.
With A Wish for Home being the first book in the new trade paperback line from Harlequin Love Inspired, it looks like great things are in store based on this novel alone. I enjoyed my first opportunity to read something by this author, and will be eager to see what happens next with the characters in the sweet community of Bliss Valley. -
Lauren's Amish parents left their community when she was just 14. She - and they - became English, for reasons that were never explained to Lauren. Now she is back at her Amish community, working for a developer considering building a casino there. When she has car trouble, she meets Adam at the repair shop. Instantly, she is whisked back to her previous life. When they were both children, he was a bully and made her life a misery. Adam has changed, but Lauren is wary. He harbors a secret that is getting harder to conceal. In fact, her parents also have secrets. When these secrets are finally exposed, Lauren must come to grips to with some life-changing events. The story is everything readers want in an Amish romance - intriguing plot. likable characters, problems that are satisfactorily resolved, and a happy ending.
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A Wish for Home was an interesting and enjoyable second chance story. English, Amish, and even a local Mennonite community were included in this tale. Right from the beginning of the book, there was tension between the two main characters, Lauren and Adam. They had a childhood history together and it was not a nice one. This led to a strained beginning, which had to be overcome. I liked the way the author handled this. Lauren showed her kind heart with her willingness to forgive Adam and the way she treated his daughter.
I liked that Adam owned up to the fact that he had made many mistakes and had not been a nice person when he was younger. He definitely had reasons behind his behavior, yet he did not hide behind those things. It was clear that he had changed his ways and was no longer the angry teen he used to be.
Lauren had a lot to deal with in this story. She struggled with doubt, hurt, worry, and feelings of betrayal. She also felt displaced and seemed to wish for a home where she felt she could belong, as the title implied. Returning to work near the Amish community she grew up with reminded her of what had been missing in her life for many years.
I really enjoyed this story by this new-to-me author and now look forward to reading more books by her in the future.
I received a complimentary copy of this book.
You can read this review on my blog:
https://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.c... -
I was really looking forward to reading this book since this author is new to me. I would definitely be interested in reading more from her. I really liked her writing style. I enjoyed this book and ended up reading most of the book in one sitting. I enjoyed getting to know Lauren and Adam. They both felt real to me. Adam’s daughter was so cute! I hope that there will be another book to continue their story. I would recommend this book for fans of sweet Amish stories. It is perfect for a quick read.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone. -
This book was a good Amish story with lovable characters and a plot that had some surprises and unexpected twists in it. Lauren Nolt is a former member of the Amish community in Lancaster County where she is sent by her employer to win the people over to the idea of building a casino in their community. When her car breaks down during an ice story, Lauren is stuck asking for assistance from widower Adam Hershberger, a mechanic who used to bully her in their childhood. Lauren stays with her Aunt Sylvia, a feisty older Amish woman who speaks the truth in love to Lauren and who was my favorite character in the book. Her wisdom led Lauren to many hours of thoughtful reflection. When Lauren meets Adam’s precocious daughter Mary Beth, it was life love at first sight. Mary Beth is a cute little matchmaker who wants her dad to have a new wife and for herself to have a new mother. Although parts of the book were predictable, there were numerous secrets revealed and some surprises, too, so it was was a really captivating read. I was totally invested in the story of Lauren and Adam and rooting for little Mary Beth to get her way with them. This is a great first book in a new series and I look forward to more!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.” -
Review:
A story of forgiveness and second chances.
Lauren returns to her Amish hometown as a Englisher, and of all the people from her past she could run into it's childhood nemesis Adam Hershberger, now a widower with a young daughter.
This book does a great job in bringing the tension between Lauren and Adam out realistically, and I admired them both for making a real effort to move past it. Adam owns up to his mistakes, and is honest about his past, yet he has also come a long way and is a very different person now. His daughter is really cute, and I liked the friendship between her and Lauren.
There are some really fun characters in this book, I especially liked Lauren's Mennonite Aunt, who is very sharp and made her own brave choices in her life. This book has a lot going on, though it was a little slower to start. I liked that it had more going on than a romance, with a strong focus on forgiving and new beginnings, along with a little mystery, and interesting characters. Great for fans of Amish fiction!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. -
Thank you NetGalley, author Jo Ann Brown, and Love Inspired Trade publishing for giving me a free arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
5 stars
If you are looking for an wholesome romance that will pull at your heart strings, then this book is for you!
Adam is a single dad raising not only a young daughter, but also overseeing a small machine shop, his extended family, volunteer firefighting , and bishop duties for the light. But as he is working at the local auto repair shop a blast from the past will enter and change his life forever. Lauren was raised at an early age in the Amish community, but one night her parents took her away from the community to start a new life among the English. Now almost 30 years old and very career driven, Lauren is sent on a business assignment to Lancaster county, into the very community she left so long ago. While spending time with her great aunt, Lauren will have to face much of her past as well as Adam, the bully who tormented her as a child. Has Adam really changed? Can Lauren finally find a place to go home?
This has one of my favorite troupes-the single parent. I pleasantly surprised by the characters. For such a short book, the author did a fantastic job not only introducing the characters, but also gave them a lot of room to grow as not only into a couple, but also as people. I enjoyed getting to know more about the Amish community with the information the author sprinkled in throughout the story. I could tell the author did a lot of in depth research in order to not only educate the readers, but also to make the story realistic. The ending was very satisfactory! I would recommend this book to those who are looking for a heartfelt story. -
A Wish for Home is an inspiring story written by Jo Ann Brown. This story has a lot going on in it so there is never a lull in the story. The characters are very likeable. The story takes us to a small community in Lancaster County which has been experiencing a rash of questionable fires. With a casino trying to buy up farm land cheaply everyone begins to wonder if the fires are associated with them. But don't take things at face value because when the mystery is solved it may not be what you thought. This story is filled with secrets. Lauren Nolt who is arriving in Lancaster County to work on public relations for the casino when she damages her car and she is forced to deal with a bully from her past. Adam Hershberger is shocked when he comes face to face with a girl from his school days and is ashamed of the way he treated her. Both these characters are hiding secrets and facing them may be harder than they thought. When a disastrous fire flares at the Peony Inn Lauren faces death but will volunteer firefighter Adam be able to save her? This story is very intriguing with many mini stories being brought into it making for a powerful read.
I was not given a complimentary copy of this book to read and review. I was not approached to post a favorable response and all opinions are my own. I have rated this story with five stars for meeting my expectations of a wonderful story that I can highly recommend to others. -
I want to know where I belong, where I'm at home.
Lauren Nolt has always felt like the outsider. Growing up Amish and leaving the Amish community suddenly, she never had any closure. It was never talked about with her parents. She did not know what drove her parents to leave the Amish community. Now grown up and working with a developer in the Amish community she grew up in, she finds herself stranded with car trouble. Knowing that her Aunt Sylvia lived near by, she walks to her home and it is like she never left. The Amish mechanic is none other Adam Hershberger. Now a man but she remembers him as the boy that made her life miserable. The shock of seeing each other again and their current circumstances leave the reader with characters you want to know. Adam now has a sweet daughter that takes Lauren's heart and just adds to the vulnerability of a relationship starting to deepen. Lauren and Adam both have have unresolved issues. Adam's wife that was killed and how it left him and Lauren with a heart that was damaged.
Their relationship becomes a journey of resolving the past and seeing a bright a future. Loved the story!
A special thank you to Harlequin and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review. -
I always love reading books that have storylines that keep me guessing about what’s going to happen next. This book didn’t always go the way that I expected; and at times I truly wasn’t sure exactly how things were going to work out between Lauren and Adam. There’s also a mystery in this story that for several chapters just quietly simmers in the background. However, when I least expected it, that part of the storyline suddenly came to the forefront and added some tense moments. This story unfolds a little bit at a time, and I liked the author’s pacing of the twists and turns.
There’s a theme of faith that plays out in the lives of Lauren and Adam: God’s grace reaches every part of our lives, no matter what’s happened in our past; but it’s up to us to reach out to Him to accept it. This story also has a “second chance” romantic element for Lauren and Adam. Adam’s little daughter Mary Beth adds some touching moments in the book, too. All in all, I truly enjoyed reading this one and thought Jo Ann Brown gave us some great reading.
I have voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book which I received from the author/publisher through JustRead Tours. All opinions are my own. -
I enjoyed this story, it is really about forgiveness, and there are a lot of surprises that unfold.
Can you go home again? Well, with circumstances from her job and raging snow and ice storm, and a big pot hole, end up bringing Lauren Holt home! To make matters worse her worst nemesis comes to her rescue.
Adam Hershberger a single father raising a four year old daughter, taking care of his aging Great Grandfather, and helping with his orphaned teenage cousins. He also has a small engine repair, and works part time at an auto repair, along with becoming a fire fighter. Talking of fires, there has been an abnormal amount of them lately.
Come and see the love and surprises that open up here. Including where Lauren ends up staying! How Adams’s daughter winds everyone around her thumb, and how Adam deals with all that is on his shoulders.
I am now looking forward to the next book in this series!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Harlequin, and was not required to give a positive review. -
Amish novels always seem to refresh my reading palette. There's just something about them that draw me in!
Having never read any books by Jo Ann Brown and not really having read a lot of Amish, I was really impressed by this author. I felt like I was transported to Bliss Valley... in Ringo! I'll tell you what, this should definitely be a Hallmark movie! It had everything you would expect and more. Actually, it would be on the Movies & Mysteries channel.
I was actually surprised at some of the twists and turns in the story. There's definitely a couple of mysteries that need to be solved and it sure doesn't seem like Lauren is up to it once she ends up in the town her family fled from years ago. It was easy to imagine how uncomfortable it would be to immediately run into the person who made your life miserable as a teen. You could've cut the tension with a butter knife. Lauren has a job that she's protecting from another woman who would like to grab the promotion she's hoping for on top of important meeting she has to oversee. Wouldn't you know, those meetings are ones Adam is utterly against!
While I really loved the main characters, I thoroughly enjoyed the secondary characters of Lauren's great-aenti Sylvia and Grossdawdi Ephraim. They were seriously adorable, especially when they were together. We can't forget Adam's daughter Mary Beth. Now that was a little girl with a lot of spunk!
The main aspect of this story, the fact that people can and do change, and are we willing to offer forgiveness really resonated with me. Like the scripture says, "When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me." Of course, a couple of the characters made choices as adults that made it hard to see how forgiveness would come soon or easily.
Now, you might not expect a "fan yourself" moment in an Amish novel, but lemme tell you, there's one in here that will knock your socks off. I was like, "Now this is a kissing scene!" It was just sweet and powerful, but unexpected. hahahaha
Thoroughly enjoyed the story and am looking forward to more. I do have some questions lingering from this book, so I may have to reach out to the author to see if there might be a follow up story! :)
*I received this book as part of a tour. I was not asked to write a review. This is my opinion. -
I love the idea of being able to right a past wrong, bless someone else, and be blessed myself with a change of heart and a new beginning. Sometimes second chances come from a place that you didn't see yourself ending up, yet you blink and you're there, the opportunity hitting you in the face.
That's where we find Lauren, a woman that was taken out of the Amish community by her parents at a young age, and who fights forgiveness when it comes to the Lancaster community shunning her parents, three boys that had been in her Amish class that picked on her mercilessly, and her parents for keeping an enormous secret from her.
Instead of focusing on all the pain that permeates her heart, Lauren throws herself into her work, which is why she ends up stranded in Lancaster and face-t0-face with one of her former tormentors, Adam.
Adam isn't the same boy that Lauren once knew. Now grown, he has had his fair share of heartache, and when he reconnects with Lauren he begins to realize a lot about himself and the pain he caused his old schoolmate. I know that Lauren might not have liked him, but I sure did! It takes a real man to look inside himself and find his faults. Adam is a character with a heart of gold, a man strong in character, and is an incredibly hard worker. Lauren's character was one that I felt sympathy for, but at the same time I had hard time connecting to her, despite really wanting to.
The dynamic between Lauren and Adam is unmistakeable, and of course takes center stage, but what really captivated me were the moments with Adam and his young daughter and his cousins and great-grandfather. The pressure that Adam is under is crushing, but Lauren coming back into his life is a true blessing, and that makes me happy. I also loved Lauren's Mennonite aunt. So charming and witty!
A Wish for Home does have a slower start, but trust me you want to stick with it until the end. I love that the focus isn't all on romance, but rather on relationships, second chances and forgiveness; fresh starts and new beginnings. The author did a great job on adding a hint of mystery, which was enticing, and with satisfying writing, A Wish for Home was quite an enjoyable read, and I hope this sweet series continues!
*I have voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book which I received from the author/publisher through JustRead Tours. All views and opinions are completely honest, and my own. -
What if you were once Amish? And then you weren’t? What if your family was wronged and shunned and you just couldn’t get over it? That’s what life is like for Lauren. When she travels back to the area of her childhood with her job she’s determined to make things right.
So here we have this English woman who used to be Amish back to her home area. She wants justice for her family. She wants things made right and maybe secretly she wants to be accepted again. Add to this her seeing her childhood nemesis and things start to get dicey.
Adam is a widower with a little girl. He will stop at nothing to save his grandfather’s farm. Even if that means doing things he doesn’t want. He’d rather stay away from Lauren for good but his little girl has different ideas.
A major theme in this book is forgiveness. But there is also some romance and intrigue as well as a bit of mystery and suspense so you’re going to love this book no matter what genre is your favorite. It is not your typical Amish romance novel though so I hope you give it a go and see how you like it!
I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received through JustRead Publicity Tours. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations. -
The Amish Fiction genre is my absolute favorite genre to read. I am
not sure how I have NEVER read a book by Jo Ann Brown. I was
drawn to read A Wish for Home by Jo Ann Brown because of
the beautiful cover, the synopsis and a new to me author.
Lauren Nolt and her parents fled the Amish Community when
Lauren was young. Her parents were shunned and they left to
live as Englisher. Lauren even went to College and has a
successful career. Lauren returns to Bliss Valley as the company
she is working for is doing "business" in a town beyond Bliss Valley.
She intended on only passing through, but due to circumstances
beyond her control, she has to stay in town for awhile. She has her
car taken to the local garage and there she runs into the buy who bullied
her in her teen years. Adam Hershberger is now a widower with a young
daughter. Adam is just as shocked to see Lauren in Bliss Valley. Adam
has regrets about how he treated Lauren in the past, but has never been
able to forgive himself, much less ask Lauren for forgiveness. He realizes
that Lauren could be the only one to help him save his family farm from
the developers. Adam's Daughter is also trying her best to get the 2 to
like each other. Can Lauren help save Adam's family farm? Will Adam and
Lauren learn to trust each other despite their past? Will there be a romance
between the 2?
WOW, I could NOT put this book down. So many twists and turns and
excitement with each turn of the page. A Wish for Home is a book about
second chances, forgiveness, 2 different worlds colliding. I really liked
how Lauren and Adam's daughter also very much connected. A Wish for
Home is Book 1 in the Secrets of Bliss Valley series. I LOVED it so much
and I am excitedly awaiting the next books in this series! EXCELLENT
BOOK! -
A Wish for Home by Jo Ann Brown was a sweet and charming story about forgiveness and second chances. Lauren is back to the place that shunned her parents. They rebuilt their lives, but past hurts are not easily forgotten. Then her new jobs send her back and she runs into the man that bullied her as a boy. But even with their history, they cannot deny the undeniable connection they feel. Add in Adam’s daughter and you have cuteness overload. We also have some unexpected surprises and twists. A Wish for Home by Jo Ann brown was a truly delightful and captivating story.
Happy reading! -
It wasn't horrible but very predictable and long winded in some parts.. Adam was by far my favorite character, he was strong and kind and very loving..
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A wish for home By: Jo Ann Brown is book 1 in the Secrets of Bliss Valley series. This is also the kick off of the Love Inspired Trade publishing. Love Inspired has now expanded to expanded paperback publishing. These fuller length novels will include romantic suspense, historical fiction, historical romance, Amish Fiction and Contemporary Women's Fiction. This is the first book that I have read by Jo Ann Brown.
In this story, we will meet Lauren Nolt. Lauren has been hurt by the Amish community when they shunned her parents. She has really tried to be successful so that she can give her parents the life she thinks they deserve. Part of her pain came from Adam Hershberger. He used to bully her when she was a child. However, now he is a widow. Adam has struggled with what he has done to Lauren in the past. Running into Lauren at this stage of his life has caused him to do some soul searching. He has had a difficult time also. He is now risking losing his family farm - he realizes that Lauren may be the only one that can help.
Sticking with the original love inspired, this book has a faith filled message woven into it. This story is one of forgiveness, grace and second chances. Adam's daughter will win over your heart.
I received a copy of this book through the Publisher and JustRead Publicity Tours -- all thoughts are my own. -
What an incredibly enjoyable read by Jo Ann Brown!! I loved this story from beginning to end. Imagine meeting your teenage antagonist and re-entering a life that had been torn away from you years earlier. Feeling emotions that you tried to shove away, but could not suppress. What if all that you thought was in the past, really wasn't?
A Wish for Home is a story about family, friendship, trust and forgiveness. The characters are amazing and the bits of suspense added an extra layer to this incredible story. I can't wait to read the second book in this series! -
*3.5 stars*
This was an interesting story of forgiveness and redemption. Despite the conflict that existed between the characters, it wasn't too difficult to root for them and hope that all would work out for them in the end. I liked the cast of characters and their individual quirks. I also liked that it wasn't all about the romance. I have to admit that I struggled with some of the realism. I'm not sure I could share too much about this without sharing spoilers, but it's not necessarily that things came too easy, but rather certain events felt unnatural to how they would have unfolded realistically. So there were some likes and dislikes in this one but overall it was an interesting read.
*I received a copy of this book through JustRead Tours. Thoughts and opinions expressed are mine alone. -
It’s been ages since I’ve read a Christian romance and when the publisher sent me a request, I jumped at the chance. Ms. Brown gives the reader a glimpse of Amish ways and traditions while creating strong and engaging characters and a bit of intrigue.
Laurene “Lauren” Nolt has come back to a childhood home that holds good and bad memories. After her parents were shunned from the Amish community she worked through the difficult changes to become a part of the Englisch world. Now she is working for developers to build a casino in the community that will get her a promotion she needs to take care of her parents. But things go from bad to worse. The weather turns bad, she receives a shocking revelation from her mother, she damages her car, and she runs into the man who bullied her as a kid.
Amish widower Adam Hershberger is trying to take care of his family the best way he can and then Laurene comes back to town to work with the people determined to buy his great grandfather’s farm. Not if he can help it. She brings back several unwanted memories of his cruelty towards her when all she wanted to do was tutor him. She’s still that kind person, but she has grit now and something else. A sadness. Loneliness. Something he needs to ignore…easier said than done.
I love the instant unwanted attraction Lauren and Adam have. Lauren has so much happening to her all at once and she surprisingly decides to open up to Adam about it. His unexpected calm presence and wise answers give her the support she needs to tackle a distressing change in her life. Adam has a lot of responsibility as a father, caretaker, deacon of the community, and a new firefighter. He is shamed by his secret and the treatment of Lauren when they were children. Watching him make up for his past mistakes by helping her confront her current circumstances is heartwarming and hopeful.
In addition to romance, there is a mysterious and compelling back story of several random fires popping up in Bliss Valley which leads to a very tense and deadly situation.
The supporting characters are necessary to the dynamics of the story. Adam’s four-year-old daughter is precious and definitely a great catalyst to bring Adam and Lauren closer. Lauren’s Aunt Sylvia and Adam’s great-grandfather Ephraim are also a treat as they try a little matchmaking themselves.
I recommend this lovely and endearing romance filled with inspiring characters and the importance of home and family. A wonderful beginning to a promising series.
Thank you to Ms. Brown, Harlequin, and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review. -
Jo Ann Brown consistently brings some of the best Amish fiction to the page. I always snap her books up when I see a new one on the shelf!
Lauren Nolt and her parents left her Amish community in the dead of night when she was 14. Her parents never explained their reasons for going, and Lauren was forced to adjust to a lifestyle that felt like an ill-fitting shoe. She completed high school and college, cut her hair so she wouldn't stand out, and is now on track for a promotion at her advertising firm. Sent to her home area in Lancaster County, an accident on the main road sends Lauren on a detour that takes her directly through her hometown of Bliss Valley. She doesn't plan to stop, but an unseen pothole makes her car undriveable. Worse yet, who should come to her aid but the man who as a boy bullied her relentlessly, and made her Amish life miserable.
Adam Hershberger spent his youth looking for acceptance. He found it by following his friends. When he grew up and stayed with the Amish faith while his friends left, he spent the next 15 years redeeming his reputation. Now a deacon with the church, Adam finally has the respect he craved as a boy, but when Lauren walks into the repair shop he works in, Adam is struck once again with the mistakes of his past. Will Lauren stick around long enough to see that he is a changed man? Can he protect her and his young daughter when suspicious fires draw ever nearer?
I loved this story! Lauren was so conflicted - was she the Amish girl she grew up as, or was she the Englischer girl she'd been living as? Finding out she was adopted, then wrecking her car, threw even more wrenches into her life. Seeing her nemesis again brought back all of the hurt, anger, and bitterness, but meeting his daughter, and falling for her big brown eyes made her wonder if Deacon Adam had learned a thing or two since last she saw him.
Readers of Amish romance will enjoy this story. Jo Ann Brown never disappoints, and I highly recommend her books. -
This is a lovely, contemporary, Amish romance with an added dash of history and intrigue. It is a story which centres on forgiveness – for others and for yourself.
Lauren Nolt grew up in the Amish community of Lancaster County until her parents took her away without explanation, leaving their Amish roots behind to live and work amongst the Englischers. Lauren even went to school and college. Now she’s passing through on her way to an important business meeting with developers but a shocking phone call, a horrendous snowstorm, a major fire and a pothole have other ideas! With her car damaged, she goes to the local garage where she comes face to face with Adam Hershberger, the bully who made her teen years a nightmare she was happy to escape.
With history, regrets, memories and worries about the future, can Lauren forgive Adam for what happened – and can Adam forgive himself? They’ve both changed since they last met but what secrets are they keeping? With the message given in that phone call, everything could be about to change for Lauren but reconnecting with her Aunt and other locals reminds her of her Amish upbringing. Lauren has so many different things to deal with, including how unsettled she’s feeling. Is she truly an Englischer now? With fires, danger, new relations and mystery, will their growing feelings help reconnect them or will they go their different ways again?
The story actually includes characters from the local English, Amish, and local Mennonite communities and is an engaging read. It was a delight to join this community and to meet the characters living there. I’m so happy this is the first book in a new series and look forward to returning to catch up on the happenings there in future.
Thanks to Harlequin and NetGalley for my copy of this book which I have voluntarily read and honestly reviewed. -
Thank you NetGalley, author Jo Ann Brown, and Love Inspired Trade publishing for giving me a free arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
5 stars
If you are looking for an wholesome romance that will pull at your heart strings, then this book is for you!
Adam is a single dad raising not only a young daughter, but also overseeing a small machine shop, his extended family, volunteer firefighting , and bishop duties for the light. But as he is working at the local auto repair shop a blast from the past will enter and change his life forever. Lauren was raised at an early age in the Amish community, but one night her parents took her away from the community to start a new life among the English. Now almost 30 years old and very career driven, Lauren is sent on a business assignment to Lancaster county, into the very community she left so long ago. While spending time with her great aunt, Lauren will have to face much of her past as well as Adam, the bully who tormented her as a child. Has Adam really changed? Can Lauren finally find a place to go home?
This has one of my favorite troupes-the single parent. I pleasantly surprised by the characters. For such a short book, the author did a fantastic job not only introducing the characters, but also gave them a lot of room to grow as not only into a couple, but also as people. I enjoyed getting to know more about the Amish community with the information the author sprinkled in throughout the story. I could tell the author did a lot of in depth research in order to not only educate the readers, but also to make the story realistic. The ending was very satisfactory! I would recommend this book to those who are looking for a heartfelt story. -
I loved this Amish inspired love story!! I sighed when the main characters met because I knew their story would be sweet and I couldn’t wait to see them together! But I was surprised by all the twists the two had to work through! I absolutely adored this story and really can’t wait to read the next in series and to read more by this author!!
In this story, Lauren is pursuing a career in public relations and working hard to get her next promotion so she can take care of her parents. She is sent to coordinate with several potential casino developers and the Amish in the area being considered for development.. Her boss believes her past in the Amish community will be an asset. Lauren’s goal is to stay away from anyone who knew her before her parents fled the community and were shunned. But she ends up stuck in that small community and dependent on help from Adam, who bullied her as a child and made her life miserable. Adam has always regretted how he treated Lauren and the secrets he was hiding in his treatment of her. Will both of them be able to let go of the hurts from the past and find a brighter future?
I received a free copy of the book and am providing this review freely. -
A Wish For Home by Jo Ann Brown is Book 1 in the Secrets of Bliss Valley Series.
Sometimes when I read these stories it amazes me just how much the author hits the mail on the head with the subject of the storyline, even thou we know its a fiction read the message within the pages hits home for many of our lives and if not our lives than someone we have known or do know.
In this story we see that sometimes everything we knew becomes lost to us in a blink of an eye or at least we believe it does. Lauren Nolt is shocked when her world comes unraveled now she has to find her balance but sometimes it’s not so easy to do when what we thought or believed keeps changing just as the wind around us.
Adam Hershberger lives a life of regret yet at the same time is so very thankful for all he has. The one thing he needs more than anything has always been just beyond his grasp, can he finally forgive himself and move towards what will fill his life with even more love than he can imagine.
This is such a good book and I am really looking forward to book 2 in the series which is A Promise of Forgiveness I highly recommend this book and really think you all will see that the message within holds such wonderful meaning.
