This was a wonderful book by Amy Lillard. I loved the characters in this story. Avery learns to begin to take things in a quiet way. She was raised with a silver spoon but was not really happy. Here in the land of the Amish Avery learns to relax and learn to trust in God. Gideon learns to live again. I received a copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will. ( )

When it seems like something bad has happened, God finds a way to make it better. Avery has grown up in a very wealthy family. She has everything she wants and is happy with her life. After a disastrous encounter with the man she was going to marry, she drives off and ends up on the side of the road deep in snow and unconscious. It's not everyday that Gideon finds a stranded woman with a yappy dog but he takes her to his farm. From the moment Avery enters Gideon's life, everything changes.

I loved Gideon so much. He has suffered a devastating loss and has turned his back on God. It seems that no one can reach him and his anger is crushing his soul. I always love when an author gives some background about the Amish and their beliefs. I didn't know that they don't believe in headstones , only plain crosses and no flowers on the grave. The author really did a great job of developing both characters and I found myself rooting for them. I felt like I was a visitor watching them have meals together and taking care of the farm. The author writes with clarity and draws readers into the story with words that help you visualize everything.

As Avery or I should say "Annie" adjusts to her new surroundings she starts to feel at home. Somehow she talks Gideon into letting her stay at the farm. I loved how Annie took to the plain life and it was just what she needed . The author has weaved two people from different backgrounds into a story that shows how opposites do attract. Gideon has lost his faith but will Annie help him find it again? What will the community think of an outsider staying with Gideon? Don't miss this emotional story of healing, faith, love and forgiveness.

I received a copy of this book from the author. The review is my own opinion. ( )

I love this story, rich meeting the poor, but not really, Avery, aka Annie, was born with the preverbal silver spoon, Gideon he is Amish and lives plain. Oil and water, not quite, but one is running from a failed love, and the other wanting to die from loosing his family.
A car accident brings these two together, but all the while you will see God’s hand in their lives, they are so very different, but are they?
What a kind man Gideon is, and I could just watch them eating the first meal Annie cooks, and he is so trying to be nice. I can just see God sending this woman and nudging Gideon, he is not done with Gideon yet, and wants Gideon as a productive member of society.
Of course Gideon realizes that Annie isn’t Amish, yes one can pretend, but he has to come to terms of loosing his life or embracing the woman he is learning to love.
These two have to come to terms with their relationship, if there really is one, and how it can never be, but maybe they can find some happiness in their lives, but with each other?
A very quick read, that I really didn’t want to end, but there are two more books in this series.
I received this book through Net Galley and B & H Publishing, and was not required to give a positive review. ( )

I stumbled upon Miss Lillard’s work entirely by accident but boy am I glad I did!

She is a true artist – painting a vivid picture with her words, that gives you the feeling that you could just step right in.


It’s a wonderful read.

I feel it is only fair to warn you that your time may be in danger with this book. Once you pick it up, you will not want to put it down.


The story flows so flawlessly, it rushes by your eyes and you will completely lose track of how long you’ve been reading.

The idea of converting to the Amish faith has become something of a phenomenon among readers and writers alike. And it has become increasingly difficult to present a new take on the idea or a story that doesn’t sound like a mirror image of every other one already out there.

But Amy Lillard has succeeded there. Her story is definitely original. Her characters are individual and her voice is intriguing.

She has an exceptional talent for writing a view of the Amish community through the eyes of a pampered Englisher and writing the view of that same Englisher through the eyes of a somewhat surly Amish man.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good story about life, loss and love.

Whether you enjoy Amish fiction or just Christian fiction, this story will appeal because there is enough of both worlds within the pages.

I can’t wait to move on to the next book in the series and I hope we have many more series from Amy Lillard to look forward to.
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This was my first book by this author.

I enjoyed this book.
We meet Avery right after she has walked in on her finance and another girl. She flees and due to bad weather runs herself off the road. Gideon, a amish man struggling himself, hears the car horn and rescures her.

After recovering (super glue) she decides to hide out there for a while and re evalute her life.

I really came to care for these characters and hope that there might be a follow up to see what happens with some of the extended family that we met.

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