Book Details:
Book Description:
Henrietta Miller loves animals—especially her goats. She wants to marry and have children someday, but right now her goal is to have her own business selling snacks made from goat's milk and goat's soaps. Against her the wishes of her father--who's also the bishop—she applies for a job as a veterinary assistant to earn money. Then newcomer Nicholas Byler snatches the job out from under her—or so it seems to Hen. Now Nicholas is treating Hen's beloved animals as if he knows more than her. Hen turns her frustrations toward expanding her business to include wool-producing goats, even while her aunt hatches matchmaking plans—with Nicholas Byler, no less.
My Thoughts: Wonderful and Captivating
Wow! This wonderful story was quite the emotional roller coaster ride. It had me frustrated, laughing, reflecting, soul-searching, and even almost in tears.
First of all, Hen is quite the character. She is not your typical Plain woman, and although I could understand where she was coming from, I initially found her a bit abrasive. Her father, the Bishop, didn't exactly help. While his intentions were understandable, his delivery wasn't. And because Hen didn't quite fit the mold of typical, her actions and reactions often had her and her dad at odds.
Enter Nicholas, who is not a typical Plain man. The funny thing is that the non-typical Plain man and non-typical Plain woman are so much alike in some ways that they initially butt heads. However, little by little, time and circumstances change that, and their deeply caring natures take over. Their journey results in a beautiful and moving story of love, faith, family, and the importance of reflecting on how our spiritual life beliefs and commitments play into our life decisions and God's will, all of which makes this wonderful and captivating story one that I highly recommend.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. All comments and opinions are entirely my own and voluntary.
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About the Author: Kelly Irvin
Best-selling novelist Kelly Irvin's latest Amish romance, Every Good Gift, debuted in February 2023. The third novel in the Amish Blessings series takes place in Yoder and Haven, Kansas. The series takes a look at adoption in Amish communities. The first book, Love's Dwelling, won second place in the Selah Awards contest in the long contemporary romance category. The series follows the Amish of Sky Country series, which featured Amish communities in Northwest Montana affected by wildfires that destroyed thousands of acres in the state in recent years. The first book, Mountains of Grace, debuted in August 2019, and delves into the impact on not only an Amish man and woman, but also a smoke jumper, a sheriff's deputy, and a young English woman forced to confront her past because of the fires.
Kelly also writes romantic suspense novels. Her most recent forays into this genre include Trust Me, Her Every Move and Closer Than She Knows, all set in San Antonio and South Texas. Publishers Weekly says of Closer Than She Knows, "this brisk, smoothly written thriller from Irvin pits court reporter Teagan O’Rourke, a murder mystery lover, against a cunning and vicious serial killer. Fans of serial killer fiction with a Christian slant will be satisfied."
A two-time ACFW Carol finalist, Kelly's novellas have been included in numerous anthologies, including An Amish Summer, The Amish Christmas Gift, An Amish Market, an Amish Christmas Love, and Amish Quilt, An Amish Reunion, An Amish Picnic, and An Amish Christmas Bakery.
Kelly retired in 2016 from her position of 22 years as public relations manager for the San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department, where her duties included writing and designing an employee newsletter, writing news releases, collaborating on marketing campaigns, coordinating ribbon-cuttings and groundbreakings, coordinating press conferences, updating the web site, and acting as a media spokesperson.
Kelly has been married to photographer Tim Irvin for 35 years. They have two children and four grandchildren. In her spare time, she likes to write short stories and poetry, read books by her favorite authors, and visit the babies.
For more information, visit http://www.kellyirvin.com
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