Listening to Love

GIVEAWAY

WISEMAN, BETH
LISTENING TO LOVE

He's Amish. She's Englisch. They are best friends, despite what the gossips say. But could the rumor mill know more than they do?

Englischer Natalie Collins looks forward to Friday night suppers at Levi and Mary Shetler's house every week: delicious food, wonderful conversation with her Amish friends, and best of all, the presence of Levi's older brother Lucas. Natalie and Lucas have become best friends despite their different backgrounds. They share a love of books, and he is teaching her about God in a waythat she can understand.

But the closer they become, the more opinions everyone seem to have. Levi and Mary, Lucas's family, and even Natalie's mother -- whose own life is a mess at the moment -- have concerns about their relationship. Why can't everyone understand that it's possible to just be friends? Besides, they couldn't be together even if they wanted to be. Lucas would never leave the Amish faith, and Natalie is Englisch and pursuing a degree in veterinary medicine.

But when a terrifying accident happens, Natalie and Lucas are forced to confront their true feelings and decide if they can stay true to themselves and each other.

The second novel in the Amish Journey's series by bestselling author Beth Wiseman explores the compromises and sacrifices it takes to truly listen to love.

My Review:

What a stunning story! I was all tears and laughter and tearing my hair out in frustration by turns throughout the read. Wiseman caught my attention with the book blurb and I was a goner once I started reading...with dread and anticipation. Because this Amish and Englisch pairing just can't work. Can it?

Both Natalie and Lucas are committed to their lifestyles. They're great friends but they know they could never be anything more. But then the people around them start to voice concerns which, ironically, turns their focus onto the possibility of there actually being something more between them. Which is ridiculous, right? For so many reasons. Their story made me so anxious! I couldn't see a way through for it to work out without one of them losing themselves in the process. Gah! Beware -- romantical tenterhooks abound!

And I loved the secondary plot that Wiseman weaves throughout, as she gives both Amish and Englisch mothers their own points of view.  Both are opposed to a relationship developing between their son and daughter. Meddling mamas in stereo! lol

There's such a powerful inspirational thread embedded in the lives of all these characters. And I'm ecstatic over the way Wiseman used a classic Christian fiction novel as a catalyst for change in Lucas and Natalie's lives. That was such a fun discovery -- a bookish treasure hidden in a book! Very clever. And moving.

IA soul-satisfying, basking-in-the-after-reader-glow kind of novel that stays with a reader long after she reaches 'The End.'

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  Listening to Love leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday June 6 2020 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck