A Springtime Heart

GIVEAWAY

PERRY, MARTA
A SPRINGTIME HEART

A second chance at love blooms in the quaint Amish community of Promise Glen.

Dorcas Beiler's reckless teenage years are far behind her. She's serious and responsible now, and the good people of Promise Glen trust her with the education of their children. But when her first love returns after years of exile from the community, her past comes rushing back. Thomas is the only one who knows her secret, and despite his careless charm and teasing manner, she refuses to let her guard down.

Thomas Fisher has plans -- plans to start a construction company and prove himself a success to all those who doubted him, and plans to find the woman he left behind. His chance comes when he lands the opportunity to rebuild the stable and shed at the community school. He won't be paid for his time, but he'll be able to showcase his abilities...and spend time with Dorcas.

Feeling love in the air, Dorcas's young pupils make excuses to bring them together. As old feelings stir, Dorcas and Thomas wonder whether their first love might also be their last.

My Review:

Reading a Marta Perry novel puts me in my bookish happy place.  She takes her readers back to Promise Glen in this second book in the series. No worries if you haven't read A Christmas Home, each of these books reads well as a standalone though I found it fun to catch up on community gossip and get a glimpse of Sarah and Noah deep in married bliss.

I'm always fascinated any time an author takes me into an Amish schoolhouse so I loved those scenes. Dorcas is a compassionate teacher who loves her scholars, convinced that they will be the only children she'll ever have now that she's an 'old maid at twenty-five.' But then Thomas comes home. And they have a rocky history with some baggage that needs sorting.

Dorcas especially needs work on forgiving herself for the antics of a brash youth. And Thomas serves as a constant reminder of what she hasn't dealt with. Which makes her prickly and standoffish at a time when Thomas really needs a friend. "Grossmammi always said to give your troubles to God and stop fretting. She'd tried so many times. She was pretty good at turning them over, but unfortunately, she promptly picked them up again.' (p 26) Oy, I'm right there with Dorcas on that score! Loved the authenticity of her struggle and the headway she makes through the course of the story.

And Thomas's family! The realistic dynamics of fractured relationships. He's home to mend fences but his austere father is difficult to reach and his siblings' reaction to his return are varied and confusing which just adds more chaos to his simple plan of slipping back into the community as if he'd never left.

A solid cast of secondary characters add additional depth (and drama!) to Thomas's homecoming. Loved the way the author weaves Dorcas and Thomas's story in with the day-to-day life in an Amish settlement. Heartwarming and inspirational. A definite not-to-be-missed for fans of Amish fiction.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of  A Springtime Heart, 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 August 15 2020 . Offer open to International Readers. Good luck