Christy J. (southernsassygirl) reviewed Hearts in Harmony (Amish Journey, Bk 1) on + 180 more book reviews
Beth Wiseman has long been one of my favorite Amish fiction authors, and after reading the first book in the Amish Journeys series, I know that I have discovered a wonderful collection of new-to-me stories. Hearts in Harmony was an endearing novel about caring for others, even if they're outside our normal circle.
There were multiple characters in this first story which is standard fare with large Amish families. While not explained in too many details, there is a noticeable difference between Mary and Levi's districts which affects how their families live and work. I felt bad for both of them when they didn't want the other person to meet their families. Levi is ashamed of how primitive his family lives, while Mary is embarrassed about a situation that involves her sister.
In spite of their differences, they (along with another character named Natalie) are able to come together to care for an aging English woman, Adeline. I loved this part of the story so much because too often, the elderly don't get as much of our time and attention as they should until it's too late. We often take them for granted. In the case of Adeline's character, she begins to have obvious issues with her speech, memory, and general health. It takes all three of them to make sure she gets the care she needs.
This tenderhearted story has the happy and the sad in equal measures, and I won't lie by saying you might shed a tear or two before it's all said and done. I love that there is some exploration into music and what is/isn't acceptable in the Amish culture, but that isn't the primary focus of the book. Amish fiction can easily become a stale backdrop for any story, but this author consistently writes fresh and unique stories for her readers. I'm excited to read the next book in the series to see what unfolds for Natalie.
Originally reviewed at blissbooksandjewels.com
There were multiple characters in this first story which is standard fare with large Amish families. While not explained in too many details, there is a noticeable difference between Mary and Levi's districts which affects how their families live and work. I felt bad for both of them when they didn't want the other person to meet their families. Levi is ashamed of how primitive his family lives, while Mary is embarrassed about a situation that involves her sister.
In spite of their differences, they (along with another character named Natalie) are able to come together to care for an aging English woman, Adeline. I loved this part of the story so much because too often, the elderly don't get as much of our time and attention as they should until it's too late. We often take them for granted. In the case of Adeline's character, she begins to have obvious issues with her speech, memory, and general health. It takes all three of them to make sure she gets the care she needs.
This tenderhearted story has the happy and the sad in equal measures, and I won't lie by saying you might shed a tear or two before it's all said and done. I love that there is some exploration into music and what is/isn't acceptable in the Amish culture, but that isn't the primary focus of the book. Amish fiction can easily become a stale backdrop for any story, but this author consistently writes fresh and unique stories for her readers. I'm excited to read the next book in the series to see what unfolds for Natalie.
Originally reviewed at blissbooksandjewels.com
