Status
Call number
Series
Publication
Description
Fiction. Christian Fiction. HTML: When a business offer turns into something more personal, Amelia is torn between what logic tells her is right and the desire of her heart. A widow with two small children, Amelia Beiler is struggling to make ends meet. She is running her late husband's business, but it's not what she was raised to do, which is run a home. When she gets an offer for the business from Eli Fischer, she's only too relieved to consider it�??especially when it looks like Eli's interest might include more than just the shop. But when she begins to experience strange physical symptoms and is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, it's difficult not to question God's will. If she pursues the treatment she believes in, she risks going under the bann. But how can she allow Eli to court her when she can't promise him a future? Includes instructions to make the quilt block featured in the novel… (more)
User reviews
I read a lot of Amish fiction and I must say this book pulled me right in.The plot started out a bit slowly for me, but I think it was because I needed to get a feel for the characters I was being introduced to. Once the characters and their backgrounds were established the book moved along at a very brisk pace.
While the main story revolves around Amelia and her struggles, we are also introduced to her friends Emma and Carrie. All three women are facing different issues in their lives but their friendships and love of quilting bind them together.I thought the character of Amelia was multi-layered. She is struggling with losing her husband, being a mother, a shop owner, and if that isn't enough she is faced with a debilitating disease. Her emotions seem very real, and I wasn't a bit surprised to see her question her faith,because that seemed like the most realistic thing any of us might do. A story that reminded me that faith, prayer, good friends, and a loving community can help us overcome any adversity that life throws our way!
"The Wounded Heart" is a wonderful beginning for the authors new Amish Quilt Trilogy.A book that I would recommend not only to Amish fans but anyone looking for a nice read, with characters that have real life struggles. Adina Senft has a new fan here, I can't wait to see where she takes us next!
The author, Adina Senft opens with a young widower, Amelia Beiler who is left with two young sons to love and care for. Amelia has two best friends who meet with her to work together on quilts. There is Emma who is single and feels like she was left behind when it came to getting the married and Carrie who has been married for ten years, but she has no children yet.
The quilting meetings were special to the three because it took them away from the routine of their lives and they got to share with each other things that they didn’t feel like sharing with others. The meetings serve to tie the story together and bring out the thoughts and feelings of Amelia’s friends.
Amelia’s grief is fresh but others are urging her to get married but she is not ready. She takes over her husband’s pallet store. Then suddenly one day, she starts to have shooting pains and numbness in her left arm. She begins to drop things and sometimes even collapses. She sees different doctors and they all agree that she probably has multiple sclerosis. What kind of treatment should she take? There are several alternatives.
She can do what is approved of by the Bishops at the Council meeting but there are definite drawbacks to that. Will she instead choose to try the controversial treatment in Mexico and risk being banned? If she did the treatment in Mexico, how would she obtain the money? There is also a man who is interested in her romantically. Would it be selfish of her to love him and have him end up taking care of her later? She worries whether she would be going against God’s will with her decisions and how her decisions will affect others.
I love the author’s emphasis on relationships. You are plunged into Amelia’s turmoil in trying to make the right decision. She had to consider what would become of her sons, the advice of her friends and the decision of the Bishops at the Council Meeting, and her own heart. Her decision was not predictable and I was surprised by the ending. While reading this book, you come to love and want to help Amelia. The writing is clear and straight forward and the story held me riveted to the book until the end.
Amish sayings and Pennsylvania Dutch is sprinkled throughout the book. There is a glossary for the Pennsylvania Dutch words used in the back, along with instructions for the quilt referred to in the book and also a Reader’s Group Guide.
I highly recommend this book for all readers interested in the Amish and also relationships of the community and friends.
Even though I received this book for review from Booking with Bingo it in no way influenced my review.
Amelia's two best friends Carrie and Emma serve as a sounding board for Amelia and that's how we hear of Amelia's struggle with the choices in her life. When diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, Amelia wonders if she should seek a new medical treatment in Mexico. But she has no money. She has many offers to buy the business that she and her late husband started, should she take the highest from an "Englisher" or a lower amount from someone within the Amish community? Her parents and the Church elders pull her in one direction, Amelia's heart pulls her in another and mind pulls her in yet another. These characters are fully drawn and interesting people! Senft's plot line is solid and engaging. I often struggled with the restrictions of an Amish woman, raising her children alone, but so did Amelia! I was able to connect with her on various levels and to me, that's the sign of a well written story. I cared.
I think that every author's goal is to tell a story that the reader will care about. I recommend The Wounded Heart, it's about people who care, people who trust, people who hurt and people who triumph! And that's about the best recommendation I can give.
The Wounded Heart is the first in a trilogy and I look forward to the next book in the series.
4 out of 5 stars, it's engaging, well told and kept my interest. Start the trilogy...now.
This e-galley was provided to me by the publisher and in no way affected my review.
Author: Adina Senft
Pages: 320
Year: 2011
Publisher: FaithWords
My rating is 4 out of 5 stars.
The author Adina Senft writes very compelling and heart-moving stories. The Wounded Heart is one of her older series though she recently finished the series, and
Amelia runs the business and is sole proprietor while her sons are in school or at the grandparents’ house. The grandparents are Amelia’s parents who farm close by and help her with the care of her two young sons. Amelia’s parents never seem to let up trying to match make as her year of mourning draws to an end as well as two of her best friends when they meet to work on a quilt.
What is shared above is but a teaser to a much deeper and heart-grabbing story mixed with faith, romance and health issues. It has times where I wasn’t sure how the author was going to bring about the ending, or if the ending was going to be hopeful or disappointing. Kind of like real life, right? Either way, I enjoyed getting lost in the pages as it provides a fictional world that appears lifelike and yet I know it isn’t real, so I can leave it there when I am finished.
Soon I will read and share with you my reviews on the other two books in the series: Tempted Soul and Hidden Life! Be on the watch for them and read book one while you’re waiting if you’d like!