Forever Home by Amy Grochowski

Forever Home

by Amy Grochowski

Publisher: Ambassador International

Amish of Prince Edward Island, Book 1

Summary ~

A Canadian Amish farmer
A Lancaster Amish businesswoman
A Prince Edward Island foster child

Providence brings together a mismatched family, giving all three a second chance for love. Only love may never have had such a tough job.

Lydia Miller is an anomaly among her Amish people-a single woman in her 30s, running her own store, determined to forge a life on her own. But when Joel Yoder comes into town to sell his property, Lydia suddenly finds all of her hopes and dreams crumbling around her and a new opportunity placed in her lap.
Joel has his own problems. Recently jilted by his fiancée, Joel has seen his own dreams of moving to a newly established Amish community begin to falter. The new community welcomes married couples only. With his dreams quickly slipping from his fingers, Joel suddenly sees the only option he thinks he has-a marriage of convenience for both of them.
As the new couple begins life in a new settlement, they are even more surprised when a foster child in need of a home finds her way to them. Yet what will happen when the English world and the Amish world collide?

My Thoughts ~ ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I absolutely loved this book!! From the first line it had me hooked!

"A sensible Amish woman aspired to marry, as Lydia Miller was reminded daily."

When I first started reading Christian fiction all I read was the Amish genre. I was obsessed with it but then I started discovering other genres in the Christian Fiction realm and stopped reading it so when I got the chance to review this book I was excited! Amy Grochowski made me fall in love with this genre all over again and I want more! 

The genre is not the only thing that attracted me to this story. The setting of the story did as well! I mean Prince Edward Island is where me and the hubby honeymooned and it obviously holds a special place in my heart so when books are set there (which I haven't found many) I gravitate to them. (If you haven't been its a beautiful place plus its the setting of Anne of Green Gables and home of Lucy Maud Montgomery.) 

Okay you don't want to hear all that....so let's go back to the story, The characters are very relatable. Lydia is considered the spinster by Amish standards, she has her own mind and runs her own business, all things that the Amish order she is part of somewhat frowns upon. She carries a huge burden with her and can't forgive herself for what has happened in her past because she doesn't truly know that God is the one that gives you that.

Joel is recently jilted and sees his plans for the future come to a standstill until he meets Lydia. He sees how wonderful, kind-hearted she is and feels bad that he has come to town to sell the house where she houses her business. He comes up with a marriage of convenience plan which both agree to and set out to Prince Edward Island.

The love story between Lydia and Joel is simply dreamy! I love the struggle they have within each other to actually realize that they are in love with each other. Grochowski almost makes it a bit comical on them figuring things out. 

Two subjects that Grochowski really did well on and I think really outdid herself in was the topic of Autism and fostering. I know this is not a subject that the Amish really talk about and this story gives you an insight and an understanding that the Amish are real people. 

God's redemption is throughout this story as well. The reminder that we are not bound by our past and that our life is completely in God's hands and not people or things that happen in this world is very evident in this story. 

Amy Grochowski definitely has become one  of my favorites and I will be looking for more of her writing! I cannot wait for the next book and see where these characters go. At least I hope that she brings them back!

FTC Disclosure: I received this book from author through the Just Read Tours program.  I was not required to write a positive review. These are my honest thoughts and opinions. 

About the Author ~ 

Amy's deep appreciation for the Amish faith and way of life stems from six years of living and working with a Beachy Amish family, as well as her own Anabaptist roots. Her debut novel, Forever Home, was a pre-published winner of Romance Writers of America's Maggie Award and a semi-finalist in ACFW's Genesis Contest. She is a member of Word Weavers Int'l and a published author of award-winning historical short fiction.

Amy spent her childhood in Melbourne, Australia, where her parents worked as church planters. After returning to the States, the Blue Ridge Mountains of Southwest Virginia became home. Her real life romance began on a travel nursing assignment to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania where she met her husband, David.

After a nursing career of more than twenty years, Amy is now fulfilling her long-awaited dream career as an author of inspirational romance. She is also a full-time homeschool mom for her two boys, one of whom has Autism Spectrum Disorder and lives with her family in the bustling foothills of North Carolina. 

To learn more about Amy Grochowski, her books and receive a prequel of her one her stories visit her website: https://www.amygrochowski.com/