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Review of “ Listening to Love” by Beth Wiseman

Description

“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 way that she can understand.

But the closer they become, the more opinions everyone seems 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 Journeys series by bestselling author Beth Wiseman explores the compromises and sacrifices it takes to truly listen to love.”

My Review:

This is the second book in this series by Beth Wiseman, and it’s just as good as the first book.  This story focuses on the characters of Lucas, an Amish young man, and Natalie, an English young woman.  Despite the differences in their backgrounds, they become best friends.  They are both honorable, caring people and realize that they would bring great distress to both their families if they allowed their friendship to develop into a romantic relationship. I thought the author did a terrific job of making both these characters seem “real” and showed their struggles with the differences in their backgrounds in a compelling way. There’s some surprises in this storyline that kept the story moving along in a way that I did not always see coming. 

There’s also a look at the differences between two Amish communities and the way they view each other.  That has an impact in this series, as the two different orders have to find common ground and understanding of each other’s practices.

 I really liked the honor that both characters gave to their families even when they did not always agree with them. They were always seeking the best for those around them and that made this a refreshing story to read. I’m hoping there’s more to come in this series about this community.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher.  All opinions are my own.