Until I Love Again

Happy October!  The beginning of the Halloween season.  I have always enjoyed this holiday.  At one of my workplaces there was a decorating contest.  I loved coming up with a theme for our department and executing it.  It is much easier to decorate inside than outside (do not have to worry about rain)!  Do you enjoy Halloween?  What do you like most?  The decorations, being scared, carving pumpkins, or the candy (yum)? 

Until I Love Again by Jerry S. Eicher is second book in The St. Lawrence County Amish series.  Susanna Miller is the final days of her rumspringa.  She is friends with Englischer, Joey Macalister.  On Susanna’s birthday, Joey has a birthday greeting put up on the sign at the seed and feed store.  Susanna’s father, Ralph is not pleased.  Ralph has given Susanna a lot of leeway during her rumspringa (which Susanna managed to extend quite far without his knowledge), but that is now at an end.  Susanna’s parents insist that she start taking Baptismal classes and start keeping her close to home.  They are even talking with Widower Ernest Helmuth wishes to marry Susanna (he is very determined).  He knows the secret that Ralph Miller has kept from his daughter.  Susanna is taking the classes, but she is not sure she wishes to stay Amish.  Susanna needs to decide which life is really for her:  Amish or English.  Will Ralph’s secret help Susanna with her decision and how will affect Susanna (and her family)? 

I found Until I Love Again to be a little unrealistic.  No one (not even in the Amish) can be forced to marry in this day and age.  I did not understand why any father would want their daughter to marry Ernest Helmuth (he was obsessed and not in a good way).  I had trouble enjoying this book, because it felt unreal.  If it was set in the 1800s I could understand (a wee bit), but not in 2016 in the United States.  While Until I Love Again is the second book in the series, it can be read alone.  The book is heavy on the religious aspect which I found unappealing.  It needed a lighter touch.  The writing is nice and the book is easy to read (flows well).  It is just not my favorite book by this author.  I give Until I Love Again 3 out of 5 stars (it was okay). 

The first book in the St. Lawrence County Amish series is A Heart Once Broken.  You can follow Jerry S. Eicher on Amazon and Facebook.  I received a complimentary copy of Until I Love Again in exchange for an honest review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

The Christmas Secret by Wanda E. Brunstetter came out today.  It is  a short Christmas romance story.  I am off to head to my bed.  I am sick with the flu or some sort of bug (and so is my mother).  I hope all of you have a wonderful evening.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris
The Avid Reader