A Mother for Leah: Windy Gap Wishes Novel

I hope everyone had a pleasant weekend.  I spent my time paying bills, running a couple of errands, reading, and doing chores around the house (you can tell I lead a very exciting life).  

A Mother for Leah by Rachel L. Miller is the first story in a Windy Gap Wishes series.  Leah Fisher lost her mother when she was seven years old.  Her father, Samuel is worried about Leah as she approaches adulthood (ten years have passed by).  She stays close to home and does not attend other young people events.  Samuel has decided it is time he found a new wife (frau) who will help guide Leah into womanhood.  Samuel leaves the house one morning leaving Leah at home.  He is traveling to a nearby town to look for a wife (makes me imagine a store with eligible young women waiting for a suitor to come along).  On his journey Samuel encounters a buggy at the side of a road with a passenger inside.  Samuel finds Naomi inside the buggy and escorts her to her aunt’s house where she will be residing.  Naomi felt God was calling her to Windy Gap to find a new husband.  Samuel is instantly attracted to the widow (and vice versa, of course).  While Samul is away, a young man knocks at the door needing assistance with his buggy (methinks it is the same buggy).  Leah’s brother takes off to help Jacob, but Leah remembers the young man long after he is gone.  Love has arrived at the Fisher household, but the path to happiness is will not be a smooth one. 

A Mother for Leah is easy to read (I always try to start with something positive).  It is a simple story about love and faith.  However, I felt it was geared for a younger audience.  The writing reminded me of books written for young adults.  Jacob meets Leah and falls instantly in love.  Jacob then comes a courting (after I wrote this the song “Froggie Went A-Courtin” started running through my head).  Samuel and Naomi instantly connect and start talking about marriage on the first date (this is at the beginning of the book—I am not spoiling anything for you).   My rating for A Mother for Leah is 3 out of 5 stars.  The story is told from the main characters point-of-view (it switches between Jacob, Leah, Samuel, and Naomi).  I wanted more depth and substance in the book.  I felt the book was a sappy romance.  I cannot see a widower (in his late 30s or early 40s) blushing when he looks into Naomi’s beautiful brown eyes (this is in the book).  I found information repeated and a great deal of time devoted to internal dialogue (people thinking about love).  The words “God’s Plan” and “God’s Will” were mentioned too often (we get the point after the first three times).  Amish words were sprinkled throughout the text.  I know they are meant to add Amish color or authenticity to the story, but it felt forced (odd).  Especially when the same word is used (gegisch).  A Mother for Leah is a clean Amish romance that would a good book for younger readers. A Mother for Leah will be available on August 15.

I appreciate you visiting today and reading my review.  I am currently reading A Knit Before Dying by Sadie Hartwell.  I will be sharing my thoughts on Gathering the Threads by Cindy Woodsmall on Tuesday.  I hope that you have a happy Monday!  I am off to the pharmacy to pick up a prescription for my mother.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader