Love Still Stands by Kelly Irvin

4 STARS

This is a brand new series that Kelly Irvin wrote. It's a spinoff of Bliss Creek Amish novels. Which I have not read. But I would like to read more books by Kelly on how much I liked Love Still Stands. Love Still Stands deals with some real issues of postpartum depression, also the struggle with physical therapy.

This group of Amish decided to settle in Missouri where they could buy lots of farm land. They get to their new homes and find that vandals were their first. In Luke and Leah's new home every window was broken and they tried to burn it down from inside, spray painted all over the walls. Made sure they were unwelcomed. The Sheriff when he got their was not helpful but warned them they were not welcomed.

Leah is not happy person. She has 5 children under 10 and did not want to leave Kansas. She is not happy with her sister's health problems. Won't let her do things that she can and is rude to her.

Bethel is a school teacher or was when she got hurt when a storm tore it apart. The doctor did not think she would be able to walk again. She walks with crutches only. She wants to go back to teaching but can't till she gets better. She needs physical therapy. Then maybe her dream of getting married someday and having her own family will happen.

Elijah is helping his family with the move and working on Luke's farm for now. He volunteers to take Bethel into her physical therapy and runs errands for supplies while he waits to drive her back. On the first day they almost get hit by a car. Elijah spent the last 5 years taking care of his parents. He wants his own family soon.

Their is a lot of unwelcome to the Amish moving into town. Some is quite dangerous. They forgive those that cause them ill. Their is a lot of work to do to get their community started. New leaders are chosen. Some are not happy with it but they are willing to do the work they are called to.

Their is a lot of drama, lots of relationships, Lots of characters. Good Plot. It's a clean read. Not preachy just part of the story. I look forward to seeing more books set in New Hope.

I was given this ebook to read and asked to give honest review of it by Netgalley.

09/01/2013 PUB Harvest House Publishers 352 pages ISBN:0736954937


Description below taken off of Goodreads.

Readers of Kelly Irvin's Bliss Creek Amish novels will be overjoyed to discover her new series for lovers of Amish fiction: The New Hope Amish. In the first installment, Love Still Stands, a group of dedicated families leaves Bliss Creek to establish a new community in Missouri. Among them is Bethel Graber, a beautiful young woman with a passion for teaching. But after being disabled in a terrible accident, overseeing a classroom is out of the question...and romance seems a long-lost dream.

Bethel begins physical therapy, determined to make a fresh start. But that won't be easy in the town of New Hope, where the locals seem anything but eager to welcome their new Amish neighbors. Amid growing intimidation from the community, Bethel must find the strength to face her many challenges and the faith to believe that God still has a plan--and a love--for her life.