I thought this was unread for my unread shelf challenge but it turns out that I read it years ago. I'm glad I reread though.

4 Stars ( )

Leah Mast has an ability to help her neighbors and heal their ailments by practicing reflexology and she is thankful that God has given her this talent. Adam Beachy has total disdain for anyone who believes in this practice and he is very vocal about his aversion. Readers meet both of these characters in the first few pages of The Gift, the second book of the Prairie State Friends series, and we are immediately given a glimpse of how complicated a relationship between the two of them would be. Soon, Adam is faced with the prospect of raising his three orphaned nieces and who does he seek for help? Yes, it is Leah but it is only because he is desperate! A proposal of marriage follows but no love is involved; this will be a marriage for his convenience only.

As I read this, I found myself wondering if Leah is making a mistake because Adam is very judgmental and very unforgiving but Brunstetter has a talent for developing characters that are flawed people but ultimately, redeemable human beings.

This book also gives us an update on characters we met in The Decision, the first book in the Prairie State Friends series. It is nice to revisit them but their new situations and added conflicts leave us with questions that I hope will be answered in book three.

Wanda Brunstetter is famous for her Amish themed books and her fans will not be disappointed.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher. There was no obligation for a positive review. These are my own thoughts. ( )

A tragedy leaves Adam to raise his three young nieces. Leah steps in watch the children while Adam is at work. Though they have only begun to be friends, their shared love for the children leads them to take a step toward a new life together. Adam is still dealing with the disappointments of his own childhood, which are brought to the forefront with the arrival of a stranger in town. This story is quite complex in structure. It deals with human fragility, suffering, grudges, struggles, and more. The characters are real; readers will feel their pain. The second in the trilogy, the novel ends but the story does not. This well-written tale will have readers reaching for the finale novel in the series post-haste. ( )

This story can stand alone in this series, but it does pick up where book one ended and has all the same characters in this book as the last one. This story is about Leah Mast and how her desire for a family is met in a most unusual way. Adam Beachy ends up with his three little nieces and needs help. Leah goes from watching them during the day, to agreeing to a marriage of convenience with Adam. Adam has some issues to work out regarding his past and together these two will make the marriage of convenience work and turn into one of love. ( )

This novel continues the saga of Leah Mast and Adam Beachy. Adam has become a rather bitter young man who has difficulty getting along socially. Leah practices reflexology and is able to help many people who have a variety of ailments. The story continues to follow Jonah Miller and Elaine Strock as they continue on their parallel journeys. The story keeps the story moving at a nice pace and provides insight into Amish life. I enjoyed it very much. I read all three books in this trilogy and enjoyed each one of them. ( )