To purchase your own copy, click here.
About the Book
Lydia Esh’s younger sister Emma is running wild during Rumschpringe, causing the family major heartaches. Although it means risking her reputation, her job as a schoolteacher, and her courtship with Jakob Zook, Lydia attends parties to watch over Emma and protect her sister’s virtue.
When Emma begins a relationship with Kyle, an Englischer, Lydia teams up with Kyle’s older brother, Caleb, to keep the couple apart. As Lydia and Caleb spend time together keeping an eye on their siblings, Lydia falls for this forbidden love. Will she stay true to her faith even if it means giving up the man she loves?
My thoughts
When Lydia decides to try to protect her sister from heartache and wrecking her life.. She finds her faith being tested! First her sister, then her father wasn’t who she thought he was and then a new male friend causes her heart and mind to rethink her relationship with her intended.. This story had a lot of surprising twists that I was not expecting in an Amish story. I really enjoyed this young ladies story and wondered how this forbidden romance would end.. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a little more modern Amish story..
About the Author
Rachel J. Good, inspirational author, writes life-changing, heartfelt novels of faith, hope, and forgiveness. She is the author of Amish romances in the Sisters & Friends series. She grew up near Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, the setting for her novels. A former teacher and librarian, she completed her MA from Vermont College while raising five children. She is presently an MFA student in Writing and Illustration at Hollins University. In addition to having more than 2200 articles and 30 books in print or forthcoming under several pseudonyms, she also juggles freelance editing and illustration careers. To buy the Amish Quilts Coloring Book: http://amzn.to/1T35q5p Visit Rachel at:
Website: www.racheljgood.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/racheljgoodnovels/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RachelJGood1
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14661177.Rachel_J_Good
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/racheljgood1/
Scroll down to enter the GIVEAWAY..
Guest Post from Rachel J. Good
Hi, I’m Rachel J. Good, inspirational author of heartfelt tales of faith, hope, and forgiveness.
I’m excited to launch the first book in my Sisters & Friends Amish series, Change of Heart. Although I’ve been writing for many years and have about 30 books out now, this is my first inspirational novel. I’m busy editing book 2, Buried Secrets, and writing book 3, Gift from Above. And I’m planning the next three books in the series.
I’ve been asked how I came to write Amish novels. For that, I have to credit my agent Mary Sue Seymour, who suggested it to me. I loved the idea because I’d lived near Lancaster, PA, and had always been interested in the Amish. Although Mary Sue went to heaven a few months ago, just before the book launched, I feel her presence in my life as I write. She believed in me as a writer and encouraged me to work on this novel, which she quickly sold.
Lydia’s story in Change of Heart has several connections with my real life. The first is that I’m the oldest in my family and have two sisters, and so does Lydia. We both feel responsible our younger sisters. Lydia’s younger sister, Emma, gets in trouble during Rumschpringe. (And no, her wild sister doesn’t resemble either of my two younger sisters.)
The second connection with my life is the spiritual lesson Lydia learns in the book. I wanted Lydia’s journey to be not only a struggle between faith and love, but also a personal inner journey from self-righteousness to seeing with God’s loving eyes.
Oftentimes, goodness and spirituality can be a source of pride, and it can also be used to justify being judgmental. Lydia’s sister Emma points this out to her, but in my case, it was my young daughter who piped up, when I was complaining about someone at church, and said, “She sounds just like you, Mommy.” Ouch!
That day I came face to face with the truth that often what I criticize most in another person is often a flaw or a sin I’m overlooking in myself. As Matthew 7:3 (NIV) says: “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?” I wanted Lydia’s story to reflect that truth.
The Amish try to avoid the sin of hochmut (pride), but Lydia, without realizing it, is secretly proud of her own spirituality. It often saddens me that, as Christians, we spend more time criticizing others outside the faith or with different lifestyles or beliefs, but very little time examining our own unloving and judgmental behavior. I’d like to see us become more like Jesus, who ate with the “publicans and sinners,” and showed love to everyone, instead of condemning them.
Lydia is also forced to choose between staying in her faith or leaving it for love. I, too, faced a similar challenge many years ago, so I wrote those scenes from my heart. I hope Lydia’s story touches hearts, and that readers come away reassured that although we can’t always see the larger picture, God can, and He’s working out a wonderful plan for us. Our present circumstances might seem dark, but He knows the final results. We need to trust Him even during the challenging times, because “all things work together for good” (Romans 8:28).
Blog Stops
July 14: Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations
July 15: Bigreadersite
July 16: Blossoms and Blessings
July 17: D’S QUILTS & BOOKS
July 18: Bukwurmzzz
July 19: Christian Bookaholic
July 20: Chas Ray’s Book Nerd Corner
July 21: Singing Librarian Books
July 22: Quiet Quilter
July 23: Texas Book-aholic
July 24: A Greater Yes
July 24: Carpe Diem
July 25: Red Headed Book Lady
July 25: Cassandra M’s Place
July 26: His Grace is Sufficient
July 27: cherylbbookblog
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Rachel is giving away lots of fun prizes, including copies of her books and even a box of Whoopie Pies from Bird-in-Hand Bakery.
Click here to enter: https://promosimple.com/ps/9ed1
** I was gifted a copy for review and to participate in this book tour **
Thanks for the awesome giveaway!!!
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You’re welcome, Sarah!
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Have to get this book.
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Hope you do, Diana!
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A nice review for Change of Heart. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
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Thanks for stopping by, Marilyn!
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hope you gave a good Sunday also!!! Thank you for a chance to win!!!
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Thanks so much, Fay! Good luck to you!
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I love all things Amish!
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Me, too, Laurie!
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I just recently met Rachel Good during a Facebook party, and instantly liked her and what she wrote about her books. While I have not had the opportunity to read her books yet, I plan to start with her Amish series.
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Thanks so much for sweet comments, Sandra! I hope you like the books.
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I am so touched at the love and loyalty this lady gives too her sister.Caring for a bed bound individual is very difficult,but in doing so it shows the love of God!!I can’t wait foe boom two…..I am going to request my library also order it!!!
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Thanks so much, Lynn!!
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This was the first book I’ve read by Rachel Good and I enjoyed it alot. I posted to Goodreads and Amazon under reviews. I’m always alittle skeptical when it comes to new authors but Rachel proved me wrong with this book. Can’t wait for her next release!
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Pam, Thanks ever so much for your lovely comments, and I really appreciate the reviews.
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I would love to be a winner. Great giveaway.
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Wishing you luck, Carol!
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Amish fiction is my favorite genre to read and this sounds like a wonderful book
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I love Amish fiction too. Thanks, Maryann!
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I can’t wait to read Change of Heart! Thanks for sharing review & being part of the blog tour!
rw620 AT aol DOT com
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Thank YOU, Robin!
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This is really good! Love the story
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Thanks so much, Kelly!!
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Can’t wait to read this book. Amish Fiction is what I normally read so I am sure I will enjoy it
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Thanks, Ellen! I hope you like it!
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This sounds like a wonderful book. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
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You’re welcome, Deborah, and thanks for the kind comments!
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I tried commenting, but it didn’t show up. The story sounds great. Thanks for the chance to win a copy.
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thanks for commenting Debora.. I have it set so I have to approve all comments.. A few spammers still like to visit 😦
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Thank you for the chance to enter your giveaway, Rachel J. Good.
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You’re welcome, Elaine! I hope you’re feeling better.
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I saw that you’re located in Reidsville, NC which which is around 30 to 35 minutes from where I live plus I go to church in Eden which is even closer. So how long have you lived in Reidsville? My family use to live in different parts of Pennsylvania, and I still have a few relatives plus my boyfriend is from Pennsylvania and he goes to my aunt’s church and a few my cousins knew him for a few years and we got induced online talked to eachother a lot either by text or by talking over the phone, he came to visit me for a day or so and met some of my family, he’s a Christian guy who loves the Lord, he’s a good mechanic but is struggling to get the hours and pay he needs, so he’s currently trying to find something that would help him get the hours he needs, I haven’t gotten to see him much because he lives in Pennsylvania and I live in North Carolina so it’s kinda tough on us both for not being able to see eachother like we wish we could. My family use to have a bakery and bake all kinds of bake goods like, pies, cakes, breads, dinner rolls, Apple, peach and blue berry turnovers, and we even made whoopie pies, oatmeal and chocolate. I always loved chocolate whoopie pies and haven’t had some in awhile, I’m sure their delicious.
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Sarah, It sounds as if we have a lot in common. So glad you’ve found a good Christian boyfriend. It can be hard when you live in different states. I bet your Whoopie pies were delicious!
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I cant wait to read Change of Heart!!
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Thanks, Rebecca! I hope you like it!
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Looks like a really great book Than ks for hosting on the blog tour
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