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Jacob's Return
Jacob Sauder abandons his Amish heritage when the woman he loves, Rachel Zook, agrees to marry his brother, Simon. Though he adapts to the ways of the “English” — even fathering twins — he remains an outsider. When the mother of his twins dies, Jacob knows only one way to raise his children — the Amish way. He brings them home to the community he vowed to leave forever. For his children he can do anything, even be strong when he sees Rachel, his love, married to his brother.
Years ago, Simon lied to ensure a future with Rachel Zook as his wife. Now Rachel is barren, a disappointment to him. Unaware of the lie Simon told to drive Jacob away, Rachel believes Jacob abandoned her when he left the Amish community. Shocked when he returns with two-year-old twins, Rachel knows there can be nothing between them, for marriage is a life-long commitment among the Amish. But the twins need a mother and Rachel loves children. As she cares for Jacob’s children as if they were her own, her feelings for him deepen into a love that cannot be.
Jacob’s Return is the story of a prodigal son, a forbidden love, and a fanatical preacher. As shocking as it is compelling, Jacob’s Return is both uplifting and unforgettable. A wonderful read, this is a universal story about love and faith in impossible circumstances.
Years ago, Simon lied to ensure a future with Rachel Zook as his wife. Now Rachel is barren, a disappointment to him. Unaware of the lie Simon told to drive Jacob away, Rachel believes Jacob abandoned her when he left the Amish community. Shocked when he returns with two-year-old twins, Rachel knows there can be nothing between them, for marriage is a life-long commitment among the Amish. But the twins need a mother and Rachel loves children. As she cares for Jacob’s children as if they were her own, her feelings for him deepen into a love that cannot be.
Jacob’s Return is the story of a prodigal son, a forbidden love, and a fanatical preacher. As shocking as it is compelling, Jacob’s Return is both uplifting and unforgettable. A wonderful read, this is a universal story about love and faith in impossible circumstances.
Kindle Edition
First published October 1, 1999
117 people are currently reading
402 people want to read
About the author
Annette Blair
43 books1,007 followersAnnette Blair's romantic comedies owe their beginnings to a root canal and a reluctant trip to Salem Massachusetts. Though she had once proclaimed she'd never write a contemporary, she stumbled into the serendipitous role of Accidental Witch Writer on that trip. Funny how she managed to eat her words even with an aching jaw. Magic or destiny; Annette's Bewitching Romantic Comedies became her first National Bestsellers.
Her August '07 release, SEX AND THE PSYCHIC WITCH, the first in her Triplet Witch Trilogy, hit the #1 bestselling spot for contemporary romance-humorous on Barnes & Noble. It also hit B & N's overall bestseller lists for mass market and fiction mass market and #7 for romance mass market, topping Nielsen BookScan and Borders Bestseller lists as well.
Her August '07 release, SEX AND THE PSYCHIC WITCH, the first in her Triplet Witch Trilogy, hit the #1 bestselling spot for contemporary romance-humorous on Barnes & Noble. It also hit B & N's overall bestseller lists for mass market and fiction mass market and #7 for romance mass market, topping Nielsen BookScan and Borders Bestseller lists as well.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
March 4, 2012
I read this on the recommendation of a friend, as I fancied reading something different. The blurb intrigued me and I've read the odd Amish romance novel before and quite enjoyed them, so I was looking forward to reading it.
Well, I can honestly say this is one of the best books I've read in a long time. This is not an inspirational novel, so don't read it if you're expecting one. Whilst there is a strong Christian theme, this book deals with some tough subjects. Adultery, domestic abuse, to name the main two.
The author's writing style completely draws you into the story, so much so that I only read it when the kids were in bed and even then hubby got his head bitten off for daring to talk to me. There are some surprising twists in this story and right till the end, I wasn't sure how this was all going to work out.
I cried, I screamed (no - he can't do that) lol, a few times whilst reading it and I had to force myself not to skip ahead to make sure that Jacob and Rachel were going to be okay.
The book takes you on an emotional roller coaster ride with beautifully drawn out characters, as you suffer with Jacob and his struggles to protect the woman he loves and has no right to claim as his own. I fell in love with a few supporting characters too. There are some sex scenes, which is unusual for an Amish novel, but they are beautifully written from the emotional view point of the H/H and make perfect sense in the story.
I had a few tears in my eyes at the ending, as well as during various parts of the book and I gasped and screeched and at one point threw the book down in disgust only to pick it up again straight away, cause I had to see what happens next.
Yes it was that good!
Well, I can honestly say this is one of the best books I've read in a long time. This is not an inspirational novel, so don't read it if you're expecting one. Whilst there is a strong Christian theme, this book deals with some tough subjects. Adultery, domestic abuse, to name the main two.
The author's writing style completely draws you into the story, so much so that I only read it when the kids were in bed and even then hubby got his head bitten off for daring to talk to me. There are some surprising twists in this story and right till the end, I wasn't sure how this was all going to work out.
I cried, I screamed (no - he can't do that) lol, a few times whilst reading it and I had to force myself not to skip ahead to make sure that Jacob and Rachel were going to be okay.
The book takes you on an emotional roller coaster ride with beautifully drawn out characters, as you suffer with Jacob and his struggles to protect the woman he loves and has no right to claim as his own. I fell in love with a few supporting characters too. There are some sex scenes, which is unusual for an Amish novel, but they are beautifully written from the emotional view point of the H/H and make perfect sense in the story.
I had a few tears in my eyes at the ending, as well as during various parts of the book and I gasped and screeched and at one point threw the book down in disgust only to pick it up again straight away, cause I had to see what happens next.
Yes it was that good!
March 26, 2019
I can see the appeal of this story but some details just didn't make the impact some other readers have felt.
I wasn't that impressed with the fact Jacob returned, nor that he would live in the same house as the woman he has ever loved and whose marriage isn't a happy one and even less that the Amish culture wasn't as developed as I imagined it would in a book written in 1999.
I can understand why all the details combined make for a angsty story but individually, there are several details that bothered me and which prevented me from enjoying this more.
The main couple also didn't convince me, especially since they are Amish and even though no one is 100% perfect, I expected something different from their behavior. I was not convinced by the romance.
I wasn't that impressed with the fact Jacob returned, nor that he would live in the same house as the woman he has ever loved and whose marriage isn't a happy one and even less that the Amish culture wasn't as developed as I imagined it would in a book written in 1999.
I can understand why all the details combined make for a angsty story but individually, there are several details that bothered me and which prevented me from enjoying this more.
The main couple also didn't convince me, especially since they are Amish and even though no one is 100% perfect, I expected something different from their behavior. I was not convinced by the romance.
January 2, 2018
Reviewed for THC Reviews
For a while, I’ve been drawn to Amish historical romance and have managed to amass quite a few on my TBR pile. However, I hadn’t yet gotten around to reading one. This might be because most are put out by Christian publishers, and while I do enjoy inspirational romances sometimes, I also find that many of them can be rather preachy, which is a turn-off for me. That’s why, when I saw that a mainstream author had published a few Amish historicals, I thought those might be a good place to start. Therefore, I chose Annette Blair’s Thee, I Love as my first Amish romance, and it ended up being an excellent choice that I loved.
However, this is where I’m going to digress for a moment to give fair warning to readers that this isn’t the typical, presumably squeaky clean, Amish romance that you’ll usually see. I personally think that made it all the more interesting, but I know others will disagree. It contains some mild language, scenes of moderate violence, and three mild to moderately descriptive love scenes that I would characterize as having sensual (though not particularly explicit) language. However, what will probably be most concerning to readers of traditional Christian Amish romance is that the hero and heroine of this story do cheat on her husband/his brother, with much of the plot dependent on this misstep. That said, though, I wasn’t at all put off by it, because there are many extenuating circumstances. For starters, her husband lied to both of them to deliberately keep them apart three years earlier and then presented himself as someone he wasn’t in order to get her to marry him. He then began abusing her from the moment their vows were said, and of course, given the time period and their religious beliefs, it was impossible for her to divorce him. Not to mention, the hero and heroine’s actions aren’t without consequences as they do have to answer for it later in the story. So now that I’ve gotten that little order of business out of the way, on to why I loved this book so much.
Jacob is a total sweetheart of a hero and I completely fell in love with him. He’d been best friends with Rachel all throughout their childhood and teen years. They fell in love, he gave her her first kiss, and it was always presumed that they would someday marry. Then his mother died, and during that difficult time, his brother, Simon, lied about Rachel being in love with and planning to marry him instead. This sent Jacob running out in the English world where he tried to make a go of it, but things just weren’t working out for him. He also had a number of brief affairs with women along the way, and when he discovered that one of those encounters had resulted in twins whose mother had died in childbirth, he immediately stepped up to the plate to take care of them. Jacob loves his newfound children to distraction and is an incredible father, but the only way he knows to raise children is the Amish way. So he humbles himself as the prodigal son returning home. He knows it’s going to be hard to go back and watch Rachel with Simon every day, but he doesn’t know just how hard until he’s there. All the love he’s always felt for her is still there in his heart, and he finds it nearly impossible to hide it, especially when he realizes that Simon is abusing Rachel. One night when the abuse becomes particularly harsh, Jacob comforts Rachel, with one thing leading to another.
Jacob is a wonderful hero. The way he looks out for Rachel, making sure that Simon won’t ever abuse her again, when others around them were turning a blind eye, is nothing short of amazing. I also love how he supports her in her efforts to publish a newspaper for their little Amish community and he’s a tender lover to her, which is something she desperately needed after all she’d been through. He’s a responsible father who takes great care of his kids. He may have a protective streak, but Jacob is definitely a sweet beta hero. He tries to take full responsibility for everything that happened between him and Rachel, and he really takes it to heart when things begin to unravel for them. In the end, he’s ready to sacrifice everything to make sure that Rachel and his kids can have the Amish life he thinks they need. Although parts of the story ripped my heart out, I loved Jacob to pieces for all of his kindness, gentleness, sacrifice, and care of those he loves.
Rachel is an equally kind and sweet heroine. When Jacob left, she thought he’d abandoned her, not knowing that Simon had driven him away with his lies. Simon courted her, eventually leading to her developing feelings for him, but they were never as strong as what she’d felt for Jacob. When Simon began verbally abusing her the very night their vows were said, she knew she’d made a horrible mistake, but there was nothing she could do about it except endure. Rachel is the school teacher in their community, a job she loves because she loves children. However, she hasn’t yet been able to conceive one of her own, which is another thing that Simon regularly berates her for. When Jacob returns and realizes what Simon is doing, it’s something of a relief to her. She also falls in love with his twins and they feel the same about her, so when he asks her to leave her teaching position to take care of them full-time, she’s more than happy to comply. On the night that she and Jacob make love for the first time, she finds it impossible to resist. All the years of pent up love for him, combined with never experiencing a man being kind and gentle toward her, are just too much emotionally. Soon after, she discovers that she’s finally carrying the child she’s longed for, but it’s a mixed blessing. I loved Rachel for being so committed to family and she proves to be a great mother in her care of Jacob’s children. She pushes the boundaries of a traditional Amish woman’s role by publishing her newspaper, which I thought was great. Despite the way her husband treats her and the fact that he destroyed any feelings she had for him on their wedding night, she does still forgive him and have concerns for his well-being. She feels the guilt of her infidelity as deeply as Jacob does, even though she can’t say that she regrets it. I felt like Rachel showed strength and fortitude, mingled with kindness and goodness that made her the perfect heroine.
There are a number of notable secondary characters who really fill out the cast of Thee, I Love. First are Jacob’s twins, Emma and Aaron, who are cute as a button and help show Jacob and Rachel's excellent parenting skills. Aaron, in particular, loves with an innocent kind of love only a child can. He genuinely cares about his Unkabear, wriggling his way into Simon’s hard heart and showing that the man isn’t entirely evil. Rachel's sister, Esther, and Jacob’s best friend, Reuben, get a secondary romance, while offering unwavering support to Rachel and Jacob. Esther is a pregnant widow, while Reuben is twice widowed, both of his wives having died in childbirth, so he’s understandably very fearful of any woman who’s expecting, especially when her time comes. Both Rachel’s and Jacob’s fathers show that they can be kind and reasonable men, even though there are some things that are outside their control, and both offer penance for not recognizing Simon’s abuse of Rachel sooner. Atlee, an elderly gentleman in their community offers to sell Rachel his old printing press and gives back to her and Jacob in a whole lot of other ways as well. Then there’s Simon, who is a pretty miserable human being. Much of his animosity is rooted in jealousy and covetousness. He always felt that Jacob was the favored son, and therefore he wanted everything Jacob had, including Rachel, whom he’d lusted after for a long time. Other reasons come out later on, which speak of a religious fanaticism and an inability to take responsibility for his own choices, always blaming someone else for his own failings. Sadly Simon never does see the error of his ways, instead becoming more mentally unstable as the story progresses. The only bright spot for him is Aaron, who manages to get under his skin enough to draw a little bit of caring out of him.
Overall, Thee, I Love was a really beautiful story with an even more beautiful ending that really tugs on the heartstrings. I was kept guessing right up until the final pages just how Jacob and Rachel could possibly have an HEA, and it definitely didn’t disappoint. Jacob and Rachel's love is unbreakable, and it’s abundantly apparent that they were meant to be together if only Simon hadn’t interfered, leading to so much heartache for everyone involved. Both of them express a great deal of sorrow over the hurt they caused Simon, which I think was necessary to show what kind and truly good people they are in spite of their missteps. But at the same time, I felt like Simon brought much of it on himself by being the first to act inappropriately. In this way, the book is very much a study in the individual choices we make and how those choices can often affect those around us in both positive and negative ways. The author also does a great job of keeping the suspense high throughout, making me wonder more than once if things were going to go the way I was hoping or not. For the record, it did, but there was plenty of angst, drama, and emotion in getting there. I can’t express how much I loved this story. It’s one of those hidden gems in romance. It was my first read by Annette Blair but most certainly will not be my last. I very much look forward to trying more of her work soon. Thee, I Love was more recently republished under the new title, Jacob’s Return.
For a while, I’ve been drawn to Amish historical romance and have managed to amass quite a few on my TBR pile. However, I hadn’t yet gotten around to reading one. This might be because most are put out by Christian publishers, and while I do enjoy inspirational romances sometimes, I also find that many of them can be rather preachy, which is a turn-off for me. That’s why, when I saw that a mainstream author had published a few Amish historicals, I thought those might be a good place to start. Therefore, I chose Annette Blair’s Thee, I Love as my first Amish romance, and it ended up being an excellent choice that I loved.
However, this is where I’m going to digress for a moment to give fair warning to readers that this isn’t the typical, presumably squeaky clean, Amish romance that you’ll usually see. I personally think that made it all the more interesting, but I know others will disagree. It contains some mild language, scenes of moderate violence, and three mild to moderately descriptive love scenes that I would characterize as having sensual (though not particularly explicit) language. However, what will probably be most concerning to readers of traditional Christian Amish romance is that the hero and heroine of this story do cheat on her husband/his brother, with much of the plot dependent on this misstep. That said, though, I wasn’t at all put off by it, because there are many extenuating circumstances. For starters, her husband lied to both of them to deliberately keep them apart three years earlier and then presented himself as someone he wasn’t in order to get her to marry him. He then began abusing her from the moment their vows were said, and of course, given the time period and their religious beliefs, it was impossible for her to divorce him. Not to mention, the hero and heroine’s actions aren’t without consequences as they do have to answer for it later in the story. So now that I’ve gotten that little order of business out of the way, on to why I loved this book so much.
Jacob is a total sweetheart of a hero and I completely fell in love with him. He’d been best friends with Rachel all throughout their childhood and teen years. They fell in love, he gave her her first kiss, and it was always presumed that they would someday marry. Then his mother died, and during that difficult time, his brother, Simon, lied about Rachel being in love with and planning to marry him instead. This sent Jacob running out in the English world where he tried to make a go of it, but things just weren’t working out for him. He also had a number of brief affairs with women along the way, and when he discovered that one of those encounters had resulted in twins whose mother had died in childbirth, he immediately stepped up to the plate to take care of them. Jacob loves his newfound children to distraction and is an incredible father, but the only way he knows to raise children is the Amish way. So he humbles himself as the prodigal son returning home. He knows it’s going to be hard to go back and watch Rachel with Simon every day, but he doesn’t know just how hard until he’s there. All the love he’s always felt for her is still there in his heart, and he finds it nearly impossible to hide it, especially when he realizes that Simon is abusing Rachel. One night when the abuse becomes particularly harsh, Jacob comforts Rachel, with one thing leading to another.
Jacob is a wonderful hero. The way he looks out for Rachel, making sure that Simon won’t ever abuse her again, when others around them were turning a blind eye, is nothing short of amazing. I also love how he supports her in her efforts to publish a newspaper for their little Amish community and he’s a tender lover to her, which is something she desperately needed after all she’d been through. He’s a responsible father who takes great care of his kids. He may have a protective streak, but Jacob is definitely a sweet beta hero. He tries to take full responsibility for everything that happened between him and Rachel, and he really takes it to heart when things begin to unravel for them. In the end, he’s ready to sacrifice everything to make sure that Rachel and his kids can have the Amish life he thinks they need. Although parts of the story ripped my heart out, I loved Jacob to pieces for all of his kindness, gentleness, sacrifice, and care of those he loves.
Rachel is an equally kind and sweet heroine. When Jacob left, she thought he’d abandoned her, not knowing that Simon had driven him away with his lies. Simon courted her, eventually leading to her developing feelings for him, but they were never as strong as what she’d felt for Jacob. When Simon began verbally abusing her the very night their vows were said, she knew she’d made a horrible mistake, but there was nothing she could do about it except endure. Rachel is the school teacher in their community, a job she loves because she loves children. However, she hasn’t yet been able to conceive one of her own, which is another thing that Simon regularly berates her for. When Jacob returns and realizes what Simon is doing, it’s something of a relief to her. She also falls in love with his twins and they feel the same about her, so when he asks her to leave her teaching position to take care of them full-time, she’s more than happy to comply. On the night that she and Jacob make love for the first time, she finds it impossible to resist. All the years of pent up love for him, combined with never experiencing a man being kind and gentle toward her, are just too much emotionally. Soon after, she discovers that she’s finally carrying the child she’s longed for, but it’s a mixed blessing. I loved Rachel for being so committed to family and she proves to be a great mother in her care of Jacob’s children. She pushes the boundaries of a traditional Amish woman’s role by publishing her newspaper, which I thought was great. Despite the way her husband treats her and the fact that he destroyed any feelings she had for him on their wedding night, she does still forgive him and have concerns for his well-being. She feels the guilt of her infidelity as deeply as Jacob does, even though she can’t say that she regrets it. I felt like Rachel showed strength and fortitude, mingled with kindness and goodness that made her the perfect heroine.
There are a number of notable secondary characters who really fill out the cast of Thee, I Love. First are Jacob’s twins, Emma and Aaron, who are cute as a button and help show Jacob and Rachel's excellent parenting skills. Aaron, in particular, loves with an innocent kind of love only a child can. He genuinely cares about his Unkabear, wriggling his way into Simon’s hard heart and showing that the man isn’t entirely evil. Rachel's sister, Esther, and Jacob’s best friend, Reuben, get a secondary romance, while offering unwavering support to Rachel and Jacob. Esther is a pregnant widow, while Reuben is twice widowed, both of his wives having died in childbirth, so he’s understandably very fearful of any woman who’s expecting, especially when her time comes. Both Rachel’s and Jacob’s fathers show that they can be kind and reasonable men, even though there are some things that are outside their control, and both offer penance for not recognizing Simon’s abuse of Rachel sooner. Atlee, an elderly gentleman in their community offers to sell Rachel his old printing press and gives back to her and Jacob in a whole lot of other ways as well. Then there’s Simon, who is a pretty miserable human being. Much of his animosity is rooted in jealousy and covetousness. He always felt that Jacob was the favored son, and therefore he wanted everything Jacob had, including Rachel, whom he’d lusted after for a long time. Other reasons come out later on, which speak of a religious fanaticism and an inability to take responsibility for his own choices, always blaming someone else for his own failings. Sadly Simon never does see the error of his ways, instead becoming more mentally unstable as the story progresses. The only bright spot for him is Aaron, who manages to get under his skin enough to draw a little bit of caring out of him.
Overall, Thee, I Love was a really beautiful story with an even more beautiful ending that really tugs on the heartstrings. I was kept guessing right up until the final pages just how Jacob and Rachel could possibly have an HEA, and it definitely didn’t disappoint. Jacob and Rachel's love is unbreakable, and it’s abundantly apparent that they were meant to be together if only Simon hadn’t interfered, leading to so much heartache for everyone involved. Both of them express a great deal of sorrow over the hurt they caused Simon, which I think was necessary to show what kind and truly good people they are in spite of their missteps. But at the same time, I felt like Simon brought much of it on himself by being the first to act inappropriately. In this way, the book is very much a study in the individual choices we make and how those choices can often affect those around us in both positive and negative ways. The author also does a great job of keeping the suspense high throughout, making me wonder more than once if things were going to go the way I was hoping or not. For the record, it did, but there was plenty of angst, drama, and emotion in getting there. I can’t express how much I loved this story. It’s one of those hidden gems in romance. It was my first read by Annette Blair but most certainly will not be my last. I very much look forward to trying more of her work soon. Thee, I Love was more recently republished under the new title, Jacob’s Return.
May 30, 2011
Discription: Jacob Sauder abandons his Amish heritage when the woman he loves, Rachel Zook, agrees to marry his brother, Simon. Though he adapts to the ways of the “English” — even fathering twins — he remains an outsider. When the mother of his twins dies, Jacob knows only one way to raise his children — the Amish way. He brings them home to the community he vowed to leave forever. For his children he can do anything, even be strong when he sees Rachel, his love, married to his brother.
Years ago, Simon lied to ensure a future with Rachel Zook as his wife. Now Rachel is barren, a disappointment to him. Unaware of the lie Simon told to drive Jacob away, Rachel believes Jacob abandoned her when he left the Amish community. Shocked when he returns with two-year-old twins, Rachel knows there can be nothing between them, for marriage is a life-long commitment among the Amish. But the twins need a mother and Rachel loves children. As she cares for Jacob’s children as if they were her own, her feelings for him deepen into a love that cannot be.
Jacob’s Return is the story of a prodigal son, a forbidden love, and a fanatical preacher. As shocking as it is compelling, Jacob’s Return is both uplifting and unforgettable. A wonderful read, this is a universal story about love and faith in impossible circumstances.
This book really brought you into Amish life, and some of the harsh realities of it. I found it very interesting and a very fast one day read. It is not for everyone and could be considered X rated. If it weren't for the explicit sex, it was a wonderful story of repentance and forgiveness.
There are some harsh realities with the way Simon treats Rachel...you really come to dislike the man, and then you are able to see another side of him when he is with his nephew Aaron. He harbors deep hatred for his brother Jacob, starting as a young child. His Mother it seems unknowingly favored her twins, he has felt second best his whole life. Unfortunately he tends to be nasty and evil in some of his actions.
Rachel takes on Jacobs twins, Aaron and Emma, immediately. She longs for children of her own. She does have a lot of love in her heart for most people. She adores her father-in-law Levi, and her sister Esther.
I primarily read Christian books, and although there was praying and worship services, I would not recommend this for a Christian read, but a good Amish read.
Years ago, Simon lied to ensure a future with Rachel Zook as his wife. Now Rachel is barren, a disappointment to him. Unaware of the lie Simon told to drive Jacob away, Rachel believes Jacob abandoned her when he left the Amish community. Shocked when he returns with two-year-old twins, Rachel knows there can be nothing between them, for marriage is a life-long commitment among the Amish. But the twins need a mother and Rachel loves children. As she cares for Jacob’s children as if they were her own, her feelings for him deepen into a love that cannot be.
Jacob’s Return is the story of a prodigal son, a forbidden love, and a fanatical preacher. As shocking as it is compelling, Jacob’s Return is both uplifting and unforgettable. A wonderful read, this is a universal story about love and faith in impossible circumstances.
This book really brought you into Amish life, and some of the harsh realities of it. I found it very interesting and a very fast one day read. It is not for everyone and could be considered X rated. If it weren't for the explicit sex, it was a wonderful story of repentance and forgiveness.
There are some harsh realities with the way Simon treats Rachel...you really come to dislike the man, and then you are able to see another side of him when he is with his nephew Aaron. He harbors deep hatred for his brother Jacob, starting as a young child. His Mother it seems unknowingly favored her twins, he has felt second best his whole life. Unfortunately he tends to be nasty and evil in some of his actions.
Rachel takes on Jacobs twins, Aaron and Emma, immediately. She longs for children of her own. She does have a lot of love in her heart for most people. She adores her father-in-law Levi, and her sister Esther.
I primarily read Christian books, and although there was praying and worship services, I would not recommend this for a Christian read, but a good Amish read.
July 29, 2011
Jacob's Return is an incredibly moving and emotionally intense novel. This is an Amish love story and it is a powerful bit of storytelling. I found this book mesmerizing--could not put it down. Blair has done a superb job immersing the reader into the Amish way of life. The characters are wonderful....real, nuanced, conflicted, loving. This book does not shy away from tragedy....it's simply unavoidable here. But after an emotional roller coaster, the ending was absolute perfection. Lovely, unexpected, and romantic. I bawled like a little baby.
This is a beautiful story....I highly recommend it.
Grade: A
This is a beautiful story....I highly recommend it.
Grade: A
June 2, 2013
The cover of this book is very misleading. When you look at it, you think bodice ripper. That is so not the case. Thee I Love IS a romance, but set in the Amish society.
Jakob was banished years ago from his Amish community, but is now back because he has a set of twins that he wants to raise Amish. When he left, the woman that he loved was about to marry his brother Simon.
He and his children are welcomed back into the community, and before long, Jakob and Rachel are trying very hard to stay one away from one another. Jakob soon sees what has been happening to Rachel since he left. His brother Simon has abused her mentally and physically and it breaks his heart and angers him. He interferes, and Simon spirals onto a path of destruction.
Jakob and Rachel renew their love and know afterward that God will punish them for their sin. Simon seems to be changing back into the wonderful man he used to be, so Rachel must try to be a good wife to him. Jakob knows this is the way, so he begins looking for a wife to help him to raise his children.
Events spiral out of control into a shocking conclusion. Annette Blair does a wonderful job building her characters into people with real emotions and problems. She builds the Amish world so wonderful, you know she has done her homework. The plot is solid and kept me turning the pages quickly to see how it developed into something wonderful. High stars for this "bodice ripper" of a romance.
Jakob was banished years ago from his Amish community, but is now back because he has a set of twins that he wants to raise Amish. When he left, the woman that he loved was about to marry his brother Simon.
He and his children are welcomed back into the community, and before long, Jakob and Rachel are trying very hard to stay one away from one another. Jakob soon sees what has been happening to Rachel since he left. His brother Simon has abused her mentally and physically and it breaks his heart and angers him. He interferes, and Simon spirals onto a path of destruction.
Jakob and Rachel renew their love and know afterward that God will punish them for their sin. Simon seems to be changing back into the wonderful man he used to be, so Rachel must try to be a good wife to him. Jakob knows this is the way, so he begins looking for a wife to help him to raise his children.
Events spiral out of control into a shocking conclusion. Annette Blair does a wonderful job building her characters into people with real emotions and problems. She builds the Amish world so wonderful, you know she has done her homework. The plot is solid and kept me turning the pages quickly to see how it developed into something wonderful. High stars for this "bodice ripper" of a romance.
September 25, 2013
reading this was frustrating!
I just wanted to throttle Simon, the brother/ husband/ deacon/ abuser! from childhood he has jeolousy and guilt issues. he tricked them with lies at his mother's funeral. has made her life miserable ever since - even using his church position to embarrass and shame his wife.
I thought it was sad that BOTH fathers did not act on what they saw and knew to stop the abuse.
Even after Simon stops abusing her directly he takes it out on her printing press. everyone sees ... no one takes action. It seems like an impossible situation.
this is a good book for a group and discussion. If I was her neighbor and friend, what could I do?
I just wanted to throttle Simon, the brother/ husband/ deacon/ abuser! from childhood he has jeolousy and guilt issues. he tricked them with lies at his mother's funeral. has made her life miserable ever since - even using his church position to embarrass and shame his wife.
I thought it was sad that BOTH fathers did not act on what they saw and knew to stop the abuse.
Even after Simon stops abusing her directly he takes it out on her printing press. everyone sees ... no one takes action. It seems like an impossible situation.
this is a good book for a group and discussion. If I was her neighbor and friend, what could I do?
July 18, 2011
I really, really enjoyed this book. I loved the story line and it kept moving and kept you engrossed the whole entire time. However, because of descriptive scenes within the book, this book can not be considered christian fiction. But even so, the scenes were tastfully done, and not in any way explicit. The story focused on struggling with forgiveness of others and self. Very good book. The author is a great story teller.
February 25, 2012
Read this this morning. Could NOT put it down at all. I absolutely loved this story. The characters are so well written that you want Rachel and Jacob to get together no matter what the cost. Simon is a totally believable as the bad guy, and there is so much tension and sexual chemistry between the characters.
The story is wonderful, would suggest tissues handy. I class this book as a new favourite.
The story is wonderful, would suggest tissues handy. I class this book as a new favourite.
April 10, 2013
This is my second book by Annette Blair and my first Amish romance novel. I enjoyed this book very much. This book had an interesting storyline and I enjoyed reading about life in an Amish community. For an outsider it seems rather harsh at times - I have always been fascinated about the Amish culture and lifestyle. The characters in the book including the children were believable and the love between Jacob and Rachel was beautiful to watch grow and develop. I highly recommend this book.
July 8, 2013
I liked this book very much. It is not a christian inspirational novel as such. It is a romance novel with a few mild sex scenes and a satisfying storyline. I grew up around Amish/Mennonite people in the Northeast. What I best liked about this book is that the Amish people were portrayed as regular people, with regular emotions and flaws, as opposed to the stereotype of Amish people are repressed, religious, and mean.
It is absolutely worth a read.
It is absolutely worth a read.
June 11, 2020
Oh my goodness! This is the best book I have read in a long time. I was surprised by the naughty part(s) but the story was real. I got to have one of my favorite genres mixed in with my Amish fascination and a very moral story on forgiveness. I recommend this book to everyone.
September 20, 2011
Love, Love, Love Amish Literature!
October 4, 2011
I loved this book! I can't believe I read it SO fast. This book truly warmed my heart with it's message of family and togetherness being home.
October 11, 2011
Loved it, and loved it, then loved it some more.
October 28, 2011
Loved it!
November 14, 2022
Not one I'd recommend widely. Features adultery (which we are supposed to approve of), abuse (which we aren't supposed to approve of) and other "heavy" themes. Not what I was expecting and not what I would have chosen to read, but got sucked in.
I will say that I thought the author captures the psychological aspects of love, jealousy, sin, forgiveness and so forth, well. Despite the sin of adultery, we (the reader) understand the motivations, the struggles and we appreciate the resolution and forgiveness that later comes.
Having said that, it seems rather dangerous to play with fire and give space in our minds to see the sin of adultery as anything acceptable. It's rather tidy to have it come to the resolution that the story gives us, when normally adultery just blows people's lives up, but all the players remain standing in the mess that results.
I will say that I thought the author captures the psychological aspects of love, jealousy, sin, forgiveness and so forth, well. Despite the sin of adultery, we (the reader) understand the motivations, the struggles and we appreciate the resolution and forgiveness that later comes.
Having said that, it seems rather dangerous to play with fire and give space in our minds to see the sin of adultery as anything acceptable. It's rather tidy to have it come to the resolution that the story gives us, when normally adultery just blows people's lives up, but all the players remain standing in the mess that results.
May 23, 2017
Unforgettable
I have read all three books and they r awesome, some of the best books I have ever read, very hard to put down, the first two I read non-stop, love, love, loved them. Would and could read them again.
I have read all three books and they r awesome, some of the best books I have ever read, very hard to put down, the first two I read non-stop, love, love, loved them. Would and could read them again.
September 19, 2021
Jacob’s Return
This is the second book I have read by this author and I loved it just as much, although it had some sad parts it had so much love it was delightful and I enjoyed reading about the Amish way of life.
This is the second book I have read by this author and I loved it just as much, although it had some sad parts it had so much love it was delightful and I enjoyed reading about the Amish way of life.
February 11, 2018
An exceptional read. The author keeps you guessing what is going to happen to the very end
April 9, 2018
This is one of the best Amish love stories I’ve ever read. I was in tears at the end. You knew what had to happen, but couldn’t figure out how it would.
January 14, 2020
Absolutely loved this book. Annette has this ability to hook you into the story and you find yourself really rooting for the characters. Highly recommend it!
January 16, 2020
Absolutely loved this book! The story was interesting and I liked the character development throughout. I highly recommend it!
June 12, 2011
Okay, I just finished this book and I give it three stars. It was good don’t get me wrong and I did like it but I guess because so much went on at the start of the story I felt like it dragged. I kept sneaking looks at the percentage bar..
I really didn’t get the Amish vibe throughout the story, there wasn’t much Amish in the story and that is one of the reasons for the 3 stars. It felt more like a historical romance with a heavy religious influence (even though this is not a Christian romance)..
Regarding Simon, I think he was portrayed *too* evil and that made it unrealistic. Simon was a psycho but I kinda felt sorry for him when he was interacting with Aaron. That was kinda cute but what is the saying "a lion in sheep’s clothing?" that fit him to a "T". I would ask how nobody in the community could have seen what he was really like but it seems like they did but apparently didnt want to get involved to stop it..
And this is a little out there and nothing really significant but I thought it was rather eye-rolling how Whoa! I love children in stories and don’t get me wrong (Aaron and Emma were rather cute in the first half of the book, there were a couple of laugh out loud parts) Oh one more irk and either I missed something or the editor but at the beginning of the story the twins were two and then a little before Rachel delivers they are having their third birthdays but when are four-months old Aaron and Emma are four.. Did I miss another birthday? All in all it wasn’t a bad read but nothing fantastic.
I really didn’t get the Amish vibe throughout the story, there wasn’t much Amish in the story and that is one of the reasons for the 3 stars. It felt more like a historical romance with a heavy religious influence (even though this is not a Christian romance)..
Regarding Simon, I think he was portrayed *too* evil and that made it unrealistic. Simon was a psycho but I kinda felt sorry for him when he was interacting with Aaron. That was kinda cute but what is the saying "a lion in sheep’s clothing?" that fit him to a "T". I would ask how nobody in the community could have seen what he was really like but it seems like they did but apparently didnt want to get involved to stop it..
And this is a little out there and nothing really significant but I thought it was rather eye-rolling how Whoa! I love children in stories and don’t get me wrong (Aaron and Emma were rather cute in the first half of the book, there were a couple of laugh out loud parts) Oh one more irk and either I missed something or the editor but at the beginning of the story the twins were two and then a little before Rachel delivers they are having their third birthdays but when are four-months old Aaron and Emma are four.. Did I miss another birthday? All in all it wasn’t a bad read but nothing fantastic.
April 17, 2017
Set in 1881, an Amish community in Pennsylvania. Very well-edited, and very readable! Published as "Thee I Love" in 1999, this novel was recently reissued with this new title. Some would not consider this "Christian literature," and the author issues warnings that tell us it was not meant to be. I found this story to be very rich with characters, life events, story line. It felt very true-to-life, with flawed and complex individuals that were painted with depth and completeness. This story deals with love, tenderness, family, community support, loss, joy and sadness, grief, forgiveness, and redemption. Also, key to this story are deceit, emotional suffering, domestic violence, and mental illness. This story encompasses the positive and negative about its very human characters and this Amish community -- and every degree in between. Not just about 2 or 3 main characters, it's very much about the network of complex family and community relationships. The ending was surprising and gratifying. My favorite Amish novel. The great editing made it a pleasure to read.
August 10, 2016
E-Reader Historical Romance
There are so many extreme emotions from love, jealousy & almost hate. Jacob Sauder left his Amish home lived in the English world. He had relations with more than one woman. He decides to visit one of them & finds out she died giving birth to twins, Aaron & Emma. He decides since he's a single parent he wants them brought up Amish where he grew up. The love of his life Rachael while he left mad, had married his brother Simon. Simon has always resented Jacob. Once married to Rachael he did not treat her as a loving & kind husband at home. On their wedding night he broke her arm.
On the day Jacob returned he walked into Sunday service where his brother Simon was made a Deacon. So much more happens to the end. If you're emotional have a tissue ready. This was one of the best Amish books I have read.
There are so many extreme emotions from love, jealousy & almost hate. Jacob Sauder left his Amish home lived in the English world. He had relations with more than one woman. He decides to visit one of them & finds out she died giving birth to twins, Aaron & Emma. He decides since he's a single parent he wants them brought up Amish where he grew up. The love of his life Rachael while he left mad, had married his brother Simon. Simon has always resented Jacob. Once married to Rachael he did not treat her as a loving & kind husband at home. On their wedding night he broke her arm.
On the day Jacob returned he walked into Sunday service where his brother Simon was made a Deacon. So much more happens to the end. If you're emotional have a tissue ready. This was one of the best Amish books I have read.
November 1, 2011
I'm not an Amish book person, my mom gifted this book to me on my kindle so I felt obligated to read it. I was actually glad she did because I ended up really enjoying this rebellious Amish book. I did feel some frustration toward the Amish culture, that a woman being abused was expected to stay in her marriage because that is the Amish way. That is absolutely ridiculous to me. The resolution in the end of the story was unpredictable and I really loved it. I had to fight the tears while getting a pedicure at the end of the book. Be warned there is sexual content in this story. I know crazy, sexual content in an Amish book, but it's true.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 14, 2013
Jacob abandoned his Amish way of life and Rachel the girl he had loved forever. Then he found life with the English difficult. After discovering that he had fathered twins and the mother was dead he decided to return to his origins to raise the twins. He found Rachel married to his brother. Then discovered that his brother was physically and verbally abusing Rachel. The connection between the two is not approved of by the elders.
Eventually jacob is shunned and is leaving the community. He discovers that Rachel and her family are moving with him to a more forgiving Amish settlement.
This was quite an interesting read.
Eventually jacob is shunned and is leaving the community. He discovers that Rachel and her family are moving with him to a more forgiving Amish settlement.
This was quite an interesting read.
September 16, 2014
A beautifully written book. I truly enjoyed reading this story, especially how well the author journeys into the lives of the characters, their struggles and relationships. I've always been fascinated with the Amish lifestyle, having visited several Amish farms and markets as a child. What I enjoyed most about the story: the rich details of the community's traditions, family and relationships. They live a simple life and yet their relations with one another can be very complex, particularly when it comes to betrayal, forbidden love and forgiveness.
I will certainly be reading more from Annette Blair!
I will certainly be reading more from Annette Blair!
December 28, 2013
Much better than Butterfly Garden, her second Amish genre romance. Jacob left four years before after his mother passed. He returns with his twins in tow to find his homelife changed. His brother has married his sweetheart, and now is a deacon. His best friend has list his second wife and has let his life rundown. Jacob's return prompts situations to turn to the good and the bad. A very nice story
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