Following Your Heart 2nd Edition by Eicher, Jerry S. [Paperback]

Fields Of Home #2

by Jerry S. Eicher

Following Your Heart Eicher, Jerry S.

Genres: Amish, Amish Fiction, Romance, Christian Fiction, Adult

Paperback

First published May 1, 2012

About the author

Jerry Eicher’s bestselling Amish fiction (more than 210,000 in combined sales) includes The Adams County Trilogy, the Hannah’s Heart books, and the Little Valley Series. After a traditional Amish childhood, Jerry taught for two terms in Amish and Mennonite schools in Ohio and Illinois. Since then he’s been involved in church renewal, preaching, and teaching Bible studies. Jerry lives with his wife, Tina Eicher, and their four children in Virginia.

Reviews

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jerry S. Eicher writes wonderful Amish love stories. Subtletly included are teachings about the Amish Ordung. Although they portray as Older Order Amish, the Bishop and Deacon are more lenient than most. I'm enjoying this series and look forward to the conclusions...

[Ellen White · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story deals a lot with the unsettling of emotions. Thomas thinks that Teresa will sway Susan back to the English ways, so encourages an older man to ask for her hand in marriage. Teresa except, thinking that will be more then she deserves. The deacons are doubting if she has the making to be Amish with all the rules and learning German. James a deacon son is impressed with Teresa and mentions to his dad, that he wants her for his wife. This show the tension that does come in the Amish, and with prayer and time and God’s will. A good story.

[Donna Bagby · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 2 continues Susan’s story. She has returned home and brought Teresa and her infant baby with her. Teresa has a strong desire to join the Amish community. Although there are trials and opposition, Teresa pursues that dream. Susan and her family are great supporters.

[Malinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

MUCH better than the 1st one! A little bit of a repeat of one person's dialog and thoughts, "this is all I deserve," then suddenly accepting, with no characterdevelopment on how she got there....but otherwise really good. I read it in two days.

[Hannah H · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the book. Initially reading it presumed it would be about Susan but guess the author had other ideas. Nice to read about Teresa but hoped there was a solution to Susan's predicament as well.

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another nice Amish romance read.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

very good book very good series

[Rhonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of Following Your Heart, Book 2 in Fields of Home series

By Jerry Eicher


What an exciting book! I was so sad when Missing Your Smile ended as I was anxious to find out what was going to happen to Susan Hostetler and Teresa Long when they returned to Susan's Amish home in Indiana. I was not disappointed in the book, but was surprised and upset when Deacon Ray banned Teresa from attending the church services or interacting with the Amish community. At least, he didn't say that Anna and Menno Hostetler could not allow her to remain living in their home with her baby son, Samuel.

Good ole' Thomas comes calling to try to patch things up with Susan, but she refuses to forgive him and sends him packing yet again! He then hatches a scheme that will cause heartache and trouble for many...he will fix Teresa up with an Amish husband and decided that Yost Byler fits the bill perfectly. Well, Yost has quite a reputation among the Amish community. His home is a pig sty and he goes around in dirty clothing. So...how will this turn out? Deacon Ray loves the idea though and so does Yost! What will Teresa think? What will she do? She is willing to do anything to raise her son among the Amish. But trouble, trouble, toil and trouble.....James, Deacon Ray's son, decides that he is rather taken with Teresa as well. His father is furious and forbids them from seeing each other, but will he listen? or will he rebel against his father, the deacon?

Meanwhile, as many seek and need forgiveness, and some refuse to give it, Menno, Susan's daed, wrestles with his own past and issues. He is in need of some forgiveness and grace. I won't reveal more as you simply must read this book yourself to find out whether or not the characters "follow their hearts" or betray their own dreams. I can hardly wait now for Book 3 in the Fields of Homes series to come out! I'll be watching for the release of Where Love Grows by Jerry Eicher and I'm sure you will too once you have read these two!

What did I love about this book? we got to see some in-depth baptismal instruction and even part of the service. I love that Jerry's characters are so "real" with true emotions and are not perfect, even as Amish. Many seem to feel that the Amish are "perfect" people and Jerry proves to us that they are ordinary folks like us.
What did I not like about the book? I did not like the deacon and church ministry refusing to allow Teresa to attend the church services. The Amish are known for their forgiveness and this seemed to show the very opposite to a hurting young woman in need of forgiveness, grace, and love. I also had many questions when the book ended and I think I know what might happen and can hardly wait to see if I am correct.

About the Author:
Jerry Eicher is a bestselling Amish fiction author. He has more than 400,000 in combined sales, including The Adams County Triology, the Hannah's Heart books, and the Little Valley Series. He grew up in a traditional Amish home, taught for two terms in Amish and Mennonite schools in Ohio and Illinois. Since that time, he has been involved in church renewal, preaching, and teaching Bible studies. Jerry lives with his wife, Tina, and their four children in Virginia.
Visit Jerry's website: www.eicherjerry.com

I was fortunate to receive a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. Thank you, Jerry!

[Judy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Following Your Heart - The Story Continues!


This is a continuing story of Susan Hostetler and her Englisha friend, Teresa Long. Susan has returned home bringing Teresa her friend from the outside world and Teresa’s baby Samuel with her.

When Teresa told her boyfriend she was having his baby he wanted no part of her unless she got rid of the baby. Wanting to give her baby a chance and to get out of the situation she was living in and completely away from her boyfriend Teresa convinced Susan to let her and baby Samuel come along with her. Teresa’s hearts desire was to settle in with the Amish community and raise Samuel in the way God intended for her to raise him.

Upon returning home Thomas, Susan’s ex-boyfriend, wanted to immediately begin where they had left off. Susan hasn’t and doesn’t plan on forgiving Thomas for betraying her by kissing her best friend. Thomas is the reason Susan fled the Amish community for the outside world. They had grown up together and planned to be married some day. Thomas wants her back.

As the story continues two men become interested in Teresa. Yost Byler has been a bachelor all his life and is in need of some house cleaning and some good cooking. Those are the main interests he has in a life with Teresa. On the other hand, James the son of Deacon Ray is interested in her too, but not for the same reasons that Yost is.

There are a few twists and turns in this book; also, a hidden secret from the past. Which character in this book has a less than perfect past life that they hope to keep hidden forever? Is Teresa interested in Yost or James; perhaps neither one? Will Susan allow her heart to soften toward Thomas and forgive him? Can she forgive him?

This was a great read! I would strongly suggest if you haven’t read book one you do so before reading this book. They go hand and hand together. I wouldn’t want you to miss out on all that takes place in book one that leads into book two. You will read all about Susan’s life in the Englisha world.

Once again author Jerry S. Eicher brings God, Faith, Trust and the importance of a loving family into this mix. It was a wonderful page turning read. I loved it and I gave it a 5 star review!

I am looking forward to reading Where Love Grows the third book in this series.

I wish to thank Jerry S. Eicher and Harvest House Publishers for sending me a copy of Following Your Heart to read and review. The opinions expressed are mine alone.

[Tina Watson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jerry S. Eicher has left me wondering what is going to happen in "Where Love Grows" with Teresa Long and her fatherless son, the Englisha girl that home home with Susan Hostetler, to learn the Amish ways.

With the Deacon and ministers being strict on Teresa, she is accepting of the ministers ruling of her, but not mentioning her newborn son, the Hostetler's take him to church. Then something and or someone comes along and see that changes are made so that Teresa can better her faith. Is everyone accepting of these changes?
Even when Deacon's son fancies the Englisha girl?

Susan is faced with her own heart pulling her in directions to make decisions.
But is she too stubborn to really seek God for help and to listen to him?
Will Susan give Thomas as chance to talk to her?
Does Susan's dad, Menno, have a secret and will he tell it?

A surprise ending that no one will see coming in the book and are you left hanging? Will Susan and or Teresa follow her heart?


I cant wait for "Where Love Grows" to be sent.

**I received this book from Harvest House Publishers by request of Jerry Eicher. I am not required to give a positive review, just an honest one. This review will be posted to Barnes & Noble, Goodreads, and my personal run FB page. The opinions expressed are mine alone.**

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Title: FOLLOWING YOUR HEART
Author: Jerry S. Eicher
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers
May 2012
ISBN: 978-0736944786
Genre: Inspirational/Amish

Susan Hostetler returns to her Amish roots bringing along single mom, Teresa Long and her newborn son Samuel. Teresa has hopes of raising her son in the Amish faith. Teresa is really down on herself and seems to think she deserves the bad things in life—even a potential marriage to an elderly man. Anything, to give her son a good Amish life.

Susan’s parents are glad Susan returned and welcoming to Teresa, but not everyone is. In fact, the Deacon is very unhappy about Terese being in the community and forbids her to even attend church services.

What is a girl to do when she wants an Amish life—for her and her son? And what about Susan? Is she home for good—or will she return to the Englisha world she left the Amish for?

FOLLOWING YOUR HEART is the second book in Mr. Eicher’s Fields of Home series. I was glad to read more about Susan and her friend Teresa that we were introduced to in Missing Your Smile. Readers will want to read the books in order, as they are a continuing story and not stand-alone.

I’ve enjoyed reading this series of Mr. Eicher’s book and can’t wait for the next book in this series When Love Grows, and the continuing story of Susan. Fans of Amish fiction will enjoy this. $12.99. 271 pages.

[Carolyn E · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story, as I have all of Jerry S. Eicher's books that I have read. I am looking forward to reading the next book in this series, Where Love Grows.

I am also looking forward to reading the first book in Eicher's new series, The Beiler Sisters, entitled Holding a Tender Heart. The second book in this series, Seeing Your Face Again, is scheduled for release on June 1, 2014.

[Sandra Stiles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in the series. In this book Susan takes Teresa and her son Samuel back home with her where Susan's parents welcome her. Unfortunately not does. The Deacon has forbid her to attend the church. I think this more than anything else ticked me off. You want to bring people to God but you aren't part of our church so find God somewhere else. That is how I felt about the Deacon. I found it aggravating that Thomas would be so petty when he can't get Susan to come back to him that he would try to hook Teresa up with an older man who is willing to marry her for cleaning and cooking, not for love. I did love the fact that the Deacon's son is attracted to Teresa, even though it goes against his dad. Who and what will win out? You must read this book and find out.
I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished "Following Your Heart" by Jerry Eicher. It gets 5 stars. It is the second book in the Fields Of Home Series. Susan (Amish) and Teresa (English) return to the Amish community so that Samuel, Teresa's baby born out of wedlock can be raised Amish and then decides she wants to be Amish too but must agreed to marry Yost Byler first. But James the bishop's son has other ideals. And Thomas is still trying to win Susan back after she saw him kissing another girl after the Sunday singing!

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Series Fields of Home #2

We often get the perception from Amish fiction that they are all good people, close to perfect, with few imperfections other than strict adherence to their dogma called the Ordnung. Eicher makes his characters and their communities much more human and even has them denying their perfection.

The intrigue and behind the scenes plotting and gossip of this story is better than Desparate Housewives!

[Rena Holcomb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very enjoyable book full of twists and turns, another complex look at the simple life of the Amish community and a young Englisha woman, Teresa Long, whose greatest desire is to live among them and to raise her illegitimate son, Samuel, Amish. Her friend, Susan Hostetler is very present in this story and readers should enjoy the moves and surprises concerning both Teresa and Susan’s lives.

[Martha Valasek]

I was surprised to find out that this story was written by a man who had grown up in an Amish home. It is also unique in that a single mother with her child from our culture wants to become a member of the Amish community. The story deals with acceptance of those who have had problems in their past.

[Mary O'Brien · Rating 5 out of 5]

**I received this book from Harvest House Publishers through NetGalley. I am not required to give a positive review, just an honest one. This review will be posted to Amazon, Goodreads, and my personal blog at the appropriate time**

Look for my review to come soon!

[Kathryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was okay. I paid $2.99 for it, so that was a reasonable price... I would not pay the $8.57 for it that its currently listed at. I did not read book 1 in the series, and it probably would have helped me understand the plot in this book more if I had.

[Margaret Fraleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Last night I finished this book = #2 in the Fields of Home Series. It was just as good as the
first book and I can't wait to start the last book in this trilogy tonight. Looking forard to the
conclusion of this story line.

[Teresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it as always !

[Kaye · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5**

[Sue Klasing · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story and not the same ole same ole plot.