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Hannah's Daughters #6
Johanna's Bridegroom
Will You Marry Me?
Bold widow Johanna Yoder stuns Roland Byler when she asks him to be her husband. To Johanna, it seems very sensible that they marry. She has two children, and he has a son. Why shouldn't their families become one? But the widower has never forgotten his long-ago love for her; it was his foolish mistake that split them apart. This could be a fresh start for both of them. Until she reveals she wants a marriage of convenience only. It's up to Roland to woo the stubborn Johanna and convince her to accept him as her groom in her home and in her heart.
Bold widow Johanna Yoder stuns Roland Byler when she asks him to be her husband. To Johanna, it seems very sensible that they marry. She has two children, and he has a son. Why shouldn't their families become one? But the widower has never forgotten his long-ago love for her; it was his foolish mistake that split them apart. This could be a fresh start for both of them. Until she reveals she wants a marriage of convenience only. It's up to Roland to woo the stubborn Johanna and convince her to accept him as her groom in her home and in her heart.
224 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
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March 18, 2018
"I want to be with you, Johanna. Whatever it takes to get you to trust me again, I'll do."
I didn't like this book. Johanna is a widow with two children (5 and 3), her drunk wife-beater husband committed suicide. Roland is a widower with one son (4). His wife died from diabetes.
Roland wants to marry Johanna. He's always loved her. Johanna is on the fence.
One of the reasons this book annoyed me was all the flip-flopping Johanna does. She loves him. She doesn't love him. She loves him. She doesn't love him. She wants to marry him. She doesn't want to marry him. She wants to marry him. She doesn't want to marry him. She wants to marry him. This got SO ANNOYING. I was with her for about 2/3 of the book, then I lost patience with her. MAKE UP YOUR DAMN MIND. It wasn't fair to him, either, jerking him left and right like this.
And let's talk about the horrible patriarchy and Christianity in this book. It's DISGUSTING. Women can't vote and have no say in things. Women are servants to their husbands. Men who are widowed live in filth and eat trash because NO man can be expected to cook or clean. ONLY women can do these things. If a man's wife dies, he just lies down in his own shit and eats bologna until a woman comes along to clean his house or cook him something. If a woman is married to a drunken wifebeater, she's just got to live with it. Marriage is forever, divorce is forbidden. If he beats her and her children... well, just pray for him, I guess. It's God's will. Women have to obey their husband and he makes all the decisions for the family. If he decides to move to another state, Wife must just obey and move. Her thoughts, opinions, wishes, and desires don't matter.
Now. Tons of societies exist like this nowadays, but it bothers me that evangelical Christian writers seem to glamorize, praise, admire, and be in awe of these systems. It's really, deeply disturbing to me. It bothers me that they see this life as cheerful, simple, happy, and comforting. It sounds like A FUCKING NIGHTMARE to me, to be honest. Idealizing and longing for this kind of life repulses me. UGH.
Now, who knows about the actual Amish, obviously Miller isn't Amish.
They also have some deep shame issues in this Christianity. For instance, Johanna thinks about how she makes yummy fried fish. Then she feels shame and scolds herself because that is the sin of pride. Roland wants a wife who loves him and whom he is in love with. Then he scolds himself and feels deep shame because that isn't Christian. Loving your wife is sinful and also unnecessary. Roland also feels guilty because he doesn't beat his son to discipline him, the way the church teaches him, but he can't bring himself to strike a child. This makes him a bad father.
It's garbage like this that makes me think Johanna and Roland should run away from this society - far, far away. I'm supposed to believe - like evangelical Christians who write this and devour this believe - that this is a wholesome, God-fearing, Christian, upright, moral, ethical society. But in reality it is so scary and dark. I'm kind of dumbstruck that people don't see this. SO... Johanna was married to a drunken wifebeater. What if he hadn't killed himself? She and her children would live in fear of him for the rest of their lives. He might have killed her son. Accidentally or not. And even if people know about the abuse, she's not allowed to get a divorce. THIS is your wholesome, Christian society that you are idealizing??!!?!?! Roland being raised and taught that loving your wife and marrying for love is SINFUL?! I mean... what the fuck!?!?!!? What kind of nightmarish dystopia is this?!?!!?
Well, between my reeling from the complete nightmare that is Amish society as Miller presents it and the heroine driving me UP THE WALL by acting like an indecisive, foolish 15-year-old rather than a widow and a mother of two... I couldn't stand this book.
This is nothing against Miller's writing. She actually writes pretty well for a Love Inspired novel. And I have to give her credit that it did seem like Roland and Johanna were romantically and sexually attracted to each other - that's a plus, and sorely lacking in other Christian romance novels.
~62 references to God
But overall it was a dud.
ROMANCE CATEGORIES:
Amish Romance
Contemporary Romance
Inspirational Romance
Second Chance Romance
Non-Virgin Heroine
Widower Hero
Widow Heroine
Abuse Survivor
He's a Farrier, She's a... nothing, I guess. Super-hard-working Amish woman, but no actual job title.
I didn't like this book. Johanna is a widow with two children (5 and 3), her drunk wife-beater husband committed suicide. Roland is a widower with one son (4). His wife died from diabetes.
Roland wants to marry Johanna. He's always loved her. Johanna is on the fence.
One of the reasons this book annoyed me was all the flip-flopping Johanna does. She loves him. She doesn't love him. She loves him. She doesn't love him. She wants to marry him. She doesn't want to marry him. She wants to marry him. She doesn't want to marry him. She wants to marry him. This got SO ANNOYING. I was with her for about 2/3 of the book, then I lost patience with her. MAKE UP YOUR DAMN MIND. It wasn't fair to him, either, jerking him left and right like this.
And let's talk about the horrible patriarchy and Christianity in this book. It's DISGUSTING. Women can't vote and have no say in things. Women are servants to their husbands. Men who are widowed live in filth and eat trash because NO man can be expected to cook or clean. ONLY women can do these things. If a man's wife dies, he just lies down in his own shit and eats bologna until a woman comes along to clean his house or cook him something. If a woman is married to a drunken wifebeater, she's just got to live with it. Marriage is forever, divorce is forbidden. If he beats her and her children... well, just pray for him, I guess. It's God's will. Women have to obey their husband and he makes all the decisions for the family. If he decides to move to another state, Wife must just obey and move. Her thoughts, opinions, wishes, and desires don't matter.
Now. Tons of societies exist like this nowadays, but it bothers me that evangelical Christian writers seem to glamorize, praise, admire, and be in awe of these systems. It's really, deeply disturbing to me. It bothers me that they see this life as cheerful, simple, happy, and comforting. It sounds like A FUCKING NIGHTMARE to me, to be honest. Idealizing and longing for this kind of life repulses me. UGH.
Now, who knows about the actual Amish, obviously Miller isn't Amish.
They also have some deep shame issues in this Christianity. For instance, Johanna thinks about how she makes yummy fried fish. Then she feels shame and scolds herself because that is the sin of pride. Roland wants a wife who loves him and whom he is in love with. Then he scolds himself and feels deep shame because that isn't Christian. Loving your wife is sinful and also unnecessary. Roland also feels guilty because he doesn't beat his son to discipline him, the way the church teaches him, but he can't bring himself to strike a child. This makes him a bad father.
It's garbage like this that makes me think Johanna and Roland should run away from this society - far, far away. I'm supposed to believe - like evangelical Christians who write this and devour this believe - that this is a wholesome, God-fearing, Christian, upright, moral, ethical society. But in reality it is so scary and dark. I'm kind of dumbstruck that people don't see this. SO... Johanna was married to a drunken wifebeater. What if he hadn't killed himself? She and her children would live in fear of him for the rest of their lives. He might have killed her son. Accidentally or not. And even if people know about the abuse, she's not allowed to get a divorce. THIS is your wholesome, Christian society that you are idealizing??!!?!?! Roland being raised and taught that loving your wife and marrying for love is SINFUL?! I mean... what the fuck!?!?!!? What kind of nightmarish dystopia is this?!?!!?
Well, between my reeling from the complete nightmare that is Amish society as Miller presents it and the heroine driving me UP THE WALL by acting like an indecisive, foolish 15-year-old rather than a widow and a mother of two... I couldn't stand this book.
This is nothing against Miller's writing. She actually writes pretty well for a Love Inspired novel. And I have to give her credit that it did seem like Roland and Johanna were romantically and sexually attracted to each other - that's a plus, and sorely lacking in other Christian romance novels.
~62 references to God
But overall it was a dud.
ROMANCE CATEGORIES:
Amish Romance
Contemporary Romance
Inspirational Romance
Second Chance Romance
Non-Virgin Heroine
Widower Hero
Widow Heroine
Abuse Survivor
He's a Farrier, She's a... nothing, I guess. Super-hard-working Amish woman, but no actual job title.
June 25, 2017
This was not one of the better books in this series, mainly because I hated Johanna so much! I get that she was hurt by Roland previously, and though it was never fully explained why, I thought she at least could have given him a second chance, especially when it became evident that he had changed! I did really like how Roland had changed and how sincere he was in winning Johanna's love back! However, Johanna's stubborn, surly, and mistrustful nature really ruined this story for me. Here's hoping the next book will be better!
January 26, 2025
This was such a sweet story. I picked it because my name is Johanna, and it's rare to see it in a book. That being said, the Johanna in this story was pretty stubborn, and there were moments when I struggled to like her, haha. Yes, Roland broke her heart when they were kids, and yes, her late husband was abusive. But she held on to her anger, spite, and pride so much that she rushed into that marriage, and it ended badly. Still, God was good and blessed her with two children from it.
Roland also married after finding out Johanna had moved on, but he lost his wife as well. Now, both are single again, and Roland hopes he can finally be with Johanna, his first true love. However, Johanna, having been through so much, admits she still loves him but can't seem to allow herself to be vulnerable in a real marriage. She wants one of convenience, while Roland wants a marriage built on love. Unless they can meet in the middle, their second chance may slip away.
It’s a sweet, slow-burn story. They both admit their love for each other, but there’s a lot of back-and-forth as they try to get on the same page. Even so, it’s still a very sweet story, and by the end, you’ll definitely be rooting for them to be together.
Roland also married after finding out Johanna had moved on, but he lost his wife as well. Now, both are single again, and Roland hopes he can finally be with Johanna, his first true love. However, Johanna, having been through so much, admits she still loves him but can't seem to allow herself to be vulnerable in a real marriage. She wants one of convenience, while Roland wants a marriage built on love. Unless they can meet in the middle, their second chance may slip away.
It’s a sweet, slow-burn story. They both admit their love for each other, but there’s a lot of back-and-forth as they try to get on the same page. Even so, it’s still a very sweet story, and by the end, you’ll definitely be rooting for them to be together.
May 18, 2022
Well just finished another one of Emma Millers books on the series Hannah's Daughters. Of course she did not let me down, it was amazing. I can't say how much i LOVE this series, i only have 2 left to read and i fear i will be sad when i am done lol. This story dealt with hurts from the past, stubborness, pride and of course love. Its what kept me hooked a love that went beyond the sands of time, a forever love between two people. And a very happy ending.
June 3, 2013
I've read several of Emma Miller's Amish Series Hannah's Daughters. I have to say that though I love most of them, Johanna was the hardest of the women to like.
You got to know her more in Leah's Choice, and you know that her first marriage is not a good one. Her husband was an alcoholic and very abusive. However, like that book, this one is a slow start, even though an emergency sends Johanna back to her ex-beau.
There's so much drama involved in her past courtship with Roland, yet he is instantly likable. There were more than a few times when I wanted to shake her and say, "How can you not love this guy? He's sweet. He loves you. He needs you. Wake up and smell the shoo fly pie!"
I have to say, that when she did first propose to Roland I had a giggle. It is hard to imagine an Amish woman being that gutsy around a man.
Even when she does decide to court Roland, after the proposal debacle, she doesn't seem to want to trust him, because of something he did in the past. (A something that kept her from marrying him the first time around.) Remember, much drama to her past courtship with him.
It is a sweet story of second chances, and Johanna's children are such fun, as is Roland's son. I wish there would have been more between Johanna, J.J. and the bees.
I recommend this to anyone that loves Amish or Christian romance
You got to know her more in Leah's Choice, and you know that her first marriage is not a good one. Her husband was an alcoholic and very abusive. However, like that book, this one is a slow start, even though an emergency sends Johanna back to her ex-beau.
There's so much drama involved in her past courtship with Roland, yet he is instantly likable. There were more than a few times when I wanted to shake her and say, "How can you not love this guy? He's sweet. He loves you. He needs you. Wake up and smell the shoo fly pie!"
I have to say, that when she did first propose to Roland I had a giggle. It is hard to imagine an Amish woman being that gutsy around a man.
Even when she does decide to court Roland, after the proposal debacle, she doesn't seem to want to trust him, because of something he did in the past. (A something that kept her from marrying him the first time around.) Remember, much drama to her past courtship with him.
It is a sweet story of second chances, and Johanna's children are such fun, as is Roland's son. I wish there would have been more between Johanna, J.J. and the bees.
I recommend this to anyone that loves Amish or Christian romance
December 23, 2013
Novel received courtesy of Goodreads.com giveaway
Although I haven't read any of the other books in the "Hannah's Daughters" series, I still felt as though I knew what was going on in the story. That is a credit to good writing; when the author gives enough information to a new reader while not droning on and on for old readers.
I particularly enjoyed becoming immersed in the Amish way of life. I learned some things and had some questions answered. The characters ran the gamut from Amish to Englisher. Even though the reader knows how the story will end, the author keeps us engaged in the stories of all of the people of the community. I would enjoy reading more of this series.
Although I haven't read any of the other books in the "Hannah's Daughters" series, I still felt as though I knew what was going on in the story. That is a credit to good writing; when the author gives enough information to a new reader while not droning on and on for old readers.
I particularly enjoyed becoming immersed in the Amish way of life. I learned some things and had some questions answered. The characters ran the gamut from Amish to Englisher. Even though the reader knows how the story will end, the author keeps us engaged in the stories of all of the people of the community. I would enjoy reading more of this series.
May 8, 2013
Wow. This is one of my favorites of the series. The characters and plot are strong. This could be the best book of the series. I hope there are others at some point.
August 29, 2015
Series "Hannah's Daughters" book #6, Johanna's Bridegroom by Emma Miller
Library book when I wanted to read this author, I loved this story.
Johanna&Roland had walked out together when they were young,then one night his recklessness caused mistrust and they went separate ways.
Life went on..Both married others..Life happened.
Years later both had lost their mates and the love they had was still there and Johanna would not say so to him, but she did ask if he would marry her for the children to have a complete family- his one and her two. He said "No".
He said NO, he wanted love and would marry for nothing less.
stubborn Johanna...strongwilled..hard working..loving but not confessing to such a thing , after all they were not young anymore.
I loved these characters and you will love the story of Johanna and the tears she shed before the story ended. you must read this story.
Library book when I wanted to read this author, I loved this story.
Johanna&Roland had walked out together when they were young,then one night his recklessness caused mistrust and they went separate ways.
Life went on..Both married others..Life happened.
Years later both had lost their mates and the love they had was still there and Johanna would not say so to him, but she did ask if he would marry her for the children to have a complete family- his one and her two. He said "No".
He said NO, he wanted love and would marry for nothing less.
stubborn Johanna...strongwilled..hard working..loving but not confessing to such a thing , after all they were not young anymore.
I loved these characters and you will love the story of Johanna and the tears she shed before the story ended. you must read this story.
June 9, 2017
Johanna is a widower and a mother of 2 Roland a father and also a widow. Both would like to marry again, Johanna only 27 would love to become a mother once more. Roland seems like the perfect guy for it as he is a hard worker and he is located so
close to her family farm that she figures he would say yes as the matching would be completely logical.She asks Roland to marry her and he says no, because he will not marry for convenience again, this time it has to be love. And Johanna is a girl he has always loved and would have married when they where much younger if he hadn't did something to break her trust. So now she is the one who will not marry him for fear of loving him again. It is now up to Roland to show her that he will not hurt her and she can give him her heart once more.
I gave this 3 stars, because man Johanna is one stubborn lady
close to her family farm that she figures he would say yes as the matching would be completely logical.She asks Roland to marry her and he says no, because he will not marry for convenience again, this time it has to be love. And Johanna is a girl he has always loved and would have married when they where much younger if he hadn't did something to break her trust. So now she is the one who will not marry him for fear of loving him again. It is now up to Roland to show her that he will not hurt her and she can give him her heart once more.
I gave this 3 stars, because man Johanna is one stubborn lady
May 6, 2013
In Johanna’s Bridegroom by Emma Miller, Johanna has been widowed for two years now and knows that she must marry and find a provider and father figure for her children. It’s part of their Amish believes, but she does not want to marry again. Her marriage was violent and she does not want to subject her children to the possibility of that again.
Roland Byler is a sought after widower. He is able to provide for a family and take good care of them. But he doesn’t want just anybody to be a mother his children, he wants the love of his life whom he lost in a dumb young adult mistake. Read More...
Roland Byler is a sought after widower. He is able to provide for a family and take good care of them. But he doesn’t want just anybody to be a mother his children, he wants the love of his life whom he lost in a dumb young adult mistake. Read More...
July 17, 2023
In the series of books about Hannah's daughters, Johanna is the b!tchy one. The one who was snappish, rude, and unwelcoming to Grace. The one who we're supposed to feel sorry for, because her husband was an alcoholic and wife-beater and she STAYED THERE, putting her babies in danger. And repeatedly went BACK to him after fleeing in a bloody mess.
I hate Johanna. She's stupid, petty, 'logical' (read: heartless), unloving, unforgiving, and just straight-up nasty. More than that, it was just about at this point that the family began feeling like a popular girl clique of 'we're better than you' Amish who looked down their noses as 'plain' (read: not pretty like us) women in their community. The series started to be very 'mean girls', and I'm no longer enjoying the series.
First off, Johanna is supposed to be the spitting image of Grace. Have you seen the cover of Grace's book? She looks *NOTHING* like this chick. You... couldn't use the same model with a different pose/part in her hair/SOMETHING?!
Johanna starts the book by going to see her sister's new baby. Instead of "how sweet, what a blessing from the Lord", what do we get from Johanna? " I want a babeeeee!" GAH. Selfish, horrible woman.
She was 'wronged' by her teenage love years ago, and to spite him (cuz she's just THAT wonderful), she ran off and married someone her family warned her was unstable. Now that he's very conveniently dead, her teenage love (who's wife is also very recently and conveniently dead) is declaring that he never stopped loving her and wants her to be his wife... but *ONLY* if she's willing to have a real relationship with him.
Which is apparently a problem for Johanna, because she's 'afraid' of men, now. Except this woman is *NOT* afraid of men, she just wants to be Lord & Master of her life, because SHE. IS. JOHANNA.
I really, really hate this character.
And yet Roland is there, waiting for her to 'realize' that she's always loved him and still does. He accuses her of pride, but honestly? It's not a pride problem. This chick is just straight-up cold and nasty. I'd feel sorry for him, but he's apparently too big an idiot to realize what he's getting (basically an Aunt Martha)... so he kinda deserves what he gets.
But then, he thinks it's *AWESOME!!!!!*, cuz he got one of THE YODER GIRLZZZZ... so he's in the Amish 'in' crowd, now. His life is complete!
I'm sorry, but NOTHING about this was loving OR inspirational.
Not a keeper.
I hate Johanna. She's stupid, petty, 'logical' (read: heartless), unloving, unforgiving, and just straight-up nasty. More than that, it was just about at this point that the family began feeling like a popular girl clique of 'we're better than you' Amish who looked down their noses as 'plain' (read: not pretty like us) women in their community. The series started to be very 'mean girls', and I'm no longer enjoying the series.
First off, Johanna is supposed to be the spitting image of Grace. Have you seen the cover of Grace's book? She looks *NOTHING* like this chick. You... couldn't use the same model with a different pose/part in her hair/SOMETHING?!
Johanna starts the book by going to see her sister's new baby. Instead of "how sweet, what a blessing from the Lord", what do we get from Johanna? " I want a babeeeee!" GAH. Selfish, horrible woman.
She was 'wronged' by her teenage love years ago, and to spite him (cuz she's just THAT wonderful), she ran off and married someone her family warned her was unstable. Now that he's very conveniently dead, her teenage love (who's wife is also very recently and conveniently dead) is declaring that he never stopped loving her and wants her to be his wife... but *ONLY* if she's willing to have a real relationship with him.
Which is apparently a problem for Johanna, because she's 'afraid' of men, now. Except this woman is *NOT* afraid of men, she just wants to be Lord & Master of her life, because SHE. IS. JOHANNA.
I really, really hate this character.
And yet Roland is there, waiting for her to 'realize' that she's always loved him and still does. He accuses her of pride, but honestly? It's not a pride problem. This chick is just straight-up cold and nasty. I'd feel sorry for him, but he's apparently too big an idiot to realize what he's getting (basically an Aunt Martha)... so he kinda deserves what he gets.
But then, he thinks it's *AWESOME!!!!!*, cuz he got one of THE YODER GIRLZZZZ... so he's in the Amish 'in' crowd, now. His life is complete!
I'm sorry, but NOTHING about this was loving OR inspirational.
Not a keeper.
January 17, 2017
There is something about the Yoder daughters that keeps me coming back to the series. After a dark read, I needed a light and happy novel. Naturally, I wanted something about the Amish. I particularly gravitate towards Miller's series because the Yoder women all defy the common preconceived image of a docile, compliant, and meek Amish wife. All the Yoder women are a handful whose voices are heard. Roland has the patience of a saint to be able to wait for Johanna to reconcile herself with her insecurities. She is, however, worth the wait. This was an enjoyable read, and just the balm I was searching for. I have a feeling I will read all 8 of the books.
July 31, 2017
Emma Miller's books about the Amish are wonderful!!I highly recommend this book.
February 21, 2018
Stubbornness and prideful are two attributes that can be confusing. But neither belong in an Amish family. Find out what happens when Johanna gives in to both pride and stubbornness.
May 20, 2018
I really enjoyed this book....I love this book. I give this book 5/5 Stars.
Happy Reading :)
Happy Reading :)
June 20, 2019
Fast but a good read
I enjoyed every minute! Kept my interest! A+ A+ A+ A+ A+
Characters were good! I am done with this review!
I enjoyed every minute! Kept my interest! A+ A+ A+ A+ A+
Characters were good! I am done with this review!
July 20, 2021
A fantastic book....one everybody should read
August 8, 2024
Great book! Could not put it down!
March 4, 2017
What drivel. I quit reading it.
February 24, 2013
4 STARS
Johanna's Bridegroom was entertaining. Johanna proposed to Roland her widower neighbor next door and he said no. Not without love. Then Roland begins to court her again but she is not sure she wants to remarry. Which I find funny.
Johanna is a widow with a 5 year old boy and a 3 year old little girl. She had a bad first marriage and left her husband. Their is no divorce in their community. She keeps bees,quilts to support her family. She lives with her mother a widow herself who never remarried.
Roland hurt Johanna when they were teens and courting each other. After Johanna got married his parents arranged a wedding for him. His wife died carrying twins. He still had feelings for Johanna and hoped they could be a couple. But he wanted love no second arrangement.
I like the characters and was interested in their lives. You could tell that their were other stories with these families and I would not mind going back and reading them.
This is a clean read. It deals a lot with how the Amish believe that widows and widowers should remarry for the children and community. I would have had a hard time if I was told I should remarry for my girls sake.
The children are really cute and charming in this story. I can understand Johanna wanting a new baby and missing it when her children were getting older.
I have read a couple of Emma Miller's books and would love to read more of them in the future. Her settings wanted to make me go to the beach,eat good food and enjoy rainy day picnics.
I was given this ebook to read and in exchange to give honest review of it by Netgalley.com
04/23/2013 PUB Harlequin Imprint Harlequin Love Inspired ISBN9780373878123
Description below taken off of Netgalley
Will You Marry Me?
Bold widow Johanna Yoder stuns Roland Byler when she asks him to be her husband. To Johanna, it seems very sensible that they marry. She has two children, he has a son. Why shouldn't their families become one? But the widower has never forgotten his long-ago love for her; it was his foolish mistake that split them apart. This could be a fresh start for both of them. Until she reveals she wants a marriage of convenience only. It's up to Roland to woo the stubborn Johanna and convince her to accept him as her groom in her home and in her heart.
Hannah's Daughters: Seeking love, family and faith in Amish country.
Johanna's Bridegroom was entertaining. Johanna proposed to Roland her widower neighbor next door and he said no. Not without love. Then Roland begins to court her again but she is not sure she wants to remarry. Which I find funny.
Johanna is a widow with a 5 year old boy and a 3 year old little girl. She had a bad first marriage and left her husband. Their is no divorce in their community. She keeps bees,quilts to support her family. She lives with her mother a widow herself who never remarried.
Roland hurt Johanna when they were teens and courting each other. After Johanna got married his parents arranged a wedding for him. His wife died carrying twins. He still had feelings for Johanna and hoped they could be a couple. But he wanted love no second arrangement.
I like the characters and was interested in their lives. You could tell that their were other stories with these families and I would not mind going back and reading them.
This is a clean read. It deals a lot with how the Amish believe that widows and widowers should remarry for the children and community. I would have had a hard time if I was told I should remarry for my girls sake.
The children are really cute and charming in this story. I can understand Johanna wanting a new baby and missing it when her children were getting older.
I have read a couple of Emma Miller's books and would love to read more of them in the future. Her settings wanted to make me go to the beach,eat good food and enjoy rainy day picnics.
I was given this ebook to read and in exchange to give honest review of it by Netgalley.com
04/23/2013 PUB Harlequin Imprint Harlequin Love Inspired ISBN9780373878123
Description below taken off of Netgalley
Will You Marry Me?
Bold widow Johanna Yoder stuns Roland Byler when she asks him to be her husband. To Johanna, it seems very sensible that they marry. She has two children, he has a son. Why shouldn't their families become one? But the widower has never forgotten his long-ago love for her; it was his foolish mistake that split them apart. This could be a fresh start for both of them. Until she reveals she wants a marriage of convenience only. It's up to Roland to woo the stubborn Johanna and convince her to accept him as her groom in her home and in her heart.
Hannah's Daughters: Seeking love, family and faith in Amish country.
May 24, 2013
Johanna has been a widow long enough that she knows its time to remarry but after being in a abusive first marriage she is not sure she wants to remarry at all. The one man she can see herself with is the man who broke her heart as a teen. Instead of marrying for love she proposes to Roland as a marriage of convenience but Roland will have none of that. He still loves Johanna after all these years and his former marriage was not a marriage of love first and he will not do that again. Can he convince Johanna that love is worth it after all?
I enjoyed this book and really like this series.
What I liked: I liked both Johanna and Roland. The way the story unfolded you get little bits of information about what happened to them when they where dating as teens and it keeps you guessing. I also liked Johanna’s family. Most of them have now had their own books and so it makes it fun to see how some of the others are doing and how they interact.
What I did not like: Johanna was so upset with Roland with what happened when they where teens that I was expecting something horrible and when it finally came to light what he had done I was like that’s it?? I also thought there could have been a little more development about the fact that Johanna’s first husband was a abuser and her feeling about that and moving on. There was some talking about it but it seemed like a bigger deal to me then it was given in the book.
Over all I enjoyed this book. I really like the family and hope this is not the last book. Unfortunately I did not get to read the book before this one so I was a little lose about Grace but the author did a good job of recapping the story. This book can be read as a stand alone but your going to want to go back and get to know the other sister after you read this book! A good read if you enjoy Amish fiction.
http://abbiesreadingcorner.com/2013/0...
I enjoyed this book and really like this series.
What I liked: I liked both Johanna and Roland. The way the story unfolded you get little bits of information about what happened to them when they where dating as teens and it keeps you guessing. I also liked Johanna’s family. Most of them have now had their own books and so it makes it fun to see how some of the others are doing and how they interact.
What I did not like: Johanna was so upset with Roland with what happened when they where teens that I was expecting something horrible and when it finally came to light what he had done I was like that’s it?? I also thought there could have been a little more development about the fact that Johanna’s first husband was a abuser and her feeling about that and moving on. There was some talking about it but it seemed like a bigger deal to me then it was given in the book.
Over all I enjoyed this book. I really like the family and hope this is not the last book. Unfortunately I did not get to read the book before this one so I was a little lose about Grace but the author did a good job of recapping the story. This book can be read as a stand alone but your going to want to go back and get to know the other sister after you read this book! A good read if you enjoy Amish fiction.
http://abbiesreadingcorner.com/2013/0...
July 6, 2014
Emma Miller shows the strength and determination found in Amish women when Hannah's eldest daughter, Johanna, stays with an abusive husband until she fears for her son's life. Wilmer eventually takes his own life and Johanna moves back home with her family.
Emma Miller goes into the thoughts and feelings of someone who has been abused and the battles they face after it ends. The fear and anguish doesn't end just because the abuse has ended. Now Johanna has to live with the fear that perhaps she could have done more to help him.
It's easy to identify with Johanna, who fears the idea of loving another man, and the fact that another marriage will once again put her under another man's authority, effectively taking away her freedom.
Ms. Miller does a great job showing how Johanna struggles with the decision of whether or not to marry Roland, her childhood sweetheart.
And I love how the author always moves into the future at the end of her books to show how well everything turns out. At the end of each book in the series, Emma skips ahead and gives us an epilogue - a look at a few weeks, months, or even a year down the road. Then when the next book in the series is written, Emma returns to the end of the previous book - before the epilogue, so that you can begin again just where the previous story ended (not counting the epilogue) so we don't miss anything. I love this! Thank you, Emma!
June 14, 2013
Frustrating book for me, largely because of Johanna's inability to trust Roland after being hurt (without knowing the full story) several years previously. She was far too impulsive and when her plans backfire, she ends up hurting not only herself, but others. Roland was a favorite of mine, though. He recognized his error, moved on with his life after Johanna married Wilmer, lost his wife and unborn babies, and continued to live life responsibly with his son. Heroic, if you ask me.
Not my favorite by Ms Miller, but I am looking forward to Rebecca's story.
Not my favorite by Ms Miller, but I am looking forward to Rebecca's story.
May 19, 2014
I read this on the Kindle
This is the 6th book in the series & while it was still very good, i do have slight problem with that tit talks about Grace but having read the previous book so you know what happens it as if it running on different times as the epilog at the end of each books says 6 month 9 month or whatever period from the end of the main story
So this seems to then go back to before the end of the previous book ending so that why i not given it the full stars
All that said i still enjoyed this book & also the storyline with aunt Jezebel
This is the 6th book in the series & while it was still very good, i do have slight problem with that tit talks about Grace but having read the previous book so you know what happens it as if it running on different times as the epilog at the end of each books says 6 month 9 month or whatever period from the end of the main story
So this seems to then go back to before the end of the previous book ending so that why i not given it the full stars
All that said i still enjoyed this book & also the storyline with aunt Jezebel
June 13, 2013
Johanna has healed from losing her husband from mental illness and has a new stirring in her life while she watches her sisters having babies. She realizes her children need a stable father and she a helpmate so she asks the neighboring widow, Roland, to marry her. He says no because he doesn't want a marriage of convenience but a marriage of love. Roland and Johanna have a past, before their first marriages, that just may become their future.
214 pages
214 pages
April 7, 2013
I really enjoyed this book. It is the sixth book in Emma Miller's "Hannah's Daughters" series. I have now read all six books and loved all of them. I recommend this series to everyone who enjoys Amish stories.
October 31, 2013
The widow, Johanna, asked Roland,her childhood sweetheart, to marry her but wanted a marriage of convenience since she had two children and he had one. The children needed two parents in her eyes. Maybe nothing else.
This book showed how tolerent and patient people can be. It was a good rainy(snowy) day read.
This "love inspired: tale was a goodreads "first reads" winner number 18.
This book showed how tolerent and patient people can be. It was a good rainy(snowy) day read.
This "love inspired: tale was a goodreads "first reads" winner number 18.
June 25, 2016
I liked this book, but it was a bit complicated trying to remember SOO many ppl's names and connections. I didn't realize I was reading book #6 in the series until the end. but I could tell there was a lot of backstory and characters surrounding the plot. I was also a bit annoyed with the heroine. However, I was entertained and I did enjoy the overall storyline.
May 2, 2013
The longest, dragging on book ever! I thought it would never end! I didn't like it at all.. very poorly written! The author focused way to much on small pointless details to fill up pages and it just drug on forever.
April 27, 2013
I have enjoyed all of the book Emma Miller has written in this series. Johanna and Roland's story is about second chances. It has several twists and turns but in the end love wins out.
This book was given to me by NetGalley and Harlequin for a fair and honest opinion.
This book was given to me by NetGalley and Harlequin for a fair and honest opinion.
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