Jump to ratings and reviews
Rate this book
Rate this book
Rebecca is an Amish woman whose pained past compels her to leave everything to become a nurse---abandoning her family and community. Caleb is an Amish man who is counting down the days until hunting season. At a crossroads in his own life, the excitement of hunting game is all he looks forward to. All the while he wonders what to do with the rest of his life. Even though he likes the Amish lifestyle, what good is an Amish man without faith in God?
An unexpected meeting pushes them together, and they embark with friends on a two-week-long wilderness wagon journey. Hardship tears down the flimsy walls of protection they've placed around their hearts, and as their friendship grows they open up to each other and eventually reveal their deepest secrets. While on the outside they appear to be traditional Amish people, inside they both know they are anything but that. Will their secrets pull them together or draw them apart? And will their faith in God grow? There is a bridge to cross at the end of the journey. Will true love take them across?

280 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 1, 2014

54 people are currently reading
701 people want to read

About the author

Tricia Goyer

163 books1,675 followers
Tricia Goyer is a busy mom of ten, grandmother of two, and wife to John. Somewhere around the hustle and bustle of family life, she manages to find the time to write fictional tales delighting and entertaining readers and non-fiction titles offering encouragement and hope. A bestselling author, Tricia has published thirty-three books to date and has written more than 500 articles. She is a two time Carol Award winner, as well as a Christy and ECPA Award Nominee. In 2010, she was selected as one of the Top 20 Moms to Follow on Twitter by SheKnows.com. Tricia is also on the blogging team at MomLifeToday.com, TheBetterMom.com and other homeschooling and Christian sites.In addition to her roles as mom, wife and author, Tricia volunteers around her community and mentors teen moms. She is the founder of Hope Pregnancy Ministries in Northwestern Montana, and she currently leads a Teen MOPS Group in Little Rock, AR. Learn more about Tricia at www.triciagoyer.com.

Ratings & Reviews

What do you think?
Rate this book

Friends & Following

Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!

Community Reviews

5 stars
272 (50%)
4 stars
166 (30%)
3 stars
87 (16%)
2 stars
11 (2%)
1 star
4 (<1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews
Profile Image for Heidi Robbins (Heidi Reads...).
1,676 reviews580 followers
August 10, 2021
I always find it interesting when leaving the Amish community or going their own way in life is portrayed in a positive manner in an Amish romance. I thought the author did a good job of balancing the fine line of respecting the culture and faith while also showing how there are benefits to following individual inspiration. Rebecca is struggling with conflicted feelings through the transition, but her determination to fulfill her calling of becoming a nurse helps her stay on course. Caleb is a distraction, but they help each other in ways they don't even realize. It was nice to see Caleb's wildness and restlessness calm as he gathers the courage to face what is really bothering him. I enjoyed the depth and themes as I read, even if I didn't connect with the characters as much as I would have liked.

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.
Profile Image for Audrey.
1,774 reviews81 followers
March 2, 2019
Ever since Rebecca's sister's death she knew that God was calling her to be a nurse. However growing up in an Amish community made her dream very difficult. She had to take her online high school and first year of college training in secret. Finally she runs away from home to go to nursing school. On the way to Oregon she stops in Montana to visit a friend who left the Amish faith. While she is there she meets Caleb who is a bit of a daredevil and they hit it off. He also has secrets of his own. Can they learn to trust each other and the plan that God has for their lives?
Profile Image for Laura.
Author 39 books654 followers
August 13, 2016
Title: THE KISSING BRIDGE
Author: Tricia Goyer
Publisher: Zondervan
April 2014
ISBN: 978-0310335153
Genre: Amish

Caught between a stifling Amish community and an unnerving outside world, a devout young woman on the run is about to become the newest arrival to West Kootenai, Montana.

On the day of her sister's death, Rebecca Troyer took her first step away from the Amish.

Rebecca had always strayed a little outside the fold---a job at an Englisch bakery, long weekends with non-Amish friends---but nothing could have prepared her family for what she is about to do: Rebecca is abandoning the community to attend nursing school. She is headed to college, into “the world.”

But she has to make it across the country first.

When she stops in West Kootenai, at the home of a lapsed Amish friend from her youth, Rebecca finds a lot more in Montana than she had bargained for---namely a handsome working man named Caleb Hooley.

Caleb is at a crossroads of his own. A daredevil bachelor with high standards, he has decided he’ll never find an Amish woman who can quench his thirst for adventure. Needless to say, the pretty Amish girl who has fled her community in secret catches his attention immediately.

As hearts are opened and secrets are revealed, Rebecca and Caleb find they have much more in common than just their Amish background. But can this runaway find love with a risk-taker who has lost his faith in God? All it will take is one week in the wilderness to find out . . .

THE KISSING BRIDGE is the third book in Ms. Goyer's Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series. I hope this won't be the last book in the series, but as it as been shared, the publisher has discontinued the series due to bad sales. That is sad news for Amish fans.

I enjoyed reading THE KISSING BRIDGE and getting to know Caleb and Rebecca, though it took me awhile to learn to like them. Caleb lied to Rebecca right away, and then both Rebecca and Marianna got upset with each other for withholding secrets. It was nice to catch up with Marianna and Ben from the first book in the series.

By the end of this engaging story I was cheering Caleb and Rebecca on and wondered how they would settle the one huge obstacle in their path (there were plenty of small ones too.) Fans will want to read the first two books in the series, The Memory Jar and The Promise Box, and write to the publisher to beg for the rest in the series. A good book, recommended. 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5. $14.99. 290 pages.
Profile Image for Faith.
2,201 reviews
August 12, 2016
Rebecca left her home in Indiana years ago, without telling her parents, by train to Portland to studying nursing. She decides to stop by Montana to visit her childhood friend, Mariana.

Even though she is only there for a short while, Rebecca meets several people who help her grow in her faith and encourage her in her quest to become a nurse.


Caleb is fascinated by Rebecca's adventurous spirit , even when he doesn't know the whole story.


Will Rebecca have to choose between following her calling and love?


This is not your typical Amish story. I immediately liked Rebecca and her determination to follow where God was leading her, trusting when many things seemed unclear. One of my favorite characters was Millie, who was a rancher's wife for fifty years. Millie had many stories to share, as well as plenty of faith and encouragement. Millie also gave Caleb a talking to when he needed it.


Rebecca was my favorite though, ever since her sister died in childbirth Rebecca has wanted to learn all she can to keep that from happening again. She worked hard to earn her high school diploma, pass her EMT classes, and keep up with her online classes. She wants to help all people, Amish and English alike.


I enjoyed every moment of this book, it is well written and easy to read. There is plenty of good dialogue between Rebecca and Caleb. But this book is so much more than the relationship between Caleb and Rebecca. Faith and inspiration are well woven into the storyline, and fit effortlessly into the storyline. I loved the setting and descriptions of the majestic mountains. Kootenai sounds like a great town to visit :)


Overall, this was a fantastic read from begging to end, with characters that will capture your heart. I can't wait to read the next book in the series!





Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and testimonials in Advertising."
Profile Image for Brittany .
2,885 reviews207 followers
December 29, 2020
This was a very enjoyable story. It was interesting to see the journey that both of these main characters were on in their lives. They had a lot to learn about life and love. I also liked that they were able to learn about God's grace and forgiveness from their friends who were not Amish. The idea that going to heaven was not based on being Amish or on their works, but on receiving the forgiveness from God through Jesus was quite a lot to take in for Caleb and Rebecca.

I kept wondering how everything could possibly work out between these two, and the author creatively made it happen.

I do have to say that I tried the best I could to not refer to the cover of this book while reading, as the male cover model has dark brown hair instead of the blond hair he is described as having in the story. In fact, nothing about his description matches the man on the front of the book, except for the Amish clothing. I really like the covers to match the descriptions in the books.
Profile Image for Cindy.
Author 3 books17 followers
April 7, 2014
I enjoyed this book very much. Tricia Goyer shows us over and over how talented she is. This story was a bit different than most Amish stories. It doesn't center on the Amish faith, so much with all the rules and regulations. But the story centers on the people, and their faith in Christ. Very interesting story, and definitely a story to share with your friends and family. It was wonderful to connect with Marianna and Ben again too. I love when we get to glimpse into the lives of characters from former books. 4.5 stars from this reviewer.
This book was provided for review purposes only by Booklook, no payment was received for this review.
Profile Image for Victoria Brinius.
762 reviews36 followers
May 28, 2014
I liked this book because Rebecca and Caleb were so much alike. They were both ready to leave their Amish community because they thought that the grass was greener on the other side. What they did not count on was God having a plan fo them. God threw them together on a journey that only they could take. The more they traveled they realized that they were running away from their past only to discover their future. In order to plan for the future they must first tell each other the secrets of their pasts. This was a really good story. I am giving this book a 5/5. I was given a copy to review from BookLook Bloggers, however all opinions are my own.
467 reviews50 followers
April 26, 2014
The Kissing Bridge, By: Tricia Goyer


Rebecca was devastated on the day of her sister’s death.

She is determined to become a nurse and help others.

Rebecca flea’s her community and heads out west to go

to school. She decides to stop in West Kootenai, Montana

and visit her childhood friend. While there Rebecca meets

Caleb Hooley. Caleb has never meet anyone like Rebecca.

Someone that has the thirst for life and adventure.

An excellent book! I didn’t want to put it down!

5 stars!
Profile Image for Vikki Vaught.
Author 12 books160 followers
May 4, 2019
Lovely, emotionally charged story of a young woman’s spiritual journey to a greater faith through her belief in God’s path for her life. A path that differs from her old order Amish faith, but the right one for her and Caleb. Great narration as well. Happy reading/listening!
Profile Image for Terri.
235 reviews54 followers
November 23, 2014
Tricia is gifted author who wrote wonderful stories about Amish . I really enjoy reading what this story about this girl had set her goal in her life
Profile Image for Rachel Brand.
1,043 reviews105 followers
May 7, 2014
Rebecca Troyer watched her older sister, Claudia, slip away from her just minutes after giving birth to her only son, helpless to do anything to stop her from leaving this world. It was then that she knew that God had called her to a life other than the one expected of an Amish woman—she was to become a nurse, and educate her Amish brethren about health concerns, so that deaths like Claudia’s could be prevented. Rebecca knows that her parents won’t understand her desire to nurse, so she hides her studies from them, even keeping her farewell note deliberately vague when she finally heads off to nursing school in Oregon. Recalling how her community treated her old friend, Marianna, when she left the Amish faith, Rebecca decides to stop by and visit Marianna in her new home in Montana.

Marianna isn’t as understanding as Rebecca would have expected, especially when she hears that Rebecca hasn’t told her parents why she left her community back in Indiana, or about her plans to become a nurse. As Rebecca’s stay in Montana lengthens, she realises that Marianna has some troubles of her own to deal with, and she jumps at the chance to join a wagon train of locals who are travelling across Montana for a week. On this journey, Rebecca meets another outsider—Caleb Hooley, who is visiting Montana with the hope of gaining a winter hunting permit. Rebecca knows she shouldn’t get involved with an Amish man when she will have to leave the faith to study nursing, but she can’t help but enjoy spending time with Caleb. She knows that Caleb will be upset when she tells him the truth—but she doesn’t expect that he’s hiding his own secrets. Is there any hope of a future for two such different people?

Tricia Goyer made it on to my list of favourite Amish authors with her first book set in Big Sky, Montana, and I’ve yet to be disappointed with one of her Amish novels. I was pleasantly surprised when I discovered that The Kissing Bridge featured several character from previous books in both the Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors and the Big Sky series. Long-term fans of Tricia’s books will appreciate the chance to revisit Marianna and Ben, but new fans won’t feel too out of the loop as plenty of details are summarised.

Rebecca hopes that her old friend will understand her struggle with leaving the Amish faith to pursue her nursing degree, but Marianna isn’t as encouraging as she expected. As we see the two women interacting, it becomes clear that leaving the faith isn’t as easy as one might assume. While Marianna’s parents have been supportive of her decision and still spend time with her, but friends back in Indiana have almost completely cut ties with Marianna, believing that she’s endangered her soul. Rebecca is aware that her family may well think the same things about her, and that it might not be easy to re-enter the community and use her new nursing skills. The Kissing Bridge featured some really heart-wrenching scenes where both Marianna and Rebecca wrestled with their decisions. Not only do they have to worry about cutting ties with their friends and families in order to pursue their callings, but they need an assurance of God’s love and forgiveness that isn’t so easily found within the Amish faith. I appreciate Tricia taking the time to show just how difficult it is to leave the Amish faith. I’ve read plenty of books where families and friends—at least close ones—are supportive of those who leave the faith, even if background characters pass judgements. The Kissing Bridge showed that this isn’t always the case.

As fascinating as the details were about Marianna and Rebecca leaving the Amish faith, the romance between Rebecca and Caleb wasn’t so exciting. Their story was relatively simple, with each of them keeping secrets from the other, and somehow I never completely warmed up to Caleb or found his secret all that intriguing. It wasn’t that the romance wasn’t sweet, or that the happy ending wasn’t satisfying—it just moved a little too fast for me. Caleb and Rebecca barely knew each other before they went on the wagon trip, and the trip barely lasted a week. I didn’t entirely buy them getting so close so quickly, or Rebecca choosing to go off on a trip with some people she hardly knew. The conflict between them—Rebecca not telling Caleb she planned to leave the faith—was resolved pretty easily, meaning that I didn’t have many doubts about them making their relationship work.

I’m not sure if it’s because most of the conflicts (besides the one between Rebecca and her parents) are resolved very quickly, but something about the pacing of this novel just didn’t work for me. I think I prefer my romance novels to have a more conventional structure, whereas nearly most of The Kissing Bridge took place over the space of a week, with the remaining concluding chapters being set several months in the future. We get to see the beginning of Rebecca and Caleb’s relationship, and their happily ever after, but not much of the development in between. I’m sure their story is realistic of many couples in their situation, but it didn’t make for the most riveting read.

Although Rebecca and Caleb’s romance wasn’t quite as compelling as I would have liked, I did appreciate the lesson that Caleb was able to teach Rebecca. While Caleb is a daredevil, always keen to try something new and compete with other Amish men, Rebecca likes to have her entire life neatly ordered and under control. Her attitude is an understandable reaction to having had no control over her sister’s sudden death, but I know all too well that it’s not possible to plan your life out in that way. The unexpected always happens, as Caleb is able to show, and Rebecca slowly learns to let go of her grip on her life and let God take the reins. Even if she knows God is calling her to be a nurse, she has to accept that he might have different ideas of how and where she should pursue this dream—plans that are better than she ever expected.

I feel a little torn over how to rate this book. As always, I enjoyed stepping back into Big Sky, Montana and visiting the community that I’ve become so fond of. I appreciated the chance to revisit old characters, and the fact that not all of them were living completely happily ever after—they had experienced troubles and sad times, like real-life friends. I always appreciate the realism in Tricia Goyer’s novels, and The Kissing Bridge was no exception. But as compelling as I found Rebecca’s struggles over pursuing her nursing career, perhaps her romance with Caleb was a little too realistic, meaning that it didn’t make for the most exciting read. This is an easy, gentle read, even if the pacing is a little different from previous books in the series, and I definitely appreciated the overarching message about letting God take control. While this definitely isn’t my favourite of Tricia Goyer’s Amish novels, The Kissing Bridge contains a sweet, touching story that I’m sure will please many fans.

Review title provided by Zondervan.
Profile Image for January.
2,884 reviews126 followers
October 1, 2024
The Kissing Bridge, by Tricia Goyer
Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors #3
related - Big Sky series
288-page Paperback story ends on 283

Genre: Amish Romance, Christian Romance

Featuring: Partial Bibliography, Epigraphs, Glossary, Tragedy, Leaving Home, Nursing Student, German - Pennsylvania Dutch (Deutsch), Risk Taker, Ohio, Portland, Oregon; LaGrange County, Indiana; Lake Koocanusa, West Kootenai, Montana; Eureka, Montana; Shipshewana, Indiana; Unorthodox Ideas, Whitefish, Montana; Elkhart, Indiana; Former Amish, Musician, Pregnancies, Wonderlust, Adventure Trope, Hiking, Drama, Lyrics, Discussion Questions, Advertisements for A Christmas Gift for Rose, The Memory Jar, The Promise Box, and An Amish Garden (novella anthology)

Rating as a movie: PG for tragedy

Books and Authors mentioned: Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder - Little House #1

My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️¼👩🏼‍⚕️🏥😚🌁

My thoughts: 📖 Page 109 of 283/288 Chapter 11 - I'm thrilled the glossary has been updated. This series has mentioned Ben and Marianna, and this story features them, so I finally looked them up and discovered their story covers the entire Big Sky series published just before this series.
📖 227 Chapter 25 - This story is just breezing by. This story is tackling some hard topics.

This was pretty good but I felt like some of the emotions were left out and the ending felt incomplete. Maybe it will continue in another series.

Recommend to others: Yes. I enjoyed this series very much, it was more challenging than the average Amish Romance.

Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors
1. The Memory Jar (2012)
2. The Promise Box (2013)
3. The Kissing Bridge (2014)
3,941 reviews1,764 followers
January 24, 2024
I read some of the books from the Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series but missed out on this one. Back when it released in 2014 I had the opportunity to review an ebook copy through Net Galley but at that time I was experiencing some vision problems which made reading off a screen very difficult. I still have that problem so it's all print or audiobooks for me these days. I was able to obtain an audio copy of The Kissing Bridge through my library and was finally able to enjoy Rebecca and Caleb's story!

I love the way Tricia Goyer leads her characters through challenges and strife, forcing them to the point where they need to make life-altering decisions. And, honestly, I couldn't really see a clear path for Rebecca through this whole story. There were positives and negatives no matter what decisions she made and I had no idea how everything would end up until...well, the end! :-)

I enjoyed being back in the West Kootenai community and the special bond that has developed between Amish and Englishers. The author really captures the heart of the people and the vast beauty of the country that held my rapt attention.

Loved going on this emotional journey with these characters. A story steeped in faith with the hope of the kind of happily ever after only a loving Father can provide.
Profile Image for Cherese Akhavein.
423 reviews
January 10, 2018
Book three in the series Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors, The Kissing Bridge. By Tricia Goyer.
This is an amazing book all about bridges in a way, Rebecca Troyer is a young Amish woman on a secret mission to become a nurse and she has been working on that dream ever since she watch her sister slip from this life on the day her son, now her brother was born. Rebecca vowed to never let another feel that pain again. She was determined to become a nurse for that day.
Now years later as she stepped off the train on her way to her final destination of Portland Rebecca decided to visit a friend in Montana, she has ran away from all she has known, her parents will be so hurt when they find her note and descover she is gone and she has lied to them, but she can’t let that stop her from fulfilling her dream of decoding a nurse.
Then she meets Caleb Holley and she has an instant attraction to him but she can’t effort to open her heart to anyone every a friend, but as they spend time together they realize God has other things In mind and the Bridge he wants them on may be something totally different than what they had in mind, then again is it?
I highly recommend this book.
Profile Image for Rosemarie.
347 reviews9 followers
June 14, 2017
The third book in this series, this one also does not disappoint. Rebecca, best friend to Marianna (both introduced in Goyer's Big Sky Series), has kept a secret from her Amish community for years. She has obtained her high school diploma and wants to attend college to become a nurse. A tragedy in her family has catapulted her into a destiny not approved by the Amish ordnung. Her broken heart struggles with the decision of following God's obvious call on her life at the expense of losing all she's ever known. She runs from home to start school, resigning herself to the fact that she may never marry (what Amish man would want a college-educated wife??) and may never again be welcome in her community. However, a last-minute side trip is used by God to show her a better way.

Another excellent novel by Tricia Goyer, full of God's love, forgiveness, and healing.

I'm off to look for more of her Amish fiction!
139 reviews
August 15, 2018
Engaging

We see the struggle between straddling two worlds; the Amish and English. We also see the fight between responsibility and the desire for adventure.

I admire Rebecca for sticking with what she truly feels God has called her to, even when it could cost her everything.

My one regret with this book is it not having an epilogue. I would like to see a couple years into the future so some of my questions could be. I wish the publisher had allowed the last four books too. I'm sure they would have been filled with tales equally as engaging and inspiring.
1,288 reviews3 followers
May 19, 2017
An Amish book where the couple doesn't stay with the Amish faith - they are going to an Amish/Mennonite church and living with his parents while Rebecca becomes a nurse. Listening and following the plan that God has in store for your life - sounds easy reading it in a book but much harder to do when living life with all its challenges. God is good though and there is always a way to a happier life.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
409 reviews2 followers
March 9, 2024
Two Amish people find love in the wilds of Montana.

Enjoyed being back with this author. Caleb and Rebecca story was sweet. Rebecca wasn't looking for love when she stopped in Montana. But God had a different plan for her in that moment. Caleb walked into her life and they both needed each other to heal the wounds of the past. She fulfilled her dream of becoming a nurse with Caleb help. Looking forward to reading more by this author.
Profile Image for Lucy.
17 reviews17 followers
March 17, 2018
"We just think we are in the land of the living, and that we're going to die, but when we believe in God the opposite is true. We're in the land of the dying, and because of Jesus we're going to the land of the living. The land where there is no more pain, not more tears, and where we'll be with Christ for eternity." - The Kissing Bridge.
Profile Image for joe kraus.
178 reviews1 follower
June 1, 2022
Plans

Our plans don't usually look like God's plan for us. I like the way the characters in this book come to trust God and to realize that God's plan was so much better than what they could even imagine.
835 reviews2 followers
December 20, 2018
Have to admit I still like "happy ending" stories. This is a book about loving and discovering God thru the life of young Amish people. I think it is a good read.
Profile Image for Olatomi Afilaka.
446 reviews5 followers
June 21, 2021
Another great addition to the series that has given me a lot to think about and reflect on.
Profile Image for Jeri Stockdale.
Author 9 books32 followers
March 18, 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed this Christian romance. Likeable characters and touching backstory that motivated the characters to leave behind everyone they knew and loved.
Profile Image for Andrea Cox.
Author 4 books1,744 followers
February 15, 2017
By Andrea Renee Cox

“The day of her sister’s death had also started Rebecca on her path to leaving the Amish.”

Graduating from high school, going to college, becoming a nurse… none of these things describe an Amish girl, but because of her sister’s death, those are things Rebecca Troyer strives to do. She won’t be caught unprepared for another emergency, not when she can learn the skills that could help save lives. Abandoning her family and Amish ways, she sets off on a journey to gain a worldly education. On the way to Portland, she makes a pit stop in West Kootenai, Montana, to visit a friend.

Caleb Hooley is on a life-changing journey of his own. After watching his grandfather fade away, he wants to live the adventurous life his grandfather always dreamed of. When this Amish bachelor goes on a week-long trek into the wilderness, falling in love was the furthest thing from his mind.

When Rebecca decides to join the traveling party, will one week be long enough for both she and Caleb to discover a Love greater than the tentative one growing between them? Will they choose to remain Amish, or will they leave everything they’ve known to explore the possibilities the world has to offer them?

The Kissing Bridge by Tricia Goyer (the third installment in her Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series) is an adventure not to be missed. With humor and spunky characters, this story digs deep into who you think you are and who you want to be. While Rebecca and Caleb were figuring those things out for themselves, I found myself getting tidbits that had to do with what I was going through in my own life. I consider them little confirmations of what God was busy doing in my life while I read this novel. He often works through novels with me because reading them is one of my favorite hobbies (I can’t remember a time when I didn’t love reading).

“The harder part is relinquishing how I think things should happen and opening my heart up to what God wants.” That’s a lesson we all have to learn eventually, to let go of trying to control every situation. Sometimes we’ll be in control, but most of the times we won’t. Things happen that throw our plans out the window. We have to make clutch decisions and alter our plans, but God always knows what’s coming for us and provides options. Which door will we go through? Which opportunity will we take? Praying about what God wants for us is our way of tuning in to what God wants, letting Him lead us. It’s not always the easiest thing to do, trusting God, but it’s always the right thing to do. And His blessings abound when we trust Him. We are His children, after all. Why wouldn’t He bless us when we seek His will for our lives?

Thank you to Tricia Goyer for adding me to her reviewer list. I appreciate the complimentary book in exchange for my honest review. I thoroughly enjoyed The Kissing Bridge and highly recommend it to anyone who loves adventure. Especially the kind that happens through the pages of a book.
1,623 reviews28 followers
May 26, 2014
The Kissing Bridge (Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors) by Tricia Goyer

this is Rebecca Troyer and Caleb Hooley story.
Caught between a stifling Amish community and an unnerving outside world, a devout young woman on the run is about to become the newest arrival to West Kootenai, Montana. On the day of her sister's death, Rebecca Troyer took her first step away from the Amish. Rebecca had always strayed a little outside the fold---a job at an Englisch bakery, long weekends with non-Amish friends---but nothing could have prepared her family for what she is about to do: Rebecca is abandoning the community to attend nursing school. She is headed to college, into “the world.” But she has to make it across the country first. When she stops in West Kootenai, at the home of a lapsed Amish friend from her youth, Rebecca finds a lot more in Montana than she had bargained for---namely a handsome working man named Caleb Hooley. Caleb is at a crossroads of his own. A daredevil bachelor with high standards, he has decided he’ll never find an Amish woman who can quench his thirst for adventure. Needless to say, the pretty Amish girl who s has fled her community in secret catches his attention immediately. As hearts are opened and secrets are revealed, Rebecca and Caleb find they have much more in common than just their Amish background. But can this runaway find love with a risk-taker who has lost his faith in God? All it will take is one week in the wilderness to find out .
Rebecca is leaving her Amish community in Indiana to pursue a nursing career in Portland, Oregon. On her way to Portland she feels led to stop and visit her friend Marianna in Montana. There she meets Caleb, a young Amish man with a sense of adventure and daredevil. Both Caleb and Rebecca are keeping secrets that could jeopardize any further relationship between them.
Rebecca made a decision to become a nurse after her sister's tragic death. Why was that a hard choice for an amish woman?
Caleb was first drawn to Rebecca because ?
Do you feel that Rebecca and Caleb will be happy together?
What convinced Caleb that Rebecca was God's chosen wife for him?
This is a wonderful well written 4 stars book.
I am looking forward to reading more books by Tricia Goyer.
Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors
1. The Memory Jar (2012)
2. The Promise Box (2013)
3. The Kissing Bridge (2014)

Amish Garden
Profile Image for Lindsey (Books for Christian Girls).
2,169 reviews5,136 followers
April 5, 2016
About this book:

“Rebecca is an Amish woman whose pained past compels her to leave everything to become a nurse---abandoning her family and community. Caleb is an Amish man who is counting down the days until hunting season. At a crossroads in his own life, the excitement of hunting game is all he looks forward to. All the while he wonders what to do with the rest of his life. Even though he likes the Amish lifestyle, what good is an Amish man without faith in God? An unexpected meeting pushes them together, and they embark with friends on a two-week-long wilderness wagon journey. Hardship tears down the flimsy walls of protection they've placed around their hearts, and as their friendship grows they open up to each other and eventually reveal their deepest secrets. While on the outside they appear to be traditional Amish people, inside they both know they are anything but that. Will their secrets pull them together or draw them apart? And will their faith in God grow? There is a bridge to cross at the end of the journey. Will true love take them across?”


Series: “Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors” book #3 (I have not read book #1 or #2 in this series) (Previous series called “Big Sky”)


Spiritual Content- Jeremiah 6:16; Scriptures are quoted; Prayers & Blessings over food are said; Talks about God and His Will; Both Rebecca & Caleb become stronger in their Faith.


Negative Content- A couple of (not-detailed) blood parts.


Sexual Content- One or two not-detailed kisses.


-Rebecca Troyer
-Caleb Hooley

P.O.V. switches between them.
283 pages

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre & New Teens- Three Stars (and a half)
High School Teens and up- Four Stars
My personal Rating- Four Stars

I was happily surprise with how much I enjoyed this book!



*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher for this review.
Profile Image for Alyssa.
625 reviews71 followers
June 20, 2014
Overall, and honestly, I didn't think "The Kissing Bridge" was as good as "The Promise Box". Unlike the last book, I struggled to connect with the characters. This is purely a personal judgement, but I just couldn't come to understand them. Why did Rebecca have to run away? If Rebecca truly didn't judge Marianna, why was their friendship now full of secrets and holes? Caleb initially falls in love with Rebecca because he thinks she is daring, yet Rebecca is turned off by Caleb's wild ways...so how exactly did they fall in love again? Plus, I have never in my life experienced a moment where I felt compelled to put schooling or work ahead of love and family so I just couldn't understand where Rebecca was coming from.

Even though I couldn't connect to "The Kissing Bridge" as well as I was hoping, Goyer still does a good job of breaking the typical Christian Romance storyline molds. I may have wanted more from the ending, but I appreciate that it wasn't so cut and dry. It leaves room for imagination and, hopefully, seeing them in further books. Goyer is still a master writer and I will continue to read her books! I am rating this particular work with 3 stars. I would recommend it to readers of Amish fiction, Christian Romance, and to those who've enjoyed Goyer's previous works.

I received a copy of this book from Zondervan via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
See more of this review and others at Sunrise Avenue
Displaying 1 - 30 of 68 reviews

Can't find what you're looking for?

Get help and learn more about the design.