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Hannah's Daughters #4
Leah's Choice
With dreams of marrying an Old Order Amish man, Leah Yoder plans on raising children in the peaceful Delaware community. But when Mennonite missionary Daniel Brown arrives to share his story with their church, Leah is fascinated by him. She spends time with Daniel in a forbidden courtship to learn how she truly feels about him. Before long, Leah has a choice to make. Should she stay with her community…...or leave with the man she believes God has placed in her life's path?
364 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
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April 3, 2012I have a guilty pleasure: Amish romance.
Sometimes I just want to abandon everything and move to an Amish farm in the middle of nowhere. Then I remember that a) I’m an atheist, b) I’m a technology junkie, and…yeah. But somehow, Emma Miller convinces me, temporarily, that I want to go live on an Amish farm.
So then what happens when one of the girls on said Amish farm thinks about converting to the Mennonite faith and moving across the world to be with a Mennonite missionary?
That’s the choice that Leah Yoder has to make when she meets Daniel Brown. Their romance is sweet and believable — although I think most of the romances in this series are far to short to make the kind of lifelong commitments the girls make. Perhaps that is typical of Amish courting, though — I certainly wouldn’t know.
I liked Leah. She has a good head on her shoulders. It was also nice to see brief appearances from her sisters Ruth, Miriam, Anna, Johanna, and of course Susanna. We got to see a little bit of Rebecca, too, and I’m looking forward to seeing her story soon as the Hannah’s Daughters series continues.
Miriam’s story, Miriam’s Heart, also dealt with possible conversion issues as Miriam has to make a choice between a Mennonite and an Amish farmer. I was disappointed at the end of that book because I thought that Miriam chose the wrong man for the wrong reasons. But here, in Leah’s Choice, Leah really sat down and thought about both the man and the lifestyle change, and I think she came to the right decision.
Even though I could never be Amish, due to aforementioned atheism and love of all things tech, I do want to take one lesson away from these books, and that is to spend as much time with my family as I can.
Sometimes I just want to abandon everything and move to an Amish farm in the middle of nowhere. Then I remember that a) I’m an atheist, b) I’m a technology junkie, and…yeah. But somehow, Emma Miller convinces me, temporarily, that I want to go live on an Amish farm.
So then what happens when one of the girls on said Amish farm thinks about converting to the Mennonite faith and moving across the world to be with a Mennonite missionary?
That’s the choice that Leah Yoder has to make when she meets Daniel Brown. Their romance is sweet and believable — although I think most of the romances in this series are far to short to make the kind of lifelong commitments the girls make. Perhaps that is typical of Amish courting, though — I certainly wouldn’t know.
I liked Leah. She has a good head on her shoulders. It was also nice to see brief appearances from her sisters Ruth, Miriam, Anna, Johanna, and of course Susanna. We got to see a little bit of Rebecca, too, and I’m looking forward to seeing her story soon as the Hannah’s Daughters series continues.
Miriam’s story, Miriam’s Heart, also dealt with possible conversion issues as Miriam has to make a choice between a Mennonite and an Amish farmer. I was disappointed at the end of that book because I thought that Miriam chose the wrong man for the wrong reasons. But here, in Leah’s Choice, Leah really sat down and thought about both the man and the lifestyle change, and I think she came to the right decision.
Even though I could never be Amish, due to aforementioned atheism and love of all things tech, I do want to take one lesson away from these books, and that is to spend as much time with my family as I can.
December 30, 2020
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked this story. I didn’t have much to pick from on trying to find a story set in Delaware, so I borrowed this on archive.org.
It’s a solid and heartwarming story about a young Amish woman and a Mennonite medical missionary.
I didn’t quite care for a few jabs near the beginning that “rebellion is good” and I felt like that could have been phrased in a less antagonistic way toward parents.
It’s a solid and heartwarming story about a young Amish woman and a Mennonite medical missionary.
I didn’t quite care for a few jabs near the beginning that “rebellion is good” and I felt like that could have been phrased in a less antagonistic way toward parents.
December 6, 2015
You know how sometimes there's, say, a sweet that you've been wanting to try? You know you'll probably still prefer chocolate, and you know the sweet will just rot your teeth, and there's an outside chance that you'll enjoy it enough to want more, but really, you don't need more sweets.
Well. There you have Amish romance. I have now read one. My teeth are, I think, all in one piece...and I still prefer chocolate.
Well. There you have Amish romance. I have now read one. My teeth are, I think, all in one piece...and I still prefer chocolate.
January 2, 2022
This is the 4th book in the Hannah's Daughters Series. The life of Leah Yoder who meets a young Mennonite boy and their relationship grows, both from different religious upbringing. But God always makes a way. This book was not quite as good as the first 3 but i still enjoyed it. On to the next one in this series soon. Happy New Year Everyone!
September 19, 2016
This was more of a 2.5 star read for me, but it is worth rounding up to 3 stars. We return to Hannah Yoder and her daughters, and the focus of this book is on Leah, who is having trouble fitting in after her return from caring for her grandmother in Ohio.
While I normally can sink into an Amish novel, Leah didn't sit right with me. She was too quick to deceive her family, but also internalized much of her thoughts and struggles, even from the man she was interested in marrying! I also couldn't see much of a connection with God in this story, even though Leah claimed to pray about her feelings. As such, I felt that what little romance there was moved too quickly for my tastes.
This book felt like it was written under pressure and slapped together rather quickly, so new readers don't get much of a sense of community from this installment of the series. That being said, the subplot with Leah's sister Johanna did take an interesting turn in this book, so it is worth reading just to keep up on that situation.
While I normally can sink into an Amish novel, Leah didn't sit right with me. She was too quick to deceive her family, but also internalized much of her thoughts and struggles, even from the man she was interested in marrying! I also couldn't see much of a connection with God in this story, even though Leah claimed to pray about her feelings. As such, I felt that what little romance there was moved too quickly for my tastes.
This book felt like it was written under pressure and slapped together rather quickly, so new readers don't get much of a sense of community from this installment of the series. That being said, the subplot with Leah's sister Johanna did take an interesting turn in this book, so it is worth reading just to keep up on that situation.
June 19, 2012
4.5 Stars!
Leah is going along in her Amish life with no thoughts of ever leaving but once rainy night a Mennonite missionary starts to change all that. Daniel is a missionary in the USA waiting in his next mission field and while he is waiting he is going around to churches giving presentations. The night he gives the presentation to the group Leah is attending its pouring down rain and he walks in with a little Amish boy who's brother is missing. Daniel ends up helping in the search and is paired with Leah. These two soon realize that they care for each other but will the boundaries of their different faiths keep them from finding true love together?
This is the 2nd book of this series I have read and the fourth book in the series and I enjoyed it a lot.
What I liked: I really liked Leah and Daniel. I felt the story was believable and I was cheering for things to work out. This story also had a side story about spousal abuse and I felt that story line was well written as well. I also really liked the whole family and how some of the characters from the other books are in this one.
What I did not like: The time frame that things happened was really short only a few weeks and that is always a drawback for me.
Over all this was a great book and I really enjoyed it. I want to go back at some point and read the first two books to learn more about those sisters.
http://abbiesreadingcorner.com/2012/0...#
Leah is going along in her Amish life with no thoughts of ever leaving but once rainy night a Mennonite missionary starts to change all that. Daniel is a missionary in the USA waiting in his next mission field and while he is waiting he is going around to churches giving presentations. The night he gives the presentation to the group Leah is attending its pouring down rain and he walks in with a little Amish boy who's brother is missing. Daniel ends up helping in the search and is paired with Leah. These two soon realize that they care for each other but will the boundaries of their different faiths keep them from finding true love together?
This is the 2nd book of this series I have read and the fourth book in the series and I enjoyed it a lot.
What I liked: I really liked Leah and Daniel. I felt the story was believable and I was cheering for things to work out. This story also had a side story about spousal abuse and I felt that story line was well written as well. I also really liked the whole family and how some of the characters from the other books are in this one.
What I did not like: The time frame that things happened was really short only a few weeks and that is always a drawback for me.
Over all this was a great book and I really enjoyed it. I want to go back at some point and read the first two books to learn more about those sisters.
http://abbiesreadingcorner.com/2012/0...#
May 18, 2012
First let me acknowledge that this is number four in the series called Hannah’s Daughters. I have not read any of the other books in the series but still enjoyed this story on its own.
Leah Yoder is at a crossroads in her life. She is not ready to commit and join her local Amish sect but is not sure what she is yearning for. A Mennonite missionary comes to speak and Leah is drawn to him. Daniel Brown is between missionary trips when he stops by the Delaware community. Meeting Leah changes his life and he hopes that she is willing to change her own for him! Will they leave the community together or will Leah stay behind with her family?
The family relationships in this book are very well written. I liked that the mother is very open and accepting of each of her children. I liked the smaller stories that went on in the book and felt they really added some drama to the simple love story. I will definitely be picking up the other books in this series.
I gave this book 5/5 stars as it had adventure, romance, was well written and the story flowed well.
I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of this book I enjoyed reading. I gave an honest review based on my opinion of what I read.
Leah Yoder is at a crossroads in her life. She is not ready to commit and join her local Amish sect but is not sure what she is yearning for. A Mennonite missionary comes to speak and Leah is drawn to him. Daniel Brown is between missionary trips when he stops by the Delaware community. Meeting Leah changes his life and he hopes that she is willing to change her own for him! Will they leave the community together or will Leah stay behind with her family?
The family relationships in this book are very well written. I liked that the mother is very open and accepting of each of her children. I liked the smaller stories that went on in the book and felt they really added some drama to the simple love story. I will definitely be picking up the other books in this series.
I gave this book 5/5 stars as it had adventure, romance, was well written and the story flowed well.
I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of this book I enjoyed reading. I gave an honest review based on my opinion of what I read.
May 10, 2017
Incredibly judgemental characters all through the book. I have read the entire series but one book. The reason l have is to see where everyone winds up. Out of all eight sisters l have liked two. This series of books just seems really harsh on the choices the characters make.
May 5, 2024
Vacation Book #1
I’m giving this 2.5 stars rounded up. No surprise what Leah’s choice ended up being, and the romance was pushed too fast, but for me, the bigger meh factor was the fact that this was supposed to be an Old Order community, but it was really liberal with some of the things they were allowed to do and use, unlike any other Amish book I’ve ever read before. For Old Order, I expected it to be much more strict & not so easy-going, regardless of if Leah was on rumspringa. Also, there were too many characters just dumped on us in the first chapter & it was hard to tell them apart. I know I picked this book up randomly in the middle of the series, but these sorts of Love Inspired ones need to be interchangeable & able to be picked up & understood with no huge amount of context needed.
The side story about Johanna was really interesting (& sad) as it touched on DV & alcoholism in these communities. Which is why I’m rounding up.
July 17, 2023
I read these out of order, initially. I'd read 'Anna's Gift' over a year ago, and LOVED it. Then I'd found that I had the entire series, and decided to read it thru, this summer... and as I read, I realized that Anna's story was far and away better than any of the others.
Until this one.
Leah is my new favorite story in this series. She's open to different ideas, she's willing to see the world and the people who need to KNOW more, people who need help. She's caring and giving indiscriminately, something NONE of her sisters or community members are. She reaches out, is willing to step outside of herself and the man-made restrictions to do the will of God.
She meets Daniel, and even though he's not Amish, she knows that he has a heart for the Lord and the work of sharing Truth, and she is willing to even leave her family to do what Adonai asks of her. She. Is. Amazing. And afraid, and human... but willing to make the will of Ha'Shem more important than the will of her oppressive sect elders.
I have felt the way that she feels, in this book. I have been there, and stepped out in faith. This resonated in ways I can't even articulate. It was so beautiful - I'm not even sure Miller meant to write it as such. I half believe the Lord used Balaam to deliver a message to me via this book, so to speak.
Definitely something I'll keep and read again!
Until this one.
Leah is my new favorite story in this series. She's open to different ideas, she's willing to see the world and the people who need to KNOW more, people who need help. She's caring and giving indiscriminately, something NONE of her sisters or community members are. She reaches out, is willing to step outside of herself and the man-made restrictions to do the will of God.
She meets Daniel, and even though he's not Amish, she knows that he has a heart for the Lord and the work of sharing Truth, and she is willing to even leave her family to do what Adonai asks of her. She. Is. Amazing. And afraid, and human... but willing to make the will of Ha'Shem more important than the will of her oppressive sect elders.
I have felt the way that she feels, in this book. I have been there, and stepped out in faith. This resonated in ways I can't even articulate. It was so beautiful - I'm not even sure Miller meant to write it as such. I half believe the Lord used Balaam to deliver a message to me via this book, so to speak.
Definitely something I'll keep and read again!
April 7, 2019
Full of surprises!!
Leah's Choice was a story full of 'Wow" moments. Leah is a little different than her sisters, but like her sisters Leah has a kind heart. She has an instant attraction to Daniel Brown, a Mennonite who has traveled to where God has lead him to help people. Daniel, thinks Leah is beautiful and the one for him. There only challenge is that Leah is Amish and he is Mennonite. A few things that stand in their way to be together. Leah, worries about her family, especially her sister Joanna. Emma Miller wrote a great story with real life issues that one might not always think that it exist in the Amish community, but it does in every walk of life. Such a great book!!!
Leah's Choice was a story full of 'Wow" moments. Leah is a little different than her sisters, but like her sisters Leah has a kind heart. She has an instant attraction to Daniel Brown, a Mennonite who has traveled to where God has lead him to help people. Daniel, thinks Leah is beautiful and the one for him. There only challenge is that Leah is Amish and he is Mennonite. A few things that stand in their way to be together. Leah, worries about her family, especially her sister Joanna. Emma Miller wrote a great story with real life issues that one might not always think that it exist in the Amish community, but it does in every walk of life. Such a great book!!!
November 21, 2018
This book is part of the Hannah’s Daughters series by Emma Miller. You do not need to read the books in order.
Leah has just returned from helping her sister Rebecca take care of her Grossmammi and aunt. Now back in Delaware, Leah is that planning on settling down and marrying an Old Order Amish man. Then she meets Mennonite Daniel Brown who flips her entire life upside down.
A subplot involves Johanna (Leah’s sister) and her abusive husband Wilmer. There is a suicide in this book and I’d feel remiss if I didn’t mention that.
Overall a clean romance, just be aware of the subplot.
Leah has just returned from helping her sister Rebecca take care of her Grossmammi and aunt. Now back in Delaware, Leah is that planning on settling down and marrying an Old Order Amish man. Then she meets Mennonite Daniel Brown who flips her entire life upside down.
A subplot involves Johanna (Leah’s sister) and her abusive husband Wilmer. There is a suicide in this book and I’d feel remiss if I didn’t mention that.
Overall a clean romance, just be aware of the subplot.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 28, 2012
GENRE: AMISH ROMANCE
PUBLISHER: LOVE INSPIRED
PUBLICATION DATE: APRIL 17, 2012
RATING: 3.5 OUT OF 5 – GOOD
PROS: Interesting details about Mennonite missionaries; good continuity about the Yoder family from previous books; sweet romance
CONS: Romance moves very fast; Leah isn’t as developed as previous characters in the series
After having spent some time away from her conservative Amish community in Delaware, Leah Yoder is struggling to fit back in again. Although she’s long beyond the typical age for joining the Amish church, Leah still doesn’t feel ready to make that sort of commitment, especially with family members and neighbours watching her every move and pointing out her mistakes. She particularly struggles to heed her family’s advice when she meets kind and charismatic Mennonite missionary, Daniel Brown. The two bond while looking for a missing Amish boy, and soon their lives are fused together. Yet in spite of Daniel’s best efforts to prove to Leah’s family that his intentions are honourable, her mother and sisters are disapproving of their friendship. Leah’s mother knows firsthand the heartbreak of marrying someone from a different faith, and would never wish that sort of hurt upon her own daughter. But the more her family warns her against a relationship with Daniel, the more she feels drawn to him. Is there any hope for Leah and Daniel’s relationship, or are the restrictions of their different faiths too complicated?
Love Inspired novels can often be hit or miss for me, but Emma Miller is one author that I know will never disappoint. I’ve been following this series ever since the first book, Courting Ruth, was released in 2010, and I love that Emma makes an effort to let readers know how characters from previous books are getting on in their lives. That’s one thing that makes the Hannah’s Daughters series so enjoyable to read. By the time I got around to reading Leah’s Choice, I had a firm vision in my head of what the Yoder house looked like, as well as the surrounding area. But as much as I enjoyed visiting with these characters, I didn’t find Leah’s story quite as compelling as that of Ruth or Anna’s. Leah was only introduced in the third book in the series, so perhaps this explains why I didn’t relate to her character quite so much.
At times, Leah seemed quite immature for her age, and I wished I had been able to read about her rumspringe years in order understand how she’d become the woman she was in Leah’s Choice. But, all things considered, she and Daniel were a good match. Despite having worked as a missionary for years, Daniel was still scatter-brained and constantly forgetting to do essential things, such as putting gas in his car or leaving his passport behind before driving to the airport. I won’t deny that Leah and Daniel made a good couple, but I did wish their relationship hadn’t moved quite so fast. The first chapter of this book leapt right into the action, with Leah and Daniel heading off to look for a lost child. Their relationship seemed to move by leaps and bounds, rather than the relaxed pace that you often come across in Amish novels. I wished I had had time to get to know Leah and Daniel as separate characters before being thrown into the midst of their blossoming relationship. Their romance was incredibly sweet, and I especially loved the epilogue to Leah’s Choice, even if everything did seem to move so fast for this couple.
As I said before, one of my favourite aspects of this series is the continuity. I love catching up with Ruth, Miriam and Anna, even though they’ve moved out of the Yoder household and started families of their own. Leah’s grandmother, great-aunt and two younger sisters also featured in this novel, often spouting advice about Leah’s relationship and whether she should join the church. I was also pleased to see that an overarching storyline about another Yoder sister, Johanna, was concluded in this book. When we were introduced to Johanna in the first book in the series, it was clear that, although she was married with two children, her marriage wasn’t a happy one. Several sisters have already voiced their concerns about Johanna’s husband over the course of previous books, and the situation comes to a head in Leah’s Choice. Abuse within the Amish community isn’t a topic I’ve come across in this genre before, and I think Emma Miller dealt with it quite well. It was certainly difficult to read about Johanna’s situation, but I felt that the end of the novel offered hope for her.
Since this is a series I’ve followed since its beginnings, it’s hard to decide whether or not Leah’s Choice can be read as a standalone novel. All of the characters are introduced in such a way that a new reader won’t feel too confused if they start with the fourth book in the Hannah’s Daughters series, but I think readers will appreciate the secondary characters and overarching plotlines more if they start with Courting Ruth.
Although Leah’s Choice is definitely not my favourite novel in the Hannah’s Daughters series, it was a relaxing, easy read, and I enjoyed catching up with characters from previous books. I did wish that Leah’s character had been a little more developed and that her romance hadn’t moved so quickly, but I was pleased with the conclusion to the novel. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series, Redeeming Grace, later this year.
Review title provided by Love Inspired.
PUBLISHER: LOVE INSPIRED
PUBLICATION DATE: APRIL 17, 2012
RATING: 3.5 OUT OF 5 – GOOD
PROS: Interesting details about Mennonite missionaries; good continuity about the Yoder family from previous books; sweet romance
CONS: Romance moves very fast; Leah isn’t as developed as previous characters in the series
After having spent some time away from her conservative Amish community in Delaware, Leah Yoder is struggling to fit back in again. Although she’s long beyond the typical age for joining the Amish church, Leah still doesn’t feel ready to make that sort of commitment, especially with family members and neighbours watching her every move and pointing out her mistakes. She particularly struggles to heed her family’s advice when she meets kind and charismatic Mennonite missionary, Daniel Brown. The two bond while looking for a missing Amish boy, and soon their lives are fused together. Yet in spite of Daniel’s best efforts to prove to Leah’s family that his intentions are honourable, her mother and sisters are disapproving of their friendship. Leah’s mother knows firsthand the heartbreak of marrying someone from a different faith, and would never wish that sort of hurt upon her own daughter. But the more her family warns her against a relationship with Daniel, the more she feels drawn to him. Is there any hope for Leah and Daniel’s relationship, or are the restrictions of their different faiths too complicated?
Love Inspired novels can often be hit or miss for me, but Emma Miller is one author that I know will never disappoint. I’ve been following this series ever since the first book, Courting Ruth, was released in 2010, and I love that Emma makes an effort to let readers know how characters from previous books are getting on in their lives. That’s one thing that makes the Hannah’s Daughters series so enjoyable to read. By the time I got around to reading Leah’s Choice, I had a firm vision in my head of what the Yoder house looked like, as well as the surrounding area. But as much as I enjoyed visiting with these characters, I didn’t find Leah’s story quite as compelling as that of Ruth or Anna’s. Leah was only introduced in the third book in the series, so perhaps this explains why I didn’t relate to her character quite so much.
At times, Leah seemed quite immature for her age, and I wished I had been able to read about her rumspringe years in order understand how she’d become the woman she was in Leah’s Choice. But, all things considered, she and Daniel were a good match. Despite having worked as a missionary for years, Daniel was still scatter-brained and constantly forgetting to do essential things, such as putting gas in his car or leaving his passport behind before driving to the airport. I won’t deny that Leah and Daniel made a good couple, but I did wish their relationship hadn’t moved quite so fast. The first chapter of this book leapt right into the action, with Leah and Daniel heading off to look for a lost child. Their relationship seemed to move by leaps and bounds, rather than the relaxed pace that you often come across in Amish novels. I wished I had had time to get to know Leah and Daniel as separate characters before being thrown into the midst of their blossoming relationship. Their romance was incredibly sweet, and I especially loved the epilogue to Leah’s Choice, even if everything did seem to move so fast for this couple.
As I said before, one of my favourite aspects of this series is the continuity. I love catching up with Ruth, Miriam and Anna, even though they’ve moved out of the Yoder household and started families of their own. Leah’s grandmother, great-aunt and two younger sisters also featured in this novel, often spouting advice about Leah’s relationship and whether she should join the church. I was also pleased to see that an overarching storyline about another Yoder sister, Johanna, was concluded in this book. When we were introduced to Johanna in the first book in the series, it was clear that, although she was married with two children, her marriage wasn’t a happy one. Several sisters have already voiced their concerns about Johanna’s husband over the course of previous books, and the situation comes to a head in Leah’s Choice. Abuse within the Amish community isn’t a topic I’ve come across in this genre before, and I think Emma Miller dealt with it quite well. It was certainly difficult to read about Johanna’s situation, but I felt that the end of the novel offered hope for her.
Since this is a series I’ve followed since its beginnings, it’s hard to decide whether or not Leah’s Choice can be read as a standalone novel. All of the characters are introduced in such a way that a new reader won’t feel too confused if they start with the fourth book in the Hannah’s Daughters series, but I think readers will appreciate the secondary characters and overarching plotlines more if they start with Courting Ruth.
Although Leah’s Choice is definitely not my favourite novel in the Hannah’s Daughters series, it was a relaxing, easy read, and I enjoyed catching up with characters from previous books. I did wish that Leah’s character had been a little more developed and that her romance hadn’t moved so quickly, but I was pleased with the conclusion to the novel. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series, Redeeming Grace, later this year.
Review title provided by Love Inspired.
February 18, 2018
Okay - so I almost cried at the end of this one.
Leah, a young Amish girl, meets David, a young Mennonite missionary waiting on assignment, and differences are really brought out. Do they fall in love and not follow their heart? Do they fall in love and turn their back on God? Do they fall in love and do what is necessary to have a life together?
On to #5.
Leah, a young Amish girl, meets David, a young Mennonite missionary waiting on assignment, and differences are really brought out. Do they fall in love and not follow their heart? Do they fall in love and turn their back on God? Do they fall in love and do what is necessary to have a life together?
On to #5.
April 8, 2020
I almost never read Amish or mennonite books but i picked this one up at a book sale. It was better than most. I would love to find out if there is a sequel for Johanna.
However i cannot immagine how Anyone could read this and be tempted to join an order they are still incredibly controlling.
I would read it again and I would recommend it
However i cannot immagine how Anyone could read this and be tempted to join an order they are still incredibly controlling.
I would read it again and I would recommend it
July 30, 2017
Great series!!
April 3, 2018
I really enjoyed this book...this is so good...I dearly love this series. I will be reading Book #5 next in this Series.
I give this Book 5/5 Stars.
Happy Reading...
I give this Book 5/5 Stars.
Happy Reading...
May 25, 2020
It was hard to put down.
April 2, 2021
Very good read about the Amish people.
May 8, 2021
This is the first book in this series that has felt truly realistic. I loved Leah and Daniel. Their relationship was honest and beautiful to read.
July 3, 2023
Leah has to decide if she would stay Amish or join the man she loves. This book touch’s on depression and alcoholism.
October 30, 2023
Nice comfortable book to read. No big surprise as to what Leah decided to do
December 20, 2023
Another exceptionally great book. When love hits you, it doesn't take into consideration the expectancies in your life but if it's God's will, everything will work out.
October 12, 2012
After watching her sisters get married, Leah Yoder wondered about her future husband, the Amish man she was going to spend the rest of her life with, and raise their children while living in their Amish community close to her family. However, when she meets Daniel Brown, a Mennonite missionary, she is taken aback. She is attracted to him, finds him fascinating, and starts questioning her Amish ways.
On his part, Daniel is awestruck by Leah, this beautiful Amish girl who is strong, independent and always prepared. They spend time together and begin a forbidden courtship behind her family’s back. But when their feelings for each other get stronger, Leah faces a decision that will affect her life forever: Will she leave her family and follow her heart to be with the man she loves or will she stay with her family and forsake the love of her life?
Leah Yoder is not afraid to speak her mind; she is very outspoken, smart, a natural born leader and a free spirit (well, sort of. I don’t know how free spirit you can be in the Amish community). She is a great character, as well as Daniel. You see their instant attraction and it’s not hard to see why. She is beautiful, independent, resourceful, strong and smart; he is sweet and exciting, full of interesting stories and with a heart committed to God and His work.
It’s easy to love these characters, to be interested in their story, in the blossoming romance. However, their romance is not well developed. They go out on a non-date (Leah refuses to call “date” that which is obviously one), and is cute and you know they loved it, they loved being with each other, but the next thing you know, a few days have gone by, they have been seeing each other, but the reader is not privy to what happened during those dates. It sometimes felt as if we were being told parts of a story instead of the whole story. It felt somewhat segmented. And the romance is not the only thing affected by this: each time a problem appeared, it was solved rather quickly, and uneventfully. It’s like this happened, and this is how it was solved. This way of telling a story is disappointing to me because there was no tension. The author creates some sort of anticipation with a few problems here and there, but then, as quickly as the problems appeared they went away; so as soon as some tension began to built, it was pulled back, and that made the story rather flat.
I did like the fact that the author showed different sides of the Amish, including some domestic violence, and alcoholism. Also, I loved to read about the differences between Mennonites and Amish, and the differences from one Amish community to the next.
The story is sweet, the characters are very likable, cute; they are what made the story interesting and worth reading for me. Leah’s choice will not come as a surprise, but, although expected, it is a nice, and satisfying ending.
3 out of 5 stars
*I received a copy of this book from Harlequin-Love Inspired through NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.
On his part, Daniel is awestruck by Leah, this beautiful Amish girl who is strong, independent and always prepared. They spend time together and begin a forbidden courtship behind her family’s back. But when their feelings for each other get stronger, Leah faces a decision that will affect her life forever: Will she leave her family and follow her heart to be with the man she loves or will she stay with her family and forsake the love of her life?
Leah Yoder is not afraid to speak her mind; she is very outspoken, smart, a natural born leader and a free spirit (well, sort of. I don’t know how free spirit you can be in the Amish community). She is a great character, as well as Daniel. You see their instant attraction and it’s not hard to see why. She is beautiful, independent, resourceful, strong and smart; he is sweet and exciting, full of interesting stories and with a heart committed to God and His work.
It’s easy to love these characters, to be interested in their story, in the blossoming romance. However, their romance is not well developed. They go out on a non-date (Leah refuses to call “date” that which is obviously one), and is cute and you know they loved it, they loved being with each other, but the next thing you know, a few days have gone by, they have been seeing each other, but the reader is not privy to what happened during those dates. It sometimes felt as if we were being told parts of a story instead of the whole story. It felt somewhat segmented. And the romance is not the only thing affected by this: each time a problem appeared, it was solved rather quickly, and uneventfully. It’s like this happened, and this is how it was solved. This way of telling a story is disappointing to me because there was no tension. The author creates some sort of anticipation with a few problems here and there, but then, as quickly as the problems appeared they went away; so as soon as some tension began to built, it was pulled back, and that made the story rather flat.
I did like the fact that the author showed different sides of the Amish, including some domestic violence, and alcoholism. Also, I loved to read about the differences between Mennonites and Amish, and the differences from one Amish community to the next.
The story is sweet, the characters are very likable, cute; they are what made the story interesting and worth reading for me. Leah’s choice will not come as a surprise, but, although expected, it is a nice, and satisfying ending.
3 out of 5 stars
*I received a copy of this book from Harlequin-Love Inspired through NetGalley in exchange of an honest review.
July 6, 2012
I must admit that I have a guilty pleasure for reading novels about the Amish, one that started when I discovered my first Beverly Lewis series. So when I saw that LEAH'S CHOICE by Emma Miller was available to read at Netgalley, I jumped at the chance to take another peek into the world of the Amish.
Now, I didn't realize at the time that this was a part of a series, but luckily for me it works perfectly fine as a stand-alone novel. And, I can't deny that the pink cursive "Love Inspired" font at the top made me a bit nervous. I tend to run screaming from romance novels, afraid that they'll be too gushy or too sexual or too unrealistic for my tastes.
I was pleasantly surprised all around with this little gem!
Our main character here is Leah, a devout young Amish woman who has never quite questioned her stance upon the plain people. That is, of course, until she meets Daniel, an enthusiastic Mennonite missionary who shakes her world, challenges her believes, and forces her to make very difficult decisions about her life.
In this story, we learn that the Amish tend to see themselves as a people set apart, believing that the truest expression of God's Word is to live a completely separate life free from the taint and trouble of the outside world. On the other hand, the Mennonite believe that they are called to share the Gospel, maintaining that the purest expression of the Faith is a life that reaches out to help the needy and the unbelieving beyond themselves. As an Amish woman, Leah knows that a decision to marry Daniel would be a decision to leave her family and her faith forever. As a Mennonite missionary, though, Daniel feels that he could never fit the mold of a plain man, content to isolate himself from the traveling life of ministry that has been his calling.
While I was a bit put off by the insta-love, which is only slightly more appealing in Christian fiction than in the young adult novels that seem to abuse it so frequently, I was surprised to find a delicate level of depth and warmth behind the story. The characters were likeable, their decisions were relatable, and the overall message was inspirational without being overly saccharine to the common reader.
For any fans of Amish fiction, romance, or Christian literature, definitely give LEAH's CHOICE a fair chance. I'm interested to find the other books in the series to get a bit deeper look at the other sisters mentioned in this novel.
Now, I didn't realize at the time that this was a part of a series, but luckily for me it works perfectly fine as a stand-alone novel. And, I can't deny that the pink cursive "Love Inspired" font at the top made me a bit nervous. I tend to run screaming from romance novels, afraid that they'll be too gushy or too sexual or too unrealistic for my tastes.
I was pleasantly surprised all around with this little gem!
Our main character here is Leah, a devout young Amish woman who has never quite questioned her stance upon the plain people. That is, of course, until she meets Daniel, an enthusiastic Mennonite missionary who shakes her world, challenges her believes, and forces her to make very difficult decisions about her life.
In this story, we learn that the Amish tend to see themselves as a people set apart, believing that the truest expression of God's Word is to live a completely separate life free from the taint and trouble of the outside world. On the other hand, the Mennonite believe that they are called to share the Gospel, maintaining that the purest expression of the Faith is a life that reaches out to help the needy and the unbelieving beyond themselves. As an Amish woman, Leah knows that a decision to marry Daniel would be a decision to leave her family and her faith forever. As a Mennonite missionary, though, Daniel feels that he could never fit the mold of a plain man, content to isolate himself from the traveling life of ministry that has been his calling.
While I was a bit put off by the insta-love, which is only slightly more appealing in Christian fiction than in the young adult novels that seem to abuse it so frequently, I was surprised to find a delicate level of depth and warmth behind the story. The characters were likeable, their decisions were relatable, and the overall message was inspirational without being overly saccharine to the common reader.
For any fans of Amish fiction, romance, or Christian literature, definitely give LEAH's CHOICE a fair chance. I'm interested to find the other books in the series to get a bit deeper look at the other sisters mentioned in this novel.
May 21, 2012
This is a condensed version of my review. The extended version can be found here.
Disclaimers: I received an e-galley of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.
My Overall Thoughts/Impressions: First off, this is the first book I've read by Emma Miller and I can assure you it won't be the last. This book was definitely one of my favorite Amish fiction novels of the year.
This was in large part due to how much I adored the character Leah and Daniel. I also just loved the mix of Mennonite and Amish themes into this novel. I've read a lot of books about these two groups and I loved that they were mixed together in this novel.
Leah was an intriguing character that I loved reading about. She was such a good person. She was nice, charitable, dutiful, respectful, and daring. She seemed to always be helping somebody else out and yet she was a realistic character that I could relate to. She had her doubts, but she kept pushing forward.
Daniel was another character I really enjoyed reading about. He was so patient with Leah as she tried to figure out the ramifications of their relationship. He also had a peace and serenity. He was confident in his calling in life and his relationship with God. He was just a really good guy that I was rooting for from the very beginning.
The Amish/Mennonite themes were nicely balanced with other themes. Miller did a good job of tying in issues of faith into a cute and inspiring love story that I absolutely adored. Once again the writing appeared to be fairly simple on the surface, but it was actually quite brilliant. Her writing drew me into the story from the very beginning.
In Summary: Easily one of my favorite Amish fiction novels of the year. Emma Miller's writing drew me in from the very beginning. She weaved characters that I loved into an inspiring and entertaining read that I would definitely read again.
Disclaimers: I received an e-galley of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.
My Overall Thoughts/Impressions: First off, this is the first book I've read by Emma Miller and I can assure you it won't be the last. This book was definitely one of my favorite Amish fiction novels of the year.
This was in large part due to how much I adored the character Leah and Daniel. I also just loved the mix of Mennonite and Amish themes into this novel. I've read a lot of books about these two groups and I loved that they were mixed together in this novel.
Leah was an intriguing character that I loved reading about. She was such a good person. She was nice, charitable, dutiful, respectful, and daring. She seemed to always be helping somebody else out and yet she was a realistic character that I could relate to. She had her doubts, but she kept pushing forward.
Daniel was another character I really enjoyed reading about. He was so patient with Leah as she tried to figure out the ramifications of their relationship. He also had a peace and serenity. He was confident in his calling in life and his relationship with God. He was just a really good guy that I was rooting for from the very beginning.
The Amish/Mennonite themes were nicely balanced with other themes. Miller did a good job of tying in issues of faith into a cute and inspiring love story that I absolutely adored. Once again the writing appeared to be fairly simple on the surface, but it was actually quite brilliant. Her writing drew me into the story from the very beginning.
In Summary: Easily one of my favorite Amish fiction novels of the year. Emma Miller's writing drew me in from the very beginning. She weaved characters that I loved into an inspiring and entertaining read that I would definitely read again.
May 14, 2012
Review: Leah's Choice by Emma Miller
4 STARS
Leah's Choice is a good, uplifting, fast read.
Leah is Amish and her family has lived the plain and simple way. No phones, cars ect. Leah has not been baptised in her church even though her little sister at 16 did.
The Menonites invited some of the Amish youth to hear a Daniel speak about his missionary experience and show powerpoint of the different folks and
places he served. Before he could start a call for help went out a six year old boy was lost out in a stormy night.
Leah was put in a group of three others Menonites who were not familar with
the aera. Two of her party had to turn back because of injury. Leah was so close to another farm which the family was away for a few months. They found the missing 6 year old with a baby goat and mother goat in distress because the other twin goat could not delivered. Daniel was a nurse so he figured what was wrong and the other kid was born. It was when they had taken the boy home did Leah find out he was the quest speaker that she had really wanted to meet.
Daniel kept asking Leah to help with different service projects and she liked helping outsiders. In her church they did service for thier members all the time but not others.
Daniel knew that he wanted to marry Leah right away. He was also waiting
for his next missionary assignment.
Leah knew if she chose to marry Daniel she would have to leave the Amish church and some would shun her.
Leah's mother had to make that same choice but in reverse she left the Menonites for her new husband and joined the Amish church. Her family shuned her. They sent her letters back and has not seen or heard from them since.
This story is good but makes me realize that I need to do more service to others. I liked this story and would like to read more about their family.
I was given this ebook to read in exchange of honest review by Netgalley.
04/17/2012 PUB Love Inspired
4 STARS
Leah's Choice is a good, uplifting, fast read.
Leah is Amish and her family has lived the plain and simple way. No phones, cars ect. Leah has not been baptised in her church even though her little sister at 16 did.
The Menonites invited some of the Amish youth to hear a Daniel speak about his missionary experience and show powerpoint of the different folks and
places he served. Before he could start a call for help went out a six year old boy was lost out in a stormy night.
Leah was put in a group of three others Menonites who were not familar with
the aera. Two of her party had to turn back because of injury. Leah was so close to another farm which the family was away for a few months. They found the missing 6 year old with a baby goat and mother goat in distress because the other twin goat could not delivered. Daniel was a nurse so he figured what was wrong and the other kid was born. It was when they had taken the boy home did Leah find out he was the quest speaker that she had really wanted to meet.
Daniel kept asking Leah to help with different service projects and she liked helping outsiders. In her church they did service for thier members all the time but not others.
Daniel knew that he wanted to marry Leah right away. He was also waiting
for his next missionary assignment.
Leah knew if she chose to marry Daniel she would have to leave the Amish church and some would shun her.
Leah's mother had to make that same choice but in reverse she left the Menonites for her new husband and joined the Amish church. Her family shuned her. They sent her letters back and has not seen or heard from them since.
This story is good but makes me realize that I need to do more service to others. I liked this story and would like to read more about their family.
I was given this ebook to read in exchange of honest review by Netgalley.
04/17/2012 PUB Love Inspired
July 17, 2012
Leah’s Choice
Emma Miller
Book Summary: Falling for an Englisher. With dreams of marrying an Old Order Amish man, Leah Yoder plans on raising children in the peaceful Delaware community. But when Mennonite missionary Daniel Brown arrives to share his story with their church, Leah is fascinated by him. She spends time with Daniel in a forbidden courtship to learn how she truly feels about him. Before long, Leah has a choice to make. Should she stay with her community...or leave with the man she believes God has placed in her life’s path? Hannah’s Daughters: Seeking love, family and faith in Amish country.
Review: I enjoyed the theme explored in the plot and the subplot. It was an interesting subplot for me more at times than the plot. I guessed the outcome of the subplot and was torn between belief and disbelief in its credibility. I believed the author made a credible attempt to tie all the loose ends together and the grief of the people surrounding it was believable. The main plot had a great struggle that occurred realistically throughout the book. The main point I found most challenging to accept was that Leah had a choice. I understand she is to willingly join the Amish Church, but the pressure that was placed on her must have been tremendous and that was the only soft part of the story. The tension between the two groups was a significant part of the plot and was well done. Overall I did enjoy this book and the series was enjoyable.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Harlequin Love Inspired for allowing me to read and review this book in return for a free copy and I was never asked to write a favorable review by anyone.
Emma Miller
Book Summary: Falling for an Englisher. With dreams of marrying an Old Order Amish man, Leah Yoder plans on raising children in the peaceful Delaware community. But when Mennonite missionary Daniel Brown arrives to share his story with their church, Leah is fascinated by him. She spends time with Daniel in a forbidden courtship to learn how she truly feels about him. Before long, Leah has a choice to make. Should she stay with her community...or leave with the man she believes God has placed in her life’s path? Hannah’s Daughters: Seeking love, family and faith in Amish country.
Review: I enjoyed the theme explored in the plot and the subplot. It was an interesting subplot for me more at times than the plot. I guessed the outcome of the subplot and was torn between belief and disbelief in its credibility. I believed the author made a credible attempt to tie all the loose ends together and the grief of the people surrounding it was believable. The main plot had a great struggle that occurred realistically throughout the book. The main point I found most challenging to accept was that Leah had a choice. I understand she is to willingly join the Amish Church, but the pressure that was placed on her must have been tremendous and that was the only soft part of the story. The tension between the two groups was a significant part of the plot and was well done. Overall I did enjoy this book and the series was enjoyable.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Harlequin Love Inspired for allowing me to read and review this book in return for a free copy and I was never asked to write a favorable review by anyone.
June 3, 2013
This is one of the books in Miller's series Hannah's Daughters. It is a little slow moving in comparison to the others. I kept wishing Leah would make her choice or at least admit to her feelings about the young Mennonite (Daniel).
I actually enjoyed the side story of Johanna and Wilber over Leah and Daniel. There was more intrigue there, and the outcome at the end of the book between these characters. Their story had more substance, domestic abuse and depression. In the case of Leah and Daniel it was really just making a choice about what religion to follow. It was easy to see from the beginning, before Daniel even enters the picture, that Leah is hardly likely to join the Amish church. She's twenty one and hadn't been baptized. That's pretty unusual for an Amish woman. Miller didn't even give her another choice. Daniel was the only man that showed her any interest. So in that respect, the outcome was pretty obvious. This is a romance novel, after all.
What I did like about the story was how accepting the family were toward her decision. That's not to say they were happy about it, but they also didn't cut Leah from their lives. I also liked the family ties between the sisters. There was definitely a lot of love here. The scenario was also a different one. It was hard to believe a tale of Amish fiction was going to end with the girl not becoming a member of the community.
Even though this was a slower read for a short book, it veered off the usual path, so it was worth the effort.
I actually enjoyed the side story of Johanna and Wilber over Leah and Daniel. There was more intrigue there, and the outcome at the end of the book between these characters. Their story had more substance, domestic abuse and depression. In the case of Leah and Daniel it was really just making a choice about what religion to follow. It was easy to see from the beginning, before Daniel even enters the picture, that Leah is hardly likely to join the Amish church. She's twenty one and hadn't been baptized. That's pretty unusual for an Amish woman. Miller didn't even give her another choice. Daniel was the only man that showed her any interest. So in that respect, the outcome was pretty obvious. This is a romance novel, after all.
What I did like about the story was how accepting the family were toward her decision. That's not to say they were happy about it, but they also didn't cut Leah from their lives. I also liked the family ties between the sisters. There was definitely a lot of love here. The scenario was also a different one. It was hard to believe a tale of Amish fiction was going to end with the girl not becoming a member of the community.
Even though this was a slower read for a short book, it veered off the usual path, so it was worth the effort.
May 28, 2012
I kindly thank the publishers for my free netgalley review of Leah's Choice by Emma Miller. This is my second experience with her books and I am always pleased after reading her books to have it be such a wonderful expereince.
The storyline is written with such ease and the reader will experience the joys, conflict, doubt, fear right along with the character as well as learn much about about the Mennonnite and Amish cultures.
I was worried that I had not read them in order of the series, but I had not problem feeling apart of my characters because of Miller's close attention and precise detail. In this book Leah's sister's Anna and Miriam are mentioned.
During the storyline with Leah and Daniel when conflict arises it is written realistically as well as the resolution. I loved seeing Leah and Daniels relationship blossom and seeing their relationship progress was very natural and wonderful.
I highly recommend this series to others who enjoy Amish Fiction. Because of the wonderful writing and close attention Miller gives to detail. Her characters experience joys, fears, doubts, love, etc and you feel as if you are going through it with each character and it makes you feel as though you are part of such a great story. Leah and Daniel will touch your heart forever.
The storyline is written with such ease and the reader will experience the joys, conflict, doubt, fear right along with the character as well as learn much about about the Mennonnite and Amish cultures.
I was worried that I had not read them in order of the series, but I had not problem feeling apart of my characters because of Miller's close attention and precise detail. In this book Leah's sister's Anna and Miriam are mentioned.
During the storyline with Leah and Daniel when conflict arises it is written realistically as well as the resolution. I loved seeing Leah and Daniels relationship blossom and seeing their relationship progress was very natural and wonderful.
I highly recommend this series to others who enjoy Amish Fiction. Because of the wonderful writing and close attention Miller gives to detail. Her characters experience joys, fears, doubts, love, etc and you feel as if you are going through it with each character and it makes you feel as though you are part of such a great story. Leah and Daniel will touch your heart forever.
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