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Peace in the Valley #0.5

Promising a Rose

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When Love Blooms Unexpectedly

Though the doctors say her cancer is in remission, Dr. Silvia Metzger feels deep down that her days could be numbered. Following the stirring inside her soul, Silvia leaves her faculty position as a university professor in search of peace and tranquility. She relocates to Lancaster County in Pennsylvania, renting a tiny cabin on the farm of an elderly Amish couple.

Meanwhile, the couple's neighbor, eligible bachelor Joseph Zook, has been doing what he can to help out with the farmwork despite having a lame foot. He wonders if his disability is partly why he's been unable to win the heart of an Amish woman.

As Silvia settles into her new surroundings, she realizes that this community's ways are exactly what she's been looking for and makes a life-changing decision to become Amish. And when Silvia meets Joseph, God plants a seed that could grow into something beautiful.

Experience the incredible power of love and second chances in this charming prequel to Silvia's Rose.

71 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 30, 2017

550 people are currently reading
271 people want to read

About the author

Jerry S. Eicher

70 books201 followers
Jerry Eicher’s bestselling Amish fiction (more than 210,000 in combined sales) includes The Adams County Trilogy, the Hannah’s Heart books, and the Little Valley Series. After a traditional Amish childhood, Jerry taught for two terms in Amish and Mennonite schools in Ohio and Illinois. Since then he’s been involved in church renewal, preaching, and teaching Bible studies. Jerry lives with his wife, Tina Eicher, and their four children in Virginia.

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5 stars
203 (38%)
4 stars
139 (26%)
3 stars
116 (21%)
2 stars
44 (8%)
1 star
27 (5%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
Profile Image for Deanne Patterson.
2,415 reviews118 followers
July 31, 2017
This is the novella that sets up the Peace in The Valley Series. Promising a Rose is book 0.5.
Silvia is in remission from cancer and moves to Paradise,Pennsylvania to get away from it all. She rents a cabin in the woods from an elderly Amish couple and is so relaxed in her environment that she decides to become Amish. She finds a suitable man who doesn't think he deserves her but they fall in love and marry and have a son, just want she wants. She spends the rest of her days in the valley. She is well liked in the community and everyone accepts her as Amish.Her husband and son move away after her death. Now it doesn't describe her as getting sicker or her death, for which I am glad!
You still know it's going to happen so it's sad.
Thank you to Amazon for the freebie.
Profile Image for Billiejo.
203 reviews26 followers
June 24, 2017
Disappointed

I really had higher hopes for this book. I know it was just a short story, but I really expected more. I thought the story moved too quickly with not enough development of characters and definitely ended too abruptly. When I read, I like to get to know the characters, feel the emotions they feel, and I struggled with this throughout, as if I were just reading the words.
467 reviews50 followers
September 11, 2017
What a wonderful prequil to the series Peace in the Valley by Jerry S. Eicher. I was captured hook, line, and sinker. I am looking forward to reading the entire Peace in the Valley series. I so love the roles that Silvia and Joseph have. Silvia reminds me of myself in a way. Be sure to get your copy of Promising a Rose by Jerry S. Eicher today. 4.5 stars!
Profile Image for Belinda.
1,331 reviews237 followers
July 3, 2017
Could contain spoilers. Free Kindle edition.

Dr. Silvia Metzger feels deep down that her cancer could come back. So she chooses to turn her life arround and leaves the city live to go and live in Amish county. She rents a little cabin and meets Joseph Zook, a sweet Amish man. Could she have a short while of love left in her years still to live and will she marry and have a child?

I was not at all familiar with this writer. An't I did not know a lot about the Amish lifestyle. This short novella sertainly is a good taste of this kind of books. Love to read more by this author.

Some lines from the book:
-She was here. This was her destination, a place where she knew no one, yet where she hoped to find peace and happiness for the last years of her live.-
- "Och, how wunderbah." Malinda gushed.-
- And dying. The words almost slipped out. "I'd better get going," Silvia said instead.-
- "I guess the girl can bak a pie with a goot crust."-
- She wasn't used to this kind of man - sturdy and tough with a heart as tender as a freshly blossemed rose. -
Profile Image for Cissy Hunt.
Author 6 books11 followers
February 1, 2018
I really liked this book. The writing style of the author was wonderful.
Profile Image for Cindy.
957 reviews33 followers
November 24, 2018
Promising a Rose is the prequel to the Peace in the Valley series about Amish country.

I haven't read an Amish book in awhile so I realize how much I missed while I reading this novella. My only complaint is I felt like the author rushed things with the main character.

This is an enjoyable book especially for readers of Amish
Fiction.
2,286 reviews7 followers
May 29, 2017
While I understand the desire for a simpler life, I'm not sure I buy the premise that cancer would drive a woman to go live among and eventually join the Amish. Also, love seems to strike her awfully fast once she gets there. For all that, it is a good novella.
Profile Image for Abigail Ford.
Author 6 books48 followers
August 23, 2017
I liked the writing style,but that's about it. I didn't like the main character. She was so pushy about Jospeh (for whatever reason, I don't understand, she just saw him and decided he was the one, strangely enough, despite him not responding nor wanting to even be around her.) Honestly, Silvia was so annoying to me that I couldn't even finish it. Not recommended.
Profile Image for Elizabeth Bennet.
742 reviews8 followers
February 1, 2018
I still don't know what to think of this book. Silvia is in remission from cancer and feels drawn to the Amish way of living. She wants to live for the first time and the wholesome, gentle life of the Amish is so different from her old wild college years.

Joseph is the community recluse. He has been burnt several times before and acknowledges his short comings. His biggest is a limp but he is a well read man and not afraid of hard work. The book leads you through the doubts of Joseph and the need for Silvia to show Joseph how good they can be together.

It is not badly written and is clean. My lack of enthusiasm stems I guess because I felt it read shallow. Intentions are pure but why would an englisha woman think Amish was living? I feel more time was needed to explain Silvia's past. She speaks to her mom once and the conversation was not one that lead you believe there wasn't some level of love and concern. Silvia shows up with car and phone not what would be accepted as an Amish woman. Yet no time is spent on how dealt with this.

In fact, it read like any woman could just join in the Amish community after a few weeks. I needed more to feel drawn to the couple. I like my men more confident and for him to lay the road and instead it was all Silvia all the time. I did find it on the freebie list and read it in a few hours. Enjoy!

Profile Image for Willadale.
89 reviews
March 22, 2018
Seriously? We are supposed to accept the fact that a young woman who is in remission from cancer decides to leave behind the life she has always known and become Amish for the short time she has left? In an extremely short period of time she “falls in love” with an Amish man with problems of his own. They marry, have a son (we only know this if we read a summary of first complete book in the series) and then she dies. The novella actually ends before any of this occurs.

I understand that this is a novella and that it is intended to lay the groundwork for a new series by the author, but the whole premise of the book is just “off” somehow. It is extremely difficult to believe that an Amish community would allow such a “whirlwind romance” to occur given the usually strict guidelines to which the Amish adhere.

There was no substance to any of the characters; apparently the reader was expected to read between the lines. Having read this novella, I have no interest in reading the series which follows.

Disappointing, to say the least.
Profile Image for Adpa.
504 reviews2 followers
June 7, 2020
A quick read--too quick. The story started 4% into the book and ended at 74%. The rest was advertising and a sample of another book.
The story itself left me desiring something....maybe more authenticity. I grew up in the PA Dutch area. The Amish do not rush into marriage or even courtship with Englishers as is perceived in this book.
Would an Englisher want to live in a remote wooded area in a cabin without amenities???
Why is she so adamant about being at death's door?
In the next sample story, it calls her Dr. Silvia Metger. I did not see it mentioned in the novella that she was a doctor. Didn't even mention her past employment that I can remember.
Profile Image for Krystyna.
5,134 reviews55 followers
June 2, 2018
Living fully

A really sweet, poignant read. She has everything until cancer strikes. Now she is in remission but it could return at any time. What she wants/needs is to live life more simply so that she can find peace within herself for what is to come. Moving into an Amish community seems to fill that need for. As does meeting the shy, crippled man who helps out at her landlords farm. He however has been hurt before and won't risk it again. Can the two injured people find peace and love together.
Profile Image for P.S. Winn.
Author 105 books367 followers
August 14, 2017
With her cancer in remission, all Silvia Metzger wants is to get away. She heads to the community of the Amish and rents a house from Malinda and Henry as she tries to learn about their simpler ways. Then she meets Joseph Zook and Silvia is thinking more about living than dying. This is a well written romance.and good for all ages because their is no bad language or sexual material. Just a great story
Profile Image for CarolynB.
627 reviews
September 21, 2017
A very short introduction to the Peace in the Valley series. Silvia is an English woman whose cancer is in remission. She wants to live a quiet and peaceful life for the remainder of the time she has left on this Earth, so she goes to Amish country in search of that life. The next book promises to be a good one and I can't wait to get a copy!
Profile Image for Helen.
200 reviews4 followers
May 28, 2019
A Warm, heartfelt story of two people coming together despite their differences

I liked the premise of the story where a busy, highly educated professor realizes that there is more to like after almost losing her life to cancer. She decides she needs to slow down and learn to take each day as it is very special.
1 review
February 5, 2018
Bezt of thebest

Very good in the human aspect of understanding and !I've plus faith. Very well worded and well written. Look for to more good stories like this. This story is well deserving of five star review. Would greatly appreciate more of this kind of good reading.
1 review
April 14, 2018
A heart warming book.

I wished I could go back in time and have the heart and courage to do what Silvia did and live her life. This story make you feel like you are living the life.
3 reviews
May 16, 2018
Is this real?

This story is mainly realistic but some of it is something that you would not think of happening.Why is it called Promising a Rose,there is nothing about promise of roses.
Profile Image for Falguni Jain.
Author 6 books20 followers
November 13, 2018
3 Star

The book starts with a critical issue of Silvia having cancer. She leaves her home to settle in an Amish country.

I didn't enjoy it much. It was very bland. A dying girl begging an Amish farmer to love her. Quite predictable and uninteresting.
1,925 reviews5 followers
May 25, 2019
Promising a Rose

Great short story and very easy to believe. The Amish way of life is hard but doable if you have the right instincts. This is my review and mine alone. Norma Gorrill
107 reviews1 follower
April 14, 2020
Sweet Story

I pretty much enjoyed this short story but in some ways it didn't seem too real. I felt Silvia was a little too forward. I am, however, glad I read this story. I do recommend this to others.
Profile Image for Ruchika Pahwa.
Author 40 books14 followers
April 4, 2025
It's an interesting story, though it feels rushed in some places. Emotions of the characters always need to be given the deserved page length in order to develop properly, which I found missing here. The result makes the writing more procedural rather than natural.
Profile Image for Lynn Grier.
214 reviews8 followers
August 5, 2017
Lovely story

I loved this story and can't wait to carry on with the series. My first read by this author and love his style of writing.
7 reviews1 follower
September 24, 2017
A rose for Joseph

I loved this love story, and yes I would recommend this book to all readers, young or old. It is a beautiful love story.
2 reviews
October 28, 2017
Great

This book was very good and enjoyable.
I was very sad that the book ended the way it did with out were Joseph and Ben went to😊.
Profile Image for Cynthia.
3,201 reviews101 followers
November 3, 2017
Beautiful

This is a wonderful story if two people who have had difficulties in their lives. Sylvia wants to leave the English community to find peace with the Amish community.
Profile Image for Audrey Knight.
44 reviews1 follower
December 4, 2017
Good book

It was a good book. Well worth reading this book. I drive through Amish country and I wouldn't be able to live the way they fyi. I need electricity and my devices.
Profile Image for Sharon.
737 reviews
February 9, 2018
I don't understand this book. Sylvia wants to become Amish drives to Landcaster, PA. and the next day she is Amish. The same day she falls in love with and Amish man. Too rushed!
Profile Image for Nancy.
2,592 reviews65 followers
February 20, 2018
Amish country,PA. Sweet novella. I understand the limits of a short story but some holes needed to be filled in this plot.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews

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