Gladden the Heart

Amish Turns of Time #5

by Olivia Newport

"When you have experienced the Holy Ghost as I have, you would see that it is difficult to turn back."

When the lively fervor of nineteenth century revivalism endangers the staid customs of the Amish community in the lush but rugged Kishacoquillas Valley of central Pennsylvania in 1847, the Amish church must deal with a divisive question: What is a genuine spiritual experience?

The question turns personal when Susanna's beloved cousin Noah begins preaching while under trances and even though he is not a minister he gives long sermons that attract increasing attention. Curious, she helps to keep Noah safe during his trances. At the same time Adam, Susanna's intended, feels pressure from the bishop to speak out against the ways of revivalism.

Susanna and Adam are pushed to opposite sides of a controversy that threatens their traditional Amish faith.. Now they must grapple with whether love is possible...even if they come to different conclusions.

When Noah goes missing at a time of day when he often preaches while asleep, circumstances thrust community members with divergent opinions into a crisis that demands they recognize the humanity they share regardless of beliefs. But can strong-held opinions be softened by the truths that shape their lives?

More in the Amish Turns of Time Series:
Wonderful Lonesome
Meek and Mild
Brightest and Best
Hope in the Land

Genres: Amish, Fiction, Amish Fiction, Historical Fiction, Family, Christian, Romance

542 pages, Hardcover

Published September 6, 2017

About the author

Hello!

I’m imagining you. You walk past as I water my front flowerbeds and we wave. You check the time as we both stand in a long line at the grocery store. You sit in front of me in church. I’m at my table in the coffee shop and you’re at yours.

We may smile politely and move on with our separate lives. Or one of us may speak, a simple invitation to conversation, and the words flow between us.

Here the adventure begins. When we meet someone new, we never know where it might lead.

I’ve been married over 40 years and have two adult kids and a son-in-law. We live in stunning Colorado at the foot of the Rockies, where the day lilies in my back yard grow as tall as I am. (No short jokes, please.)

Not every piece of my life is pretty, though. Some days I want to throw out whole chunks. But I am living each day looking for the grace of God to me, in me, and through me. Having your companionship along the way will help uncover a lot of great stories.

Reviews

[Deanne Patterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gladden The Heart is the number 5 book in the Amish Turns Of Time series.
This takes place in the rugged Kishacoquillas Valley of central Pennsylvania in 1847. This book is based on true facts the author discovered while doing research for her books.
Back in the day they were called the "sleeping preachers". Noah in this book falls unconscious at regular intervals and preaches almost on a daily basis. When he awakens he has no memory of preaching or what he has done. This worries his family members who worry he may hurt himself while in this state of mind when he goes missing during the time of day he usually preaches.This book is different from the Amish books I usually read but very powerful and interesting!
Pub Date 01 Jul 2017
Thank you to NetGalley and Barbour Publishing, Inc for a review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Dale Harcombe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three ad a half stars
I’ve done it again, come in on part 5 of a series. Once again it made no difference. I quickly settled in with these characters. In the Kishacoquillas Valley of Pennsylvania, there are two distinct peoples. There are those of the Amish faith and there are the Methodists. Susanna is Amish but close friends with Patsy whose father is a Methodist circuit revivalist preacher. The two groups coexist mostly amicably. That is until 1847 when Susanna’s much loved older cousin begins preaching while in a trance state This brings vastly different responses and threatens to destroy the community. Is Noah’s preaching a genuine spiritual experience? Or is it going against Amish teaching? There are those from the Amish community who definitely do not believe that the experience is from God and that includes the bishop. Susanna is one of the few trying to help keep Noah safe during these trance states, which he later has no recollection of. But then a crisis arises. What will be the outcome?
It was the premise of this story caused me to pick it up. The author says it is based on historical instances of such trance preachers, something quite outside my own church experience. While I found it interesting, I’m not sure the topic was explored as fully as it could have been and it did seem to wrap up rather too abruptly for my liking. However, I still did enjoy it. It certainly gives plenty to think about.
Readers will find some spirited likeable characters, a couple not so likeable and a lot of biblical musing and verses quoted as these people work through the implications of the experience. A lot about family, community, bible teaching, and religious experiences and a little romance round out the picture.

[Carrie Schmidt · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a thought-provoking book. Immediately after finishing Gladden the Heart by Olivia Newport, I wanted to go back and read certain sections again because they gave me much to mull over in my own heart.

There are many things I really enjoyed about Gladden the Heart.

-Being a descendant of a prolific Methodist circuit rider/preacher myself, I found Charles Baxton to be completely fascinating.

-His daughter Patsy and I are kindred spirits, as I feel certain that she too wanted to purse whomp Bishop Shem as well as Susanna’s mother.

-The history and time period in which Gladden the Heart is set mirrors that of Naomi’s Hope by Jan Drexler, which I reviewed here earlier this week. It was interesting to see ‘the other side of the story’, so to speak – with insight into why at least some of the Pennsylvania Amish may have felt compelled to migrate to Indiana, etc.

-Niklaus. Amish or not, he seeks God’s heart and His Word over tradition.

Bottom Line: Gladden the Heart by Olivia Newport is intriguing in its history and may cause some modern day soul-searching, too. The romance between Adam and Susanna, in my opinion, was not so much a focus of the story as it was another way to show the effect of the spiritual matters with which they wrestled. It could have been absent from the story altogether, and I still would have enjoyed this read! In the Amish Turns of Time series, I have been most intrigued by the Amish and English interactions, especially as one causes the other to adjust their firmly-held ideals. Gladden the Heart is no exception, and I know I will be thinking about it for a long while.

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

see my full review at Reading Is My SuperPower

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book very much!! I love reading the history of the Amish and how they came fo this country just like the English did for various reasons..
I think what drew me to this particular book was at a time when the revival meetings started. I have attended a few rivals myself and I love them.
I liked how they all came together to help the one in need.
I didn't like however how some ppl treated an individual just because he was "different".
I think Gladden the Heart means to accept Jesus in your heart no matter who does the preaching.
Whoever accepts Jesus will have eternal life and joy will shine through to whomever will meet up with you.
I also love the friendship between Amish and English even tho the Amish want to set themselves from the world.
Some ppl are just set in their ways no matter how much we try to help or change them.
Veronica Susanna's mother was afraid of the influence that the preaching that went on.
Im glad for Susanna's father who was sturdy and firm in his decision making and on whom to trust.
I like nosy Timothy too. If I had a brother I'd want him to be just like Timothy.
There were some things in the book that made me smile and laugh too.
I also held my breath in certain places. I didn't want anything to happento my favorite person!
If I had an uncle I'd want to be just like Noah. I thought Noah was cool for an Amish man.
Olivia will be added to my list of favorite authors because I enjoy her stories
I wanted to add that I loved the little authors note. at the end of the book. I think it's good to know how the author gets ideas ffor their stories and knowing there. is truth mixed in with fiction. This is why I love fiction.
I received this book for free.

[Joyful · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved reading this book of Amish history! The characters are written so well that they became a part of life! This is the first book of this series that I have read, but not the first read by Olivia Newport. The nineteenth century revivalism endangers the customs of the Amish community in the Kishacoquillas Valley of central Pennsylvania in 1847 causing the Amish church to deal with the question of a genuine spiritual experience. It becomes personal to Susanna when her cousin, Noah, begins preaching while under trances giving long sermons that attract increasing attention even though he is not a preacher. She helps keep Noah safe during his trances. Susanna's intended, Adam, feels pressure from the bishop to speak out against the revivalism. Pushed to the opposites sides of the controversy threatening their Amish faith, Susanna and Adam must decide if love is possible for them. Then Noah goes missing at a time of day when he often preaches while asleep causing community members to recognize the humanity they share regardless of beliefs.

I receive complimentary books for review from publishers, publicists, and/or authors. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.

[Maureen Timerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a run of emotions this story has, and is it against the Amish faith, you will be wondering as you quickly turn the pages to get to the answers.
The author has placed the setting of this book in 1847 Pennsylvania, the early times in this country, and a time when Amish lived pretty much as everyone else, except maybe for their clothing.
I did some research and found that this “Spirit preaching” has actually happened, and this is what has happened in this book to Noah Kaufman. The story revolves around this preaching and how it is accepted by both Amish and English, and those who are close to Noah.
There is a bit of romance, a bit of skepticism, and some are even thinking of moving away, as the Church is becoming too liberal.
A book that is going to make you think, and how can this be happening, a bit unsettling for this small community.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Barbour, and was not required to give a positive review.

[Deanna Stevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Noah begins preaching while under trances, the Amish community is at odds on how to handle it. The Bishop thinks it's against the Amish law, the English think it is something they have seen before and the close family members know it is not Noah pretending to preach to get attention. This story had a very strong spiritual theme and I enjoyed learning more about the beliefs of the Amish and the Methodist's at that time. There is a little romance but it helped show how difference of opinions can still overcome the difficult situations that come up in life. I enjoyed this slower paced family, faith and coming together of a community story.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review."

[Gayle Pace · Rating 4 out of 5]

MY THOUGHTS

Back when this novel took place was in the 1800's, the Amish weren't looked upon as different like they are now. I believe because we are so used to all the conveniences, the clothing, the attitude and with so many straying from the faith that back then was held so dear. I love reading Amish books and this one was a historical Amish read. I was very interested by the history in the book. I remember reading about revivals that were held in tents and even today there are revivals held in tents, though they are different in many ways. I found it rather interesting and fascinating the different beliefs that were between the Amish and other denominations. I wasn't quite sure about this Amish man who started preaching while asleep. That seemed a bit far fetched to me. But it did put a different touch on the Amish read from others I have read. The question is raised, "What is a genuine spiritual experience?" that is for the Amish. This may have been something the Amish at that time hadn't ever had to deal with. The author gives this Amish read a different twist and also shows the struggle of some of the characters to help those they love and having to perhaps speak against what they are doing. Family is a close knit group for the Amish and having to speak against them must be extremely hard. When Adam, Susanna's intended is pressured by the Bishop to speak against Noah, the sleeping preacher, will their love be tested? Will they be able to stand on different sides of the controversy and still love each other? Can beliefs be set aside for a moment and the community come together when Noah goes missing? This book was presented by the author with an unique basis that showed how the Amish can ban together even with different ideas on a rather difficult subject, to save one of their own.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and I am under no obligation to post a review.

[Katie B · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
In 1847 a Methodist tent revival has peaked the interest of some in the small Amish community in central Pennsylvania. Despite her strong Amish faith, Susanna is curious to hear what her friend Patty's father, a minister, will preach to the gathering of people. Soon after, Susanna's cousin Noah seems to fall under a spell where he gives long sermons despite not being a minister and later has no memory of it. This is a story of the differences between the Amish and Methodist faiths and how a person's belief system can be tested during challenging times. This is the fifth book in the series but can easily be read as a standalone novel.

I don't read many Amish or Christian fiction books and I'm not sure why because I usually end up enjoying them, as is the case with this one. I love when an author uses a piece of history, in this case the real life revivals that led to many members leaving the Amish community, and weaves it into an interesting fictional story. Each of the main characters of the book brought an interesting perspective to the story and showed how interpretations of God's word can vary from person to person. And while the pace of the story can seem slow at times, it still held my interest and I would recommend to anyone who enjoys Amish and/or Christian fiction.

I received a free copy of this book from Barbour Publishing but was under no obligation to post a review. All views expressed are my honest opinions.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An Amish Revival?!

Yep! You read that right! Ever think you’d read a novel about circuit riders and revivals in the Amish community? Me either! But what a wonderful story Olivia Newport brings to her readers with her latest release, Gladden the Heart, fifth in her Amish Turns of Time series.

A host of characters rounds out this fascinating read: Susannah, Adam, and Noah in particular. Susannah is a sweet, young Amish woman. She loves where she lives, loves Adam, and is curious about the circuit rider preacher that lives near her. Adam loves Susannah, and is a devout Amish man. He tries hard to stick to their church’s Ordnung and anything their bishop says. Noah, Susanna’s most cherished cousin, is a minister in their 1847 Amish settlement.

When Noah suddenly starts going into a trance and preaches a VERY non-traditional Amish sermon, the entire community is in a dither: Some condemn him, others are confused. Interested in this new finding of Noah, Susannah agrees to help keep him safe during his trances….which is in direct opposition to Adam’s view. Can they find common ground? What will become of Noah? Read and find out!

I was given Gladden the Heart in exchange for my honest review. I found it intriguingly wonderful! What a great storyline. Although fifth in the series, it can easily be read as a stand-alone. To date, this is my favorite in the series. Brava, Olivia Newport!

[Courtney Stuart · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kish Valley, Pennsylvania 1847

Susanna Hooley is a 21 year old Amish woman who is friends with Patsy Baxton, the daughter of Charles Baxton, a fiery Methodist revival preacher. They have been friends all their lives and are able to ignore or at least respect the differences between their faiths whilst still enjoying the common bond that they share. Susanna is being courted by Adam Yotter, who is the nephew of her next door neighbour. Life seems to be going along charmingly when Noah Kauffman, Susanna’s cousin starts very strange behaviour of appearing to go into a trance and start to preach the Word of God, which he is expressly forbidden to do. There is no explanation given for this behaviour, but almost every day, like clockwork, he will lose his sense of self and begin preaching sermons that would make even Charles Baxton proud.

This of course, is seen in a negative light according to the Amish Bishop. It is thought that Noah is trying to bring attention to himself (a grave issue for the Amish) and that he is capable of stopping the behaviour if he but wants to. Susanna gets pulled into helping his wife Phoebe look after Noah, as is Patsy. They see that Noah has no control over this behaviour, but is a danger to himself when he is preaching because he is unaware of his surroundings. Adam is unsure what to make of the situation. He wants to be faithful to the Bishops leading, having sworn an oath to be submissive to church leadership, yet he is also aware that Susanna wouldn’t knowingly go against the Bishop but is compelled to look after her cousin and has her father’s blessing. He is also influenced by his uncle who doesn’t believe that Noah is preaching for the wrong reasons and is open to the whole situation.

At the end of the novel a crisis situation occurs where Noah wanders off into the forest at the back of his property whilst in a trance and ends up in dire circumstances. This results in people from both religious persuasions to have to work together to save Noahs life. Of course, it is also the catalyst for Adam and Susanna working through their issues and coming together as a happily ever after book should.

Olivia Newport takes this very unusual situation of ‘sleeping preachers’ and has turned it into a short novel about the Amish and the English who lived among them. This story is thin and weak in substance. The whole sleeping preacher situation is really intriguing to modern ears, yet it isn’t really enough given within the book to merit a whole novel such as this. A kind of examination is inferred but the potential to see the break in the Amish groups to become Mennonite and Amish was not taken advantage of. There is very little in the way of other plot lines, unless you call the occasional disagreement between Adam and Susanna and their understanding of Noah’s behaviour as a deep plot line. Romance is part of the overall scope of the book, but as it is an Amish couple courting, there is very little in the way of actual romance and it doesn’t seem very likely the way it is portrayed.

Overall this book is an oddity. It has a really interesting premise as a foundation, yet it is not taken full advantage of. It can’t seem to make up its mind if it is a romance novel or an exploration of the sleeping preachers phenomenon that were so prevalent in the mid 1800’s. It could have been an interesting historical novel about the breakup of the Amish church and culture that happened in great numbers during this period, but ultimately, this too was ignored. In the end, this doesn’t satisfy any area of interest and comes over somehow as lacking.

A missed opportunity.

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gladden the Heart by Olivia Newport is the fifth book in an Amish Turns of Time series. It is 1847 in Kishacoquillas Valley, Pennsylvania. Susanna Hooley lives on her family’s farm east of Lewistown, Pennsylvania. One Sunday after church, Susanna’s cousin Noah is not feeling well and then collapses. He then starts preaching and no one can get him to stop. Noah is a quiet man and who is not known for his sermons. After three hours of preaching, Noah collapses into a deep sleep. When Noah awakens, he has no remembrance of what occurred. Susanna goes over to Noah’s house the next day and discovers that his preaching is an everyday occurrence. Noah’s wife, Phoebe has been keeping it under wraps. Noah soon starts preaching almost every afternoon at the same time and his sermons are attracting attention. Bishop Shem Hertzberger is less than pleased. The revivalist movement has taken several Amish from their community, and Shem does not want to lose any other families. Reverend Charles Baxton, a traveling Methodist minister, listens Noah’s stirring sermons and requests that Noah travel with him. This controversy divides their Amish community. Susanna supports Noah, but her beau, Adam is on the side hullabaloo. But then one day Noah disappears while in one of his trance’s, and the whole community turns out to locate him. Will they be able to locate Noah? Is there a way to resolve the controversy and unite the community once again?

While Gladden the Heart is part of a series, it is a stand-alone novel. I thought the concept behind Gladden the Heart is intriguing, I did enjoy the final product. “Sleeping preachers” is an interesting phenomenon, and it could have made a great story. Is it God’s will for this to happen to Noah? I actually did a little research in “sleeping preachers”. I just felt that the author could have done so much more with this subject. Why did the Amish believe Noah’s preaching was wrong? What was the main difference between the Amish faith and other religions at this time in history? I thought the pace was sluggish (actually, slugs move faster) and the writing was not up to Olivia Newport’s usual standard. The book was awkward and the characters flat. There are numerous Bible verses (scripture) and sermons contained within the story (after a while, I started skipping past them). I really struggled to finish this novel. I can tell when I am not enjoying a book. I start checking to see how much farther until the end and I start speed reading through boring parts. When I start hoping for a good murder to spice up the storyline (especially when I am reading an Amish novel that is not a mystery), then I know I do not like the book. The romance between Susanna and Adam failed to come to life. I never felt love between the couple. Susanna’s mother was an annoying character. Her fear (for the time period) was understandable. The characters lacked depth. There is also a repetition of information (it felt like padding). I am rating Gladden the Heart 2 out of 5 stars. I do not want to discourage readers from Olivia Newport’s novels. While Gladden the Heart was not for me, I have appreciated many of her other books (Valley of Choice series).

[Kathleen (Kat) Smith · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a difficult review to consider writing because when I get to a novel that I struggle to maintain focus on and dream of how much longer it would take to finish it so I can move on to something else, I have to take a step back and ask myself a few questions. What can I remember that I have read so far? Is it simply too much to take it for a reader at the beginning of a novel? Do I care what happens to any of these characters? Am I simply distracted from reading because of other things going on around me, that is pulling my focus away? Then I can answer these questions quite honesty and give an honest review. That answer to all of them is "No." I hate when that happens especially when you have read the authors other novels and you really enjoyed them. It was not the cause unfortunately for me in this one.

This novel is part of an ongoing series, Amish Turns of Time, and this one is book 5. I can be honest and say, I have not read any of the previous novels so I can't say whether doing so would have made me enjoy the premise behind this one any better. I have read previous novels that were part of a series and could follow along until I get the just of what is going on with the characters. In this case, I honestly couldn't care about any of them.

It involves two very different set of people living amongst one another, an Amish Order and the Methodists which are close neighbors to one another. Those readers who are familiar with Amish fiction, understand that they are very faithful and committed to their religious beliefs. They try to keep those in the community from being affected by those outside their faith, and in this case with the Methodist preacher who comes to stage tent revivals, a few of the Amish are a bit curious like the main character, Susana who occasionally peeks into the tents to see just what all the fuss is about. Her Amish boyfriend, Adam is making plans to marry Susana and doesn't want to see her dabbling in the other faiths, no matter how curious she is. When her favorite cousin Noah suddenly has spells in which is preaches without remembering any of it, not only is Noah's wife Phoebe at bit concerned, but also the entire Amish community who like to believe that all their preachers come from being chosen in the community not just those who suddenly have the ability.

I received Gladden the Heart by Olivia Newport compliments of Barbour Publishing and Net Galley. For me, this entire novel really never connected. It felt like bits and pieces of two very different parts of the book were spliced together. The beginnings and endings of each set of circumstances seemed disconnected and choppy and thus for me, I had a difficult time truly caring for any of the characters. The spells that Noah continues to have increase in frequency and I can understand why those in the Amish faith might fear this situation, and thus the need to keep them separated while the leaders of the community can figure out just what to do with them. Other readers might feel differently about this novel, but for me, it just fell flat and thus the need for a 2 out of 5 stars in this reader's opinion. This just wasn't a favorite for me.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the part where I sit down and have no idea where to start. I really really liked this book. I can't say any one thing that stands out as just 'wow' or 'holy tomatoes batman' but it was a general wrap you up in life and tug you into something bigger than yourself but small enough to embrace one man completely. Of course, while upsetting the entire community. Noah was a average Amish man, with a pretty big secret, until one day he 'went under' just after church in full view of his community. His secret no more, but is he sick (the doctors have all said there is nothing wrong) or just being willful? To Susanna he was a favorite cousin, one whom she was willing to risk a potential husband and the relationship with her mother to help. Before it's all over, many lives are changed but I had even more questions.

Not being overly familiar with the revival movement I wasn't sure what to expect from this book. I mean, don't get me wrong I've heard of it, I know a smidge or two, but it's not something I've ever immersed myself in. And when the revival movement and the Amish faith comes to meet I'm even more in the dark. Honestly though, this book places you in the moment. The confusion, the fear, the outright feeling that there is more than meets the eye. However, it wasn't the revivalism that kept me engaged but instead the individual reactions to something no one understood. The reactions of Susanna's mother, the reactions of her best English friend Patsy, the reactions of one of the ministers Nikalus, but mostly the reaction of the bishop Shem. The line where faith meets with personal.

How do you react when something different comes into your life? How do you react when it is based in your Faith? I was drawn to the reactions of Shem. As the bishop, he takes his role seriously to guide and lead his flock. He is invested in helping them to obey the laws and follow the role that Christ has in their faith. When Noah starts preaching it shakes the entire community but when Nkialus feels like perhaps there is room for the simple separate life AND a more open embracing of the Holy Spirit, there is definitely division in the leadership. I feel like Shem takes what is happening as a personal affront to his leadership and less about opening up faith. Following Shem's reactions, I feel like he was less about
'guiding' his community and more about feeling as though he was losing control over them. I feel like this book, while about revivalism and the Amish community, is more about how we all react when things within our 'realm' are faced with new/different/change. Do we react with Nikalus, Shem, or even Adam who was so bound with fear that he couldn't take a stand either way?

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by CelebrateLit and NetGalley. I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.

Originally published at https://fizzypopcollection.blogspot.c....

[Mardell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gladden the Heart by Olivia Newport, gives us a glimpse of the revivalism movement in America in 1847. When our story begins, Susanna Hooley is gathering roots and wildflowers to create dyes for fabric. In the clearing is a large tent for one of Reverend Braxton's revival meetings. The hot July afternoon brought a large crowd to hear her friend Patsy's father preaching a powerful message. Susanna's Amish community was not immune to the impassioned messages that poured from the good reverend's tongue. Such things were not heard in the long three hour meetings she experienced every other Sunday. Intrigued by what she heard, coupled with seeing so many Amish from her district, she steeled herself away.

Not long after this, however, her life is turned upside down by her cousin Noah. During a normal conversation on an ordinary Sunday afternoon, he fell under a spell. The normally quiet man began to preach from the book of John. His message was so powerful and strong, many gathered to hear, including the bishop. The bishop fully believes that Noah is wakeful and willful with his preaching and orders him to stop. Noah was unaware that he gave such stirring sermons straight from the bible. When he woke from his trances he was exhausted and slept for hours.

It isn't long before Susanna discovers Noah's unpredictable behavior has happened before. She is determined to help Noah's wife Phoebe keep him safe, disregarding opinions from her mother, the bishop and even Adam Yotter, her intended. The situation becomes a controversy as many in the community begin congregating at Noah's house daily to hear him preach. It is only when a near tragedy occurs that Susanna, Adam, his uncle and the bishop come together to help Noah and find common ground.

I enjoyed this book. Many people were yearning for meaningful spiritual experiences they didn't find in their usual long, dry services. A powerful message such as those delivered under the big tent seemed to offer more. While traditional clergy may have argued that nobody could gauge a true enlightened experience, I disagree. How can anyone know what another truly experiences. The human experience is amazing and sometimes the true picture cannot be told by looking at someone. The sleeping preacher phenomenon was real, something I was unaware of. In the midst of this time in America, great changes were taking place. It is ironic that even the Amish, who lived separate from others would experience such things. Enlightening.

[Kristi · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've had a love/hate relationship with the Amish Turns of Time series and this book, the fourth installment, left me feeling flat. What sounded like an interesting story turned out to be not as well executed as it could have been.

The premise of this story sounded very interesting to me: An Amish man who has "spells" and preaches even though he isn't a preacher or minister. The effect this has not only on his family but on the church district and the relationships between the Amish and their non-Amish neighbors left lots of possibilities to be explored. However, I feel like the author left a lot on the table with this story. I wanted to see more of the conflict between the members of the church and their beliefs on why Noah's "falling under" was wrong. Due to the fact that this story takes place in the 1800's the main difference between Amish and non-Amish is their faith as they lived much the same. I felt like there wasn't enough focus on the separation of faith other than the ministers reciting various Bible verses to prove their points. There was also too much repetition in the story and I felt like the story stalled because of this.

There are several characters in this story, most of which are Amish. There are two main non-Amish characters, Patsy and her father who is a Methodist circuit-riding preacher. Patsy is friends with Susana much to the dismay of Susana's mother because they are Amish and she wants to keep a separation between the faiths. There is also a romance between Susana and Adam and there is conflict between them because of Noah and what each thinks they should do or not do to remain submissive to the church. Again I don't feel like the author explored this aspect of the story as much as she could have. There wasn't really a lot of depth to any of the characters and it was impossible for me to relate to any of them.

While this isn't a completely horrible story there was a lot more the author could have done to explore the various aspects of the story. I would have liked to have seen more depth to the story and characters. A quicker pace would have been nice, too. Readers looking for a different kind of story may enjoy this one but for me, it just wasn't quite what I was looking for.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

[Nyla Kay · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Gladden the Heart" by Olivia Newport is a historical Christian novel telling the tale Amish coming to this country. It is Book 5 in her "Amish Turns of Time" series but can easily be read as a stand alone. This 317 page paperback published by Barbour is not the typical Amish novel I am used to reading, but I really enjoyed it. Books that teach me something even though they are fiction are some of my favorites, and this book taught me many things.

This is the tale of Susanna and Adam, a courting Amish couple in the year is 1847. It also is the story of Noah Troyer and John Kauffman, two Amish "sleeping preachers". Never before reading this book had I heard of a "sleeping preacher" which is someone who preaches while in a trance or sleeplike state. It was so interesting and worth reading. Tent revivals, Amish, Methodists, sleeping preachers, family issues, religious differences, and prejudice are all taken on in this historical novel.

Reading how many Amish were converted at revivals was amazing to me. This was the first I had ever heard of it. I wish more Amish authors would write historical information in their novels. The Amish Bishop did not approve of the sleep-preaching but the English had no problem with it. This story is full of conflict, suspense, romance, encouragement, twists, turns, and information. Scripture is heavily sprinkled throughout this book as is preaching.

The author has a nice writing style. She adds a lot of history without being boring. Her characters are well described and lovable. Even the secondary ones, like Susanna's mother, were well rounded down to their faults. The conversation is well written and flows smoothly. Author Newport has written a well defined, organized, researched story with her lovely style.

"Gladden the Heart" had me giggling, gasping, and turning pages to see what was happening next. I loved it all. After the story is over there is a section of "author notes" which I found interesting. Unfortunately there are no study questions, but that should not hinder a group from reading and discussing this. I would recommend this book. It is a very different Amish book but this reader loved it. Definitely a 5 star from me. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gladden the Heart is book five in the Amish Turns of Time series written by Olivia Newport. The story is based in central Pennsylvania in 1847. There is a Methodist tent revival taking place and some of the local Amish are curious and attend. Some of them start wondering what a true spiritual experience is.

Shortly after the revival takes place, Susanna’s cousin, Noah, sleep preaches after their service. He has been doing this for some time but he and his wife have kept it a secret. After preaching, Noah has no memory of doing so. And while he is preaching, he is not aware of his surroundings so he needs to be watched for his safety. With the increasing amount of his sleep preaching, his wife needs help with the farm as well as needing someone to watch Noah.

Susanna goes to help with Noah and eventually her Methodist friends finds out and helps as well. As word gets out, the Amish start coming around the time Noah preaches. The Amish bishop turns against Noah. One day Noah leaves his farm and the sleep preaching starts earlier than normal. Noah wonders off into the mountain, and when it is found out that he is missing, many come to help look for him. But only a few are there when they find him. Among those are the Methodist minister, his daughter and the Amish bishop. Disagreements take place between the minister and the bishop.

I really enjoyed reading this story. It is not your typical Amish story with the Amish only interacting with other Amish. And this story brings in more of believing in Jesus than some Amish stories do. I have not read the previous 4 books in the series, but I was able to understand the story very well. The main part of the story is about Noah and his sleep preaching, but there is the story of Susanna and Adam. The story also has family dynamics that is taking place in Susanna’s family, with her parents considering moving.

This story contains family life as it was for the Amish in the mid 1800’s. It also contains suspense surrounding Noah and his preaching. And it contains romance with the deepening of Susanna and Adam’s relationship. I think anyone who enjoys reading historical stories will enjoy this. Especially if they also enjoy reading Amish stories.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligations to post a review.

[Deana Dick · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading the book I decided that I wanted to truly understand what "Gladden the Heart " meant . So I grabbed a dictionary online and found it to mean "make the heart happy". I know it was pretty simple for most of you to figure out, but I wanted to check a resource for myself. The story is complicated in the sense that The Amish beliefs and The Methodist beliefs are quite different . The story is set in the 1800s where The Amish did not want their people exposed to the preachings of other demoninations. . I loved the history that the author provided in the two different beliefs in the story. It was fascinating to read how some if the characters loved The Methodist preaching which made their hear gladden.

I was a bit surprised at Noah who would go into trances and start preaching. It was intriguing to read the sermons he gave and how drawn Amish people were to him. Maybe it was curiosity or maybe it was hunger for more of God's word. The bishop was not happy at all and felt he needed to step in and stop whatever Noah was doing. Was he under a spell? Did God fill him with the Holy Spirit and give him the words to preach?

I did like Susanna and Adam's developing relationship but didn't feel like Adam was supporting Susanna with her Uncle Noah at times. It's funny how some people thought Noah was ill and needed prayer. It made me realize how we are like that today. What ever beliefs we have, we sometimes judge others beliefs. The story is very emotional at times but well written with scriptures that were very powerful.

I kept thinking of the story in the Bible about how Jesus would go out and preach and people would mock him, laugh at him or throw stones at him. Noah must have felt the ones who doubted him and found their harsh words pierce his heart with rejection at times. I encourage readers to give this book a try with an open heart. I've seen some of the reviews and I know that not everyone liked the book. Is it perhaps because they judge a book because it doesn't line up to their beliefs? I applaud the author for writing a book that makes us think about what people go through while spreading the Word.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

[Jessica Baker (A Baker's Perspective) · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story has such a unique storyline, as you can tell from reading the summary. When I first read the summary I was intrigued, especially about Noah preaching while under a trance. This is not something I have ever heard of and couldn't wait to see how the author presented it. Not only that, but how the Amish community would respond. I know in the Amish communities of today, it is a big deal about who is allowed to preach and who isn't, and I imagine it would have been the same back then.

The parts with Noah were certainly interesting, but I found myself wanting more out of the storyline as a whole. The part of the book that I enjoyed the most was the revival meeting in the very beginning. I wanted so much for Susanna to go inside that tent and go straight to the alter! The mention of other Amish members being there was almost overlooked at the time. It left me wanting to know more about them, and why they were there. Was Reverend Baxton converting Amish people? So many questions running through my mind, and then suddenly we're at a different scene in the book.

Now, this is addressed later on in the book to some degree, but I felt it was almost missing something. Or maybe it felt odd to me that a non-Amish minister would have such a connection with some of the members of the community. It wasn't necessarily because of the author's writing ability - I think it was simply because the concept was foreign to me and I just couldn't wrap my head around it. But the more I read, the more I started to understand. As a whole, this book is really about differences in beliefs between the Amish and non-Amish, and how the Amish community reacts when portions of the gospel are presented. And although this is a historical novel, I think the same principles could be applied to today's society.

Overall it was an okay read. If you're already a fan of Olivia's, I know you'll like it. I've read other books by Olivia and enjoyed them, so I know I'll be reading more from her in the future! I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Susanna and her older cousin, Noah, have been pretty close since she was a girl. But he has started acting strangely of late. He, and Susanna, are Amish, a people known for their quiet, simple devotion. But in church one Sunday, Noah stands up and starts preaching repentance like the local fiery Methodist preacher. He doesn't respond when asked to stop, and eventually stops, hours later with no recollection of his preaching. The Amish community is dumbfounded, Susanna, Noah, and their friends struggle to understand and respond to the conundrum before them.

Gladden the Heart was an unusual read for me, but still a good experience. It stretched my understanding of the Christian faith because sleeping-preachers like Noah did exist historically. And if they are anything like the example in this book, they presented questions to me as they did to the Amish in this novel. For one thing, how is it that a man who does not fully believe what he is preaching stand up and preach accurately while in a trance? It makes little sense outside of the Holy Spirit's power, but it Did happen.

This question of faith takes center stage in the book. There is a little romance between Susanna and Adam, but the problem the Amish are facing begins to come between them. It is a complicated issue that affects nearly all of the relationships in the book. Characters have to make tough decisions that have lasting implications in their lives and the lives of those around them.

The historical details were interesting. The Amish have changed little between the 1800's and now, but the outside cultures that influenced them in that time period were dramatically different. The tent revivals, circuit-riding preachers, relationships between the different denominations, and others were vividly portrayed. I find myself wanting to research the time period out of curiosity.

Gladden the Heart was an interesting novel that challenged me to dig deeper into my faith. I recommend it to fans of Amish novels.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

[Meagan Myhren-Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gladden the Heart
Amish Turns of Time
By Olivia Newport

Susanna Hooley's life in Kishacoquillas Valley, Pennsylvania, 1847, is about to get a whole lot more difficult. The Amish church is curious and yet wary of the Methodist tent revival meeting going on in their midst. And Susanna is just as curious as anyone, but there are some lines not meant to be crossed and stepping into the tent is one of those lines, even if the Reverand Baxton and his daughter Patsy have been friends with many of the community's Amish for years.

Susanna has a comfortable life and she anticipates the possibility of marriage to Adam Yotter in the near future. But when a strange malady strikes Noah Kauffman, her favorite cousin, Susanna's hopes and dreams for the future are threatened when Noah's "gift of the Spirit" begins to divide friends and family.

Noah's preaching tugs at Susanna's heart but Noah seemingly has no recollection of preaching once he stops. And once he starts he is unaware of all that surrounds him, even to the point his own safety is in question. Drawn to help Noah and his wife Phoebe, Susanna soon finds herself at odds with her mother and Adam over Noah and the suitability of his gift (or curse) to the Amish way of life. Soon their very community is taking sides and the rift that is dividing them may never be repaired...

Gladden the Heart takes a peek into the past which few are familiar with, one that revolves around "sleeping preachers: and have the very differences of worship and lifestyle were the very things drawing the seeking of the Amish community to this revivalist style of preaching. This book provided an interesting look at Amish history during the time in American history during which revivals were sweeping the nation. It is interesting to see this story unfolding from the perspectives of the various characters who come at the situation from varying and unique viewpoints.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Patricia Bond · Rating 5 out of 5]

GLADDEN THE HEART (AMISH TURNS OF TIME#5) OLIVIA NEWPORT

Gladden the Heart is book #5 of Amish Turns of Time series, written by Olivia Newport. It is a story of danger, rescue reconciliation, forgiveness and faith.

It is 1847, and in the Kishacoquillas Valley, located in Central Pennsylvania, the Methodist have set up tent revivals in the Amish community. These tent revivals are not like the church services of the Amish. There is lots of lively singing of hymns, preaching, and altar calls. Some of the members of the Amish community have become very curious about the revivals and a spiritual experience. However not all of the Amish have taken to the revivals, especially the Amish bishop, as he fears that he will lose members.

Noah Kaufmann, an Amish man, has been blessed with a mysterious gift. Noah falls into a trance, at a certain time of day and starts to preach. This is called "sleep preaching" or the " Holy Spirit".
Members of the community start to gather outside of Noah's home to listen to his sermons: however, some of the Amish disapprove of his mysterious gift.

How will Noah's mysterious trances and sermons, affect the members of the Amish community of Kish Valley. Will the bishop ever accept Noah's gift and when a crisis strikes the community will this divided community put aside their differences and work together.

I found Gladden the Heart to be a very interesting book. I have never heard of "sleeping preaching" and I took the time to Google it on the internet to find out more information on the subject. The book was very well written and I could tell a lot of research went into writing Gladden the Heart. I would highly recommend this book.

Olivia Newport has also written four other books in Amish Turns of Time series. The are Book 1 - Wonderful Lomesome Book 2- Meek and Mild Book 3 Brightest and Best Book 4 - Hope of Land

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

[Carol Keen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is, to my knowledge, the first book I have read by this author. It's the first book I have read in this series. It was a tad slow, but still well worth reading. I appreciate that it covers a topic that still confuses people today, even though this was back in the 1800's. Susanna and her family are Amish, so they have quite an issue on their hands when her cousin starts sleep preaching.

Let's talk about this for a moment. This person, in this case, Noah is asleep. Just like sleepwalking, only he's sleep preaching. That's fine and dandy, if people don't think you're crazy, or you aren't Amish, or you aren't putting yourself in danger wandering about in your sleep. Preaching or not, sleepwalking has hazards.

When Noah goes missing, the Amish people and the Methodist's have to see if they can find him. There's way more going on here than just a romance. We have matters in the Christian community that people don't know how to deal with. "Sleeping Preachers" is one of those issues. Now you're going to get my thoughts about this. If even the rocks can cry out and testify, then certainly the Word can come through someone who's asleep. Would that person be in harm's way? That is an entirely different issue and one that is harder to answer.

If the preaching changes lives, and leads people to God, then I'd say it's real. Many stranger things have happened that we have documentation about. Example- I see three men in the fire, and a fourth, yet they do not burn. Do look that one up in your Bible if you're not familiar with it. I found this book to be strong, and thought provoking and I'm glad I read it. Pun intended and yet serious at the same time.

My copy came from Celebrate Lit. My thoughts and opinions are my own, and this review is here of my own free volition.

[Kelly Tyree · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gladden the Heart was a book that focuses on change. Change is hard to accept but this change is a good change.

The Amish community living in the Kishacoquillas Valley are being exposed to Methodist teaching. It is different from what they have learned. Susanna is one of the Amish living in this community. She has heard some of the Methodist teaching and she is curious. When her Amish cousin, Noah, falls asleep he begins to preach beautifully powerful Methodist sermons. Noah does this in front of the bishop and the community. The bishop rebukes him publicly. When Noah continues to have these spells, Susanna tries her best to help the family keep Noah safe while he preaches his sermons. He is asleep during them, but his message is beautiful and clear. The area's Methodist preacher convinces Noah to travel with him on his circuit so the he can minister to the people. Noah agrees. While Noah preaches, he begins to touch the hearts of those in the Amish community. Soon the community has to face the division this new Gospel message has caused.

Susanna's boyfriend, Adam, feels caught in the middle. He wants to be loyal to his Bishop and the commitment he made to the community, yet Susanna asks him to help her keep Noah safe while he preaches this different message. Their relationship suffers as they feel a wall being built between them. Each has to decide where they will stand.

All of it comes to a head when Noah disappears. The community comes together on the mountain to try and find Noah. While they are they, they find the answers to all of the questions that have been there.

Gladden the Heart is well written and the characters are very likable. You really see how powerful the Holy Spirit is and how it gladdens the heart when you experience it for the first time.

[Carole Jarvis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed at The Power of Words: http://bit.ly/2usofOj

Gladden the Heart has a different feel than a lot of Amish fiction as it draws inspiration from real-life historical events and explores the “what if” aspect. I’ve always enjoyed reading about the circuit-riding preachers and evangelistic meetings of the 1800s, and Olivia Newport does a great job of bringing this era to life. While there is some romance, it takes a back seat to the historical themes and conflict within the Amish community.

Noah spoke of God’s love, of human failings, of faithfulness, of repentance, of redemption, of new life, of serving Christ with love toward one another, of unceasing prayer, of God’s gracious gift of salvation.

Newport draws inspiration from something I hadn’t heard of – the “sleeping preacher” phenomenon and the fact that the Amish were losing some of their members to these revival preachers. Susanna’s beloved cousin, Noah, becomes a polarizing figure as he starts falling into trances and preaching in an evangelistic style, resulting in conflict within family and community. The relationship between Susanna and Adam also comes into conflict over Noah.

The pace moves slowly at times, but I enjoyed this story and it gave me much to reflect upon. One of my favorite characters was Niklaus, a good and humble Amish minister who followed the convictions of his heart in preaching. I also loved the contrast between grace and judgment, assurance and fear. The title reflects this story’s theme well, for it’s the beauty of faith that gladdens the heart.

Recommended.

I was provided a free copy of this book from Celebrate Lit and Barbour Publishing. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a nice change to read an Amish novel where they're only TWENTY years behind the fashion of the day instead of 200! Once again, Olivia Newport's thorough research has given her readers an interesting peak into American religious history in this fifth book of her "Amish Turns of Time" series.

I loved this story of loyalties examined, and the power of the Holy Spirit to work wonders. I don't know which relationship I enjoyed the most - the long-term friendship across cultures between Susanna and Patsy or Charles and Niklaus; the family bond between Susanna and cousin Noah, Niklaus and nephew Adam, or Patsy and her father Charles; or the romantic ties between Adam and Susanna. Each displayed the importance of forebearance and love in a special way. Even the tension between Bishop Shem and minister Niklaus was interesting in how they each stood tenaciously for what they believed to be God's will and yet both came to a fresh understanding of His grace. Though this story took place in 1847, I felt it helped me to sort out my feelings of how God is to be best worshiped and obeyed 170 years later in 2017.

Another thing I really liked about this novel was the Biblical content - the extensive passages when Noah preached during his trances, Scripture quotes, hymns, and applications "gladdened my heart" as the title says, and made this an irresistible book to read a second time. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing, and was under no obligation to post a review. I whole-heartedly recommend it to any reader interested in Amish or historical fiction.

[Bree · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gladden the Heart brings to mind lots of thoughts for me. The historical piece, the love and the faith were so strong that I was floating through the valley of this story.

Susanna is willing to show love and faith by believing and being there for Noah. Risking her relationship with Adam and putting her family in a pickle. She shows true strength in her ability to handle moments that were terrifically scary. Susanna focused on her love for God and her family to get through the tough times. Though this story is mainly about her, I felt such an awe for Noah. He had such a moving experience in this book.

What is interesting is the faith aspect. I was envisioning these characters seeing Noah have an episode, and wondering if it was God or not? Did he do something to induce or was he going soft in the mind? I can only fathom these couple questions to being similar to those that anyone else would have. Noah showed readers though what it really meant to have faith, along with all the other characters. He didn’t ask for it , but received and gave. One thing all the characters take away from him.

This was the first book by Olivia that I have been privileged to read. It was everything an Amish book should be, full of faith, love and simple moments in life. These moments were a great reminder that as readers we need to also look in the mirror and choose how we will walk our own path of faith. I felt moved to hours of silence just savoring the words in my heart, allowing them to form thoughts for this review. It was such a magical experience that I pray that each of you can find a book to do that.

[Anne Rightler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gladden the Heart by Olivia Newport is a poignant look at the Amish history in mid-1800s Pennsylvania. The story begins with a tent revival meeting that has piqued the interest of a few of the Amish in the area, including Susannah. As the story continues readers are introduced to the different styles of religion and the question of what is real faith. Is it the response to a fire and brimstone message or is it one that comes from the quiet, solemnity of Amish tradition? And what in the world is this trance preaching that an Amish man is exhibiting? It is certainly more mysterious than the Amish prefer their spiritual matters to be. Susannah and her intended, Adam, struggle to come to terms with the changes that are going on around them in their families and in the community. Their relationship has become tangled. Can it be untangled and are they even willing to try? The characters are evocative and realistic, each with their own strengths and flaws. I liked the strong relationship of devotion and honesty portrayed between Susannah and her Methodist friend, Patsy. The plot has twists and turns, conflicts, action, and that spark of romance that keep the reader's interest. And threaded throughout is a reminder that even though change may be difficult and can often bring division if we hold too tightly to what we have always known, we might miss out on the glory that lies ahead and lose out on the faith that will bring gladness to the heart.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review. This review is part of a CelebrateLit blog tour.

[Pam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have very mixed feelings about “Gladden the Heart”. It has an intriguing and unique plot that is filled with quite a few very interesting events. Unfortunately I did find it to move along at a snail’s pace and I had difficulty connecting with its many characters. I will also admit that my difficulty reading it may have just been a matter of timing and could have an entirely different opinion if I picked it up again at another time. The author’s skill is excellent and I found no real complaints with the book itself. As I said, it was probably just not the right time for me to read it.

I enjoyed reading this historical novel about an Amish community that lived in close proximity to evangelical Methodists who often held tent meetings. Knowing how strictly the Amish adhere to their own beliefs, it was a surprising twist when one of the Amish men suddenly began to have frequent “episodes” where he began preaching in his sleep in the style of the Methodists. As can be imagined, this caused no lack of controversy and curiosity within the Amish community. Was it really the Holy Spirit or was Noah trying to pull something over on them all?

This is one book that devoted Amish fiction lovers should enjoy. I personally learned a good bit about how many of the Amish were taught to dwell on their trials and suffering as what God expected from them and resisted the good news of His love of His people.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Celebrate Lit. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.