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Pleasant Valley #6
Hannah's Joy
Returning to Pleasant Valley gives a widow a much-needed chance at a new life. But now she must decide if she truly belongs in the Amish world...
Unexpected tragedy has left Hannah without her soldier husband and a home for her baby son, Jamie. Seeking refuge, she comes to live with her aunt in Pleasant Valley, a place she hasn't seen since childhood, when her parents left the Mennonite faith. Working in her aunt's bakery is a way for Hannah to get back on her feet, but she isn't sure if she can live by tradition--or if she and Jamie should stay for good. She finds an unexpected sympathetic listener in furniture maker William Brand. His stutter makes him feel like a permanent outsider in his Amish community, and he understands her loneliness.
Hannah is irresistibly drawn to the shy, caring William, and her education in speech therapy makes it natural for her to want to help him speak more easily. But how can she encourage his attention when she might someday leave Pleasant Valley, and when her father-in-law, a military officer, is scheming to take Jamie away from her? As William seeks the courage to stand up for the woman who believes in him, Hannah must decide where her true home lies--in the free, ever-changing world she knows, or in the simpler, loving community she's found...
Unexpected tragedy has left Hannah without her soldier husband and a home for her baby son, Jamie. Seeking refuge, she comes to live with her aunt in Pleasant Valley, a place she hasn't seen since childhood, when her parents left the Mennonite faith. Working in her aunt's bakery is a way for Hannah to get back on her feet, but she isn't sure if she can live by tradition--or if she and Jamie should stay for good. She finds an unexpected sympathetic listener in furniture maker William Brand. His stutter makes him feel like a permanent outsider in his Amish community, and he understands her loneliness.
Hannah is irresistibly drawn to the shy, caring William, and her education in speech therapy makes it natural for her to want to help him speak more easily. But how can she encourage his attention when she might someday leave Pleasant Valley, and when her father-in-law, a military officer, is scheming to take Jamie away from her? As William seeks the courage to stand up for the woman who believes in him, Hannah must decide where her true home lies--in the free, ever-changing world she knows, or in the simpler, loving community she's found...
304 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published May 1, 2012
33 people are currently reading
519 people want to read
About the author
Marta Perry
201 books769 followersMarta Perry is a Pennsylvania-based author of over 35 novels, many of them inspirational romances. She uses her rural Pennsylvania life and her Pennsylvania Dutch heritage in writing her books, especially in her Pleasant Valley Amish series for Berkley Books and her new Amish-set suspense series for HQN Books.
Marta and her husband live in a centuries-old farmhouse in a quiet central Pennsylvania valley. They have three grown children and six beautiful grandchildren, and when she's not busy writing her next book, she's usually trying to keep up with her gardening, baking for church events, or visiting those beautiful grandkids.
Marta and her husband live in a centuries-old farmhouse in a quiet central Pennsylvania valley. They have three grown children and six beautiful grandchildren, and when she's not busy writing her next book, she's usually trying to keep up with her gardening, baking for church events, or visiting those beautiful grandkids.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
March 8, 2019
I enjoyed reading Hannah's Joy perhaps more than any of the other books in this series. I'm not saying I didn't like the other books in this series because I truly did. This book was different however. Instead of the characters being Amish the ones in Hannah's Joy were a mixture of Englisch , Amish and Old Order Mennonite. Hannah was born to the Mennonite faith but her parents had jumped the fence when she was nine. Raised in the Englisch world her parents had split up and later her mother had died.
After being married to a soldier ,who had died in active duty Hannah was left alone and pregnant. Friends at the base provided a home for her until her son was born. Wanting to get away from reminders of her husband's death Hannah moved in with her Mennonite Aunt Paula in Pleasantville where she felt more secure. It was never her intentions to stay in there indefinitely, but as time passed she was drawn into the Mennonite faith she was raised in as a child. Things were good for her there until her Father in law came for a visit and disapproved of her living with plain people. Things got worse when he begin to make threats to legally take Jamie away from her. What could Hannah do to change his mind? Would she have to leave Pleasantville and go back to the Englisch world to please her Father in law?
It's not often a book will make me cry but as I read the last few chapters I shed tears. This story was moving and the characters very warm as they came to Hannah's aid when she needed help. Readers that have been reading other books in this series won't want to miss this book. I can't say enough good about it. Five stars!
I borrowed this book from the local library. A review wasn't required. All thought I've shared about this book are my own.
After being married to a soldier ,who had died in active duty Hannah was left alone and pregnant. Friends at the base provided a home for her until her son was born. Wanting to get away from reminders of her husband's death Hannah moved in with her Mennonite Aunt Paula in Pleasantville where she felt more secure. It was never her intentions to stay in there indefinitely, but as time passed she was drawn into the Mennonite faith she was raised in as a child. Things were good for her there until her Father in law came for a visit and disapproved of her living with plain people. Things got worse when he begin to make threats to legally take Jamie away from her. What could Hannah do to change his mind? Would she have to leave Pleasantville and go back to the Englisch world to please her Father in law?
It's not often a book will make me cry but as I read the last few chapters I shed tears. This story was moving and the characters very warm as they came to Hannah's aid when she needed help. Readers that have been reading other books in this series won't want to miss this book. I can't say enough good about it. Five stars!
I borrowed this book from the local library. A review wasn't required. All thought I've shared about this book are my own.
May 13, 2012
This novel is another peek into the life in Pleasant Valley with Amish and Mennonite neighbors and families. Hannah returns to her family roots with her son, Jamie, to her aunt's bakery after her husband has been killed as a soldier. There she meets William, the stuttering carpenter, who quickly becomes a friend. When her father-in-law appears in Pleasant Valley the balance of supporting your nation and keeping God's peace conflicts.
Quote page 304 "She had been lost but now she was found, and she was content."
My personal prayer is for me to remember to be content.
313 pages
Quote page 304 "She had been lost but now she was found, and she was content."
My personal prayer is for me to remember to be content.
313 pages
August 10, 2022
This is the first book in this series that I have read. I used to read Amish books a lot 15 years ago, and this called to me from the shelf of the dollar store. I enjoyed it very much. It is a simple love story that is every bit about the main character finding her place and dealing with grief as it is about finding a new love. I will definitely grab another in the series at some point.
April 24, 2021
could get into reading read over 100 pages on large print book
December 19, 2012
BLURB: Returning to Pleasant Valley is giving Hannah Connor a much needed chance to start her life again. But now she must determine her real place in this world.....Hannah is a very determined young lady. She has a lot of spunk to pick up and move back to her Amish beginnings with a young son. She works hard taking care of Jaimie and working at the bakery. She is very lonely but being a widow can be that way. A lot of us can relate to this. She found some of the qualities she was searching for as time went on. She made a very hard decision on where her home really was.
HANNAH'S JOY is a page turner and one of those don't put down books. It is a tale of fiction but you can place yourself in their shoes. Some of the characters are from previous books so it's almost like you already know them. The book starts with a tragedy. Hannah Connor became an unexpected widow when her soldier husband was killed in the service. This tragedy may cause some readers to reflect on their own lives, with the wars and tragedies we encounter in today's world. It was hard for her to get used to living off the base and taking care of her little one, Jamie. Her husband had never even seen him before he died. Seeking comfort she went to live in Pleasant Valley, a place she hadn't been to since she was a child. She didn't know if she could get used to living plain again after living on an Army base. Hannah had never joined the Amish community. Her parents and her had left years before. Her mother had suffered from depression and had committed suicide. This had a deep, profound effect on Hannah. Hannah lived above her Aunt Paula Schatz's bakery sharing a two bedroom apartment with her aunt and her son, Jaimie. During the day, she worked in the bakery to help her aunt. She was hoping to get back on track and to start living again. She just isn't sure if she can live Amish. She met William Brand, who was a furniture maker and very shy because he had a stuttering problem. Hannah had gone to school to be a Speech Therapist but had to drop out. She offers to help William but he refuses. Hannah is drawn to.......
This print copy of HANNAH'S JOY was a complimentary copy from Manic Readers for this review.
Marta Perry spent a lifetime in rural Pennsylvania. Her own Pennsylvania Dutch roots helped her to write about the Plain People who add to the rich heritage of her state. She has penned more than thirty-five inspirational romance novels and lives with her husband in a century old farmhouse.
www.martaperry.com
http://bemiown.blogspot.com
http://www.Amazon.com/Hannahs-Pleasan...
http://www.goodreads.com/review/shelf...
HANNAH'S JOY is a page turner and one of those don't put down books. It is a tale of fiction but you can place yourself in their shoes. Some of the characters are from previous books so it's almost like you already know them. The book starts with a tragedy. Hannah Connor became an unexpected widow when her soldier husband was killed in the service. This tragedy may cause some readers to reflect on their own lives, with the wars and tragedies we encounter in today's world. It was hard for her to get used to living off the base and taking care of her little one, Jamie. Her husband had never even seen him before he died. Seeking comfort she went to live in Pleasant Valley, a place she hadn't been to since she was a child. She didn't know if she could get used to living plain again after living on an Army base. Hannah had never joined the Amish community. Her parents and her had left years before. Her mother had suffered from depression and had committed suicide. This had a deep, profound effect on Hannah. Hannah lived above her Aunt Paula Schatz's bakery sharing a two bedroom apartment with her aunt and her son, Jaimie. During the day, she worked in the bakery to help her aunt. She was hoping to get back on track and to start living again. She just isn't sure if she can live Amish. She met William Brand, who was a furniture maker and very shy because he had a stuttering problem. Hannah had gone to school to be a Speech Therapist but had to drop out. She offers to help William but he refuses. Hannah is drawn to.......
This print copy of HANNAH'S JOY was a complimentary copy from Manic Readers for this review.
Marta Perry spent a lifetime in rural Pennsylvania. Her own Pennsylvania Dutch roots helped her to write about the Plain People who add to the rich heritage of her state. She has penned more than thirty-five inspirational romance novels and lives with her husband in a century old farmhouse.
www.martaperry.com
http://bemiown.blogspot.com
http://www.Amazon.com/Hannahs-Pleasan...
http://www.goodreads.com/review/shelf...
June 14, 2014
This is the sixth book in Marta Perry's Pleasant Valley series. Following the tragic death of her soldier husband, Travis, during the war, Hannah and her young son Jamie have moved back to Pleasant Valley to live with her Mennonite aunt Paula and work in Paula's bakery. Hannah longs to return to the English world where she has lived since she was 9 but she can't afford it and has limited support there. Paula is thrilled to have Hannah back as she misses her sister. Paula wants Hannah to join the Mennonite community. Travis' retired officer father, Robert, missed most of Travis' life while serving in the military. He thinks Hannah won't raise Jamie to remember Travis and respect his sacrifice as a soldier in the peaceful, non-violent Mennonite community he considers a cult. He wants to take Jamie away from Hannah. In spite of being torn in two directions, Hannah uses what she learned in her speech training in the English world to help Amish furniture maker William to learn to overcome his stuttering. But William's family is against William changing. Despite that, Hannah works with William until Robert comes to town. The question of whether Robert will take Jamie scares Hannah and forces her to fight. Will Robert and his money win? Will Hannah stay in Pleasant Valley or return to the English world? What happens between Hannah and William? Does William overcome his stuttering?
Although this is part of the Pleasant Valley series, you can read one without reading the others. It was great to see the previous books' characters in this as well and to see what has happened in their lives since their story or the previous book. For this book, you will read about William who was a part of Rachel's Garden (book 2). To understand all of the characters better, you should read the other books. I like how Marta Perry introduces the next book's character, Naomi, in this book and look forward to reading her book, Naomi's Christmas.
Although this is part of the Pleasant Valley series, you can read one without reading the others. It was great to see the previous books' characters in this as well and to see what has happened in their lives since their story or the previous book. For this book, you will read about William who was a part of Rachel's Garden (book 2). To understand all of the characters better, you should read the other books. I like how Marta Perry introduces the next book's character, Naomi, in this book and look forward to reading her book, Naomi's Christmas.
July 5, 2012
Book 6 in the Pleasant Valley Series
As young widow Hanna struggles to adapt to Amish customs, she encounters William Brand, who works in the furniture shop next door. William struggles too and feels isolated from the community because of his stutter. Having studied speech therapy in college, Hannah offers to help William improve his speech, and slowly their timid friendship blossoms into deep affection. Still, Hannah is aware that the barriers between them are great.
Her late husband, who came from a long line of military men, would object to Amish pacifist beliefs. How can she raise her son in a community that her deceased husband would almost certainly object to?
I loved this book! I enjoyed reading every bit of it and felt as though I was right there watching the story and romance unfold. You can't beat an awesome book like this where you really do feel like you're watching what's going on between the characters.
As young widow Hanna struggles to adapt to Amish customs, she encounters William Brand, who works in the furniture shop next door. William struggles too and feels isolated from the community because of his stutter. Having studied speech therapy in college, Hannah offers to help William improve his speech, and slowly their timid friendship blossoms into deep affection. Still, Hannah is aware that the barriers between them are great.
Her late husband, who came from a long line of military men, would object to Amish pacifist beliefs. How can she raise her son in a community that her deceased husband would almost certainly object to?
I loved this book! I enjoyed reading every bit of it and felt as though I was right there watching the story and romance unfold. You can't beat an awesome book like this where you really do feel like you're watching what's going on between the characters.
January 9, 2013
Marta Perry again writes a compelling story of loss and redemption. I would give this book 6 stars if I could. I liked Hanna's Joy that much. I recommend this book to everyone who loves a heartwarming story of overcoming loss and disability to find love and happiness. I could relate to Hannah's plight in trying to give her son the best she could while struggling with where she should make her home. I could not put the book down and ended up reading in in one night, I had to know what would happen next and find out how Hannah and her son Jamie would find love and happiness in their new Mennonite/Amish community.
June 10, 2020
I mentioned to a young neighbor that I had just finished reading Rosanna of the Amish and had thoroughly enjoyed it. The next day, this book was urged on me with the reassurance that I would love it, too. It's not a book that I'd usually pick up, but I did appreciate the recommendation and I figured it would be a quick read.
I actually enjoyed the story more than I'd expected to. It's a gentle 'beach read,' that isn't erotic or suspenseful, which in itself makes it a good light read for a hot summer day (or a snowy winter evening).
I actually enjoyed the story more than I'd expected to. It's a gentle 'beach read,' that isn't erotic or suspenseful, which in itself makes it a good light read for a hot summer day (or a snowy winter evening).
March 29, 2014
This has been a great series by Marta Perry! I cannot wait to read the other books she has written in the Pleasant Valley series. A story of a young widow who lost her husband in the war and left to raise her young child alone. She ends up in Pleasant Valley to live with her Mennonite aunt. Hannah helps in her aunt's bakery, uses her skills in Speech Therapy to help a young man, and learns to stand on her own two feet and do what is right for her and her son. Such a great book!!!
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December 16, 2015
Marty Perry did a good job of letting the warmth of her characters relax the minds of her readers.
To read the rest of the review, simply follow the link: http://www.aleisuremoment.com/2014/06...
February 6, 2016
Book #6 in the Pleasant Valley series and the story line is good. I also enjoy how Marta Perry
brings in many of the past characters who are in the previous books that I had grown to love, and it's fun visiting Pleasant Valley once again with main characters: Hannah, William, Jamie, and Aunt Paula.
Hannah sums it up when she said...She had been lost, but now she was found, and she was content!
brings in many of the past characters who are in the previous books that I had grown to love, and it's fun visiting Pleasant Valley once again with main characters: Hannah, William, Jamie, and Aunt Paula.
Hannah sums it up when she said...She had been lost, but now she was found, and she was content!
October 1, 2012
This book is wonderful and I think you can read it without reading it in order since this is book number six.
Marta Perry definitely captures the ways of caring and love that the Amish show and it does welcome back someone who had left when she was nine and taken away with her parents. A wonderful and enjoyable story.
Marta Perry definitely captures the ways of caring and love that the Amish show and it does welcome back someone who had left when she was nine and taken away with her parents. A wonderful and enjoyable story.
March 28, 2015
I was thrilled to see William get his story! I could not put this one down. Hannah and William are both facing adversities that leave them feeling incompetent and overshadowed by life. In this story, they both find their voice and learn about making choices God would have not that others would have. I enjoyed this read.
January 18, 2013
I really enjoy reading this series by Marta Perry. I love how she writes her characters and you really can picture the setting of her story. I think she is one of the best Amish Fiction writers out there. Once I started reading this book, I could not put it down.
April 10, 2013
I love reading books by Marta Perry regarding the Amish. Her books always contain one of life's lesson and figuring out which one it is, is half the experience while reading. Her books just seem to suck you in and you get the feeling like you are actually there.
September 16, 2012
EXCELLENT!!!
June 2, 2012
I really liked this book. It was just as good as the previous ones in the series. If you like reading Amish fiction books the pleasant valley series is a must read in my opinion.
April 6, 2016
Wow! This is a good book. It's a clean read. This might be the best book in the series so far. We meet yet another strong woman and see how choices affect everyone.
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February 3, 2013It was a great book cant wait for the next one to come out
May 29, 2014
Really enjoy Marta's books.
July 22, 2013
This was a sweet, easy read for the weekend.
February 6, 2014
This is a well-written Amish novel. The characters are well-developed, and I enjoyed the story line.
February 12, 2014
Marta Perry is another one of my favorite authors. She did not disappoint with this book either. The story was well written and the storyline didn't fall flat. Absolutely loved it!
August 25, 2014
Gives the reader a look at how the Amish / Mennonite community works at helping the English to understand their beliefs.
February 14, 2015
I am enjoying this series of books. Sweet stories.
June 30, 2016
This was a wonderful series and I hated it to end. The characters are real and the scenario's are unique from most Amish novels.
February 24, 2019
Love marta perry great book
Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews