What do you think?
Rate this book
Patch of Heaven #1
Sarah's Garden
Quite by accident, Sarah King has fallen in love. But this love is forbidden, and could cost her everything she holds dear.
Tucked into the majesty of Pennsylvania's Allegheny Mountains is a garden Sarah King has been nurturing for years. She never feels more alive than when she is alone with her thoughts and her Creator among the delicate rows of plants. But then duty calls her away from her beloved garden and into a world she knows little about.
Grant Williams, a handsome young veterinarian, has left the city to open a rural practice among the Amish. Within minutes of meeting shy but feisty Sarah King, he is captivated by her.
As their feelings grow for one another, Sarah insists they can never be together. Marrying Grant would mean being uprooted from her home, her family, and her community. Throughout the cold Pennsylvania winter, with her garden tucked away until spring, Sarah begins crafting a quilt that illustrates her pain. Can anything lasting blossom from a love that's forbidden?
Tucked into the majesty of Pennsylvania's Allegheny Mountains is a garden Sarah King has been nurturing for years. She never feels more alive than when she is alone with her thoughts and her Creator among the delicate rows of plants. But then duty calls her away from her beloved garden and into a world she knows little about.
Grant Williams, a handsome young veterinarian, has left the city to open a rural practice among the Amish. Within minutes of meeting shy but feisty Sarah King, he is captivated by her.
As their feelings grow for one another, Sarah insists they can never be together. Marrying Grant would mean being uprooted from her home, her family, and her community. Throughout the cold Pennsylvania winter, with her garden tucked away until spring, Sarah begins crafting a quilt that illustrates her pain. Can anything lasting blossom from a love that's forbidden?
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2010
125 people are currently reading
2530 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 152 reviews
November 18, 2012
This book has the best romantic tension I have ever read (although technically I listened to it on audiobook). The author builds such an incredible attraction between the two main characters, and even though the story is really pure, you could *feel* the heat between them, the potential.
That being said, I did get a little frustrated with the male lead for what I felt was his irresponsible behavior towards the heroine. I feel that he could have been a bit more honorable and less pushy, and about halfway (maybe two thirds) through I experienced a strong desire to punch him in the gut and tell him to back off and quit leading her on and pressuring her, if you care about her, you jerk! But the ending was really satisfying, and seriously, the attraction between these two...I could *feel* it. I almost got uncomfortable during one of their private conversations and felt like I was intruding on a really intense, private moment - and then I remembered that they were fictional people. I applaud the author for her masterful ability to write such pure sexual longing.
Overall, I definitely enjoyed the book, despite wishing that someone would scold the male lead. He turns out not to be such a jerk ;)
That being said, I did get a little frustrated with the male lead for what I felt was his irresponsible behavior towards the heroine. I feel that he could have been a bit more honorable and less pushy, and about halfway (maybe two thirds) through I experienced a strong desire to punch him in the gut and tell him to back off and quit leading her on and pressuring her, if you care about her, you jerk! But the ending was really satisfying, and seriously, the attraction between these two...I could *feel* it. I almost got uncomfortable during one of their private conversations and felt like I was intruding on a really intense, private moment - and then I remembered that they were fictional people. I applaud the author for her masterful ability to write such pure sexual longing.
Overall, I definitely enjoyed the book, despite wishing that someone would scold the male lead. He turns out not to be such a jerk ;)
January 12, 2011
Sarah’s Garden by Kelly Long is the first book in her A Patch of Heaven series. Sarah King is a 20 year old, shy Amish woman who loves her garden. Sarah’s sister, who previously ran the family’s stand, got married and Sarah’s parents decide that Sarah will take over the stand. Sarah can’t imagine it since she is so shy and spends most of her time by herself in her garden. Her father also decides that Sarah will make her sister’s soon to come baby its first quilt. Sarah can’t imagine this either, because her creativity has been limited to her garden and she gave up quilting a long time ago. But Sarah decides to do her best in both. While working her first day at the stand, she meets an English man who she discovers is her new neighbor and a veterinarian. It seems to be love at first sight for her new neighbor, Grant. Sarah likes him too. As they spend more time together, they fall deeper in love, but they know the love is forbidden. She is Amish and will be shunned if she leaves the faith to marry him an Englisher. So, they must make some decisions about that love. Read the book to find out what happens.
I’ve had this book for awhile and can’t believe I waited so long to read it. This is the first book I have read by Kelly Long and I really like her writing style. I really enjoyed the Amish details she brought to life in the story. I really enjoyed seeing Sarah go from this shy garden loving girl to a very creative woman. I thought it was awful that her parents made her run the stand with her shyness, but as usual parent’s know best and it was really good for Sarah. I also loved the quilting theme in the book and how it was compared to the creative of working a garden. Sarah had used garden to help her relax and get guidance from the Lord. I think eventually that she uses quilting in the same way and learns to love it. The only thing I would have liked more was a better description of the quilt. It seemed like it was this awesome thing, but I just could not picture it in my mind. Overall I loved the book and can’t wait to read the second book in the series, Lily’s Wedding Quilt, which comes out in March.
I’ve had this book for awhile and can’t believe I waited so long to read it. This is the first book I have read by Kelly Long and I really like her writing style. I really enjoyed the Amish details she brought to life in the story. I really enjoyed seeing Sarah go from this shy garden loving girl to a very creative woman. I thought it was awful that her parents made her run the stand with her shyness, but as usual parent’s know best and it was really good for Sarah. I also loved the quilting theme in the book and how it was compared to the creative of working a garden. Sarah had used garden to help her relax and get guidance from the Lord. I think eventually that she uses quilting in the same way and learns to love it. The only thing I would have liked more was a better description of the quilt. It seemed like it was this awesome thing, but I just could not picture it in my mind. Overall I loved the book and can’t wait to read the second book in the series, Lily’s Wedding Quilt, which comes out in March.
October 9, 2011
I'm a pretty big fan of Amish fiction. That being said, sometimes they can fall flat. Which is what happened with this one. A nice story to be sure, but the characters were lacking quite a bit.
Sarah has always enjoyed working in her garden, and she's fantastic at it. But then someone new moves in next door and helps to distract her from the wonderful plants she grows. But Dr. Williams is an Englischer veterinarian and loving him would mean losing her community, family, and all that makes her Amish. A sacrafice that Sarah is not willing to make. To make matters worse, the previous owners of William's farm have been coming around making trouble for Sarah and her family. All she wants to do is garden, but even there she is having trouble finding peace.
The characters, in my opinion, were very weak in this novel. Sarah was just a little too perfect and innocent, even if she was Amish. It was actually wearisome hearing how nice and calm she was all the time. Grant Williams on the other hand actually creeped me out a little bit. He too was a bit too perfect and nice, but some of the things he said actually came off as icky instead of romantic. The side characters too were a little off. Especially the one boy causing trouble and blaming it on Sarah's family, there wasn't any motive that I could see for doing this and while the author alludes to it, she never comes out and really says why.
The plot was actually good. I enjoyed reading about tending the garden and the roadside stand. It was also nice to hear about the baked goods and I wish some recipes would have been included within the book. The writing was nice and homey and described a wonderful way of looking at the Amish life. Since it is Amish fiction it could also be considered Christian fiction and this book was a bit preachy. Normally they're not so bad but this one took it a little over the top to me.
Not the best Amish fiction but it wasn't terrible. If you're a fan of the genre you might as well give it a read.
Sarah's Garden
Copyright 2010
300 pages
Review by M. Reynard 2011
More of my reviews can be found at www.ifithaswords.blogspot.com .
Sarah has always enjoyed working in her garden, and she's fantastic at it. But then someone new moves in next door and helps to distract her from the wonderful plants she grows. But Dr. Williams is an Englischer veterinarian and loving him would mean losing her community, family, and all that makes her Amish. A sacrafice that Sarah is not willing to make. To make matters worse, the previous owners of William's farm have been coming around making trouble for Sarah and her family. All she wants to do is garden, but even there she is having trouble finding peace.
The characters, in my opinion, were very weak in this novel. Sarah was just a little too perfect and innocent, even if she was Amish. It was actually wearisome hearing how nice and calm she was all the time. Grant Williams on the other hand actually creeped me out a little bit. He too was a bit too perfect and nice, but some of the things he said actually came off as icky instead of romantic. The side characters too were a little off. Especially the one boy causing trouble and blaming it on Sarah's family, there wasn't any motive that I could see for doing this and while the author alludes to it, she never comes out and really says why.
The plot was actually good. I enjoyed reading about tending the garden and the roadside stand. It was also nice to hear about the baked goods and I wish some recipes would have been included within the book. The writing was nice and homey and described a wonderful way of looking at the Amish life. Since it is Amish fiction it could also be considered Christian fiction and this book was a bit preachy. Normally they're not so bad but this one took it a little over the top to me.
Not the best Amish fiction but it wasn't terrible. If you're a fan of the genre you might as well give it a read.
Sarah's Garden
Copyright 2010
300 pages
Review by M. Reynard 2011
More of my reviews can be found at www.ifithaswords.blogspot.com .
June 25, 2010
There is nothing like a long recovery to help distinguish in one's mind the difference between a good and bad author! I've always been an avid reader of both Christian and secular fiction; but after these last weeks, I'm thinking I am now an expert. Sarah's Garden will top the lists. It's a great read, and I highly recommend it! For me, there are few authors who can compete at the same level as Francine Rivers, Dee Henderson, Mary Connealy, and Karen Kingsbury, but Kelly Long now places in my list of top ten Christian authors. I'm not sure what some publishers want out of their authors, but so many of the stories I've read contain one-dimensional characters who drip fake sweetness and temperaments and who lack believable challenges and personality quirks. One-thread plot lines can be juvenile, and one is reduced to feeling like a juvenile when authors continually repeat themselves. And too often, stories elevate a particular type of church to such extent Pharisees would be proud. The publishers at Thomas Nelson obviously don't put out the average cookie cutter story. They clearly allowed this author room to weave together a compelling dilemma in a setting and place where much can be learned, and where all angles of a character's struggle between perceived right and wrong can be debated. In reading Sarah's Garden, I most enjoyed the humming bird analogy, the high-road souvenir involving a minor character, and the author's accurate handling of the Amish setting and people, without the usual posturing. In the struggle presented, I chose sides. My side lost in the end, but I was surprised to find I wasn't disappointed. Sarah's Garden passed the Martha Martha test. Was the book a complete waste of what could have been more productive hours, or did it provide inspiration, understanding, or a particularly precious reminder, like the stories told in church, small group, or Sunday School? Lastly, Kelly Long’s obvious trust in her readers is refreshing.
July 2, 2010
I really enjoyed Sarah’s Garden. This is the first Amish book I have ever read, though, so if you’ve read a lot of Amish books, my review might not be the best one to go by.
I loved reading about a simpler life, and Sarah’s garden and quilting adventures. It was a reminder for me not to place so much importance on worldly possessions. (I will always love my power and hot showers, though)! Quilting is something that I really want to learn more about. I love the stories that can be taken away from them.
After reading this book, I want to go plan a garden for my backyard! I never knew there was so many varieties of fruits and vegetables. I saw many names I had never heard of.
There were moments of humor sprinkled in. I absolutely loved the “snoring” scene! I thought it was so funny and kind of sad at the same time. If that were my husband, and I found out, he’d be in trouble!! I still had to laugh, though.
Grant is a veterinarian, so there’s lots of scenes with animals, also. I couldn’t help but cringe reading about the bats. I know that if a person was to touch a bat, they would go through some painful shots. (At least I know a family that had to go through that). The characters in the book touch the bats like baby kittens. It was interesting to read about all the different jobs and recreations of this book.
I loved reading about a simpler life, and Sarah’s garden and quilting adventures. It was a reminder for me not to place so much importance on worldly possessions. (I will always love my power and hot showers, though)! Quilting is something that I really want to learn more about. I love the stories that can be taken away from them.
After reading this book, I want to go plan a garden for my backyard! I never knew there was so many varieties of fruits and vegetables. I saw many names I had never heard of.
There were moments of humor sprinkled in. I absolutely loved the “snoring” scene! I thought it was so funny and kind of sad at the same time. If that were my husband, and I found out, he’d be in trouble!! I still had to laugh, though.
Grant is a veterinarian, so there’s lots of scenes with animals, also. I couldn’t help but cringe reading about the bats. I know that if a person was to touch a bat, they would go through some painful shots. (At least I know a family that had to go through that). The characters in the book touch the bats like baby kittens. It was interesting to read about all the different jobs and recreations of this book.
January 25, 2013
My first Kelly Long book was "Lilly's Wedding Quilt" which I received in exchange for a book review. I LOVED it. It was instantly one of my favorite books. So when I bought "Sarah's Garden" I had high expectations.
I enjoyed going back and reading the story of Sarah and Grant (as they are referenced in the second book). It helped to see the beginning of the story (though by no means do they need to be read in order). I liked this book, but didn't love it.
I had trouble accepting that a young Amish woman would let certain things happen, and go as far as they did, knowing that a relationship between an Englisher and an Amish can't work unless she is willing to give up her lifestyle. Outside of this hangup I did like the book. I enjoyed the whole King family, especially the brother Luke.
Overall "Sarah's Garden" lays before you an illustration full of imagery (I would love to be standing in Sarah's garden looking over the beautiful sanctuary she has put together), family, love, struggle, strength, and growth. The seasons of the garden are a reflection of the characters lives and the beauty that sometimes we need to imagine will be there, rather than looking at what is there in the cold of winter.
I enjoyed going back and reading the story of Sarah and Grant (as they are referenced in the second book). It helped to see the beginning of the story (though by no means do they need to be read in order). I liked this book, but didn't love it.
I had trouble accepting that a young Amish woman would let certain things happen, and go as far as they did, knowing that a relationship between an Englisher and an Amish can't work unless she is willing to give up her lifestyle. Outside of this hangup I did like the book. I enjoyed the whole King family, especially the brother Luke.
Overall "Sarah's Garden" lays before you an illustration full of imagery (I would love to be standing in Sarah's garden looking over the beautiful sanctuary she has put together), family, love, struggle, strength, and growth. The seasons of the garden are a reflection of the characters lives and the beauty that sometimes we need to imagine will be there, rather than looking at what is there in the cold of winter.
February 23, 2016
Sarah's Garden is the first book in "A Patch of Heaven" series. Be sure to read the Authour's [stet] Note at the beginning of the book. I wish more writers would do this when working in a genre that is well known by readers.
Kelly's books (I'm beginning to feel like I know her personally) all have something to teach us. One of the things about this book is all the different kinds of vegetables. I grew up on a farm and my mother certainly purchased specific seeds or plants.
In Sarah's Garden you will learn *new* vegetables like ghost tomatoes or white wonder cucumbers as well as other rare facts such as a horse and buggy can travel at most eight miles an hour (from Chapter 10).
When I read about taking half-frozen clothes off the line to "iron dry" it brought back memories. My mother and I did this when I was growing up.
Kelly can impart knowledge while writing a wonderful story and like all the books I have read by her thus far, I enjoyed every word of it.
Kelly's books (I'm beginning to feel like I know her personally) all have something to teach us. One of the things about this book is all the different kinds of vegetables. I grew up on a farm and my mother certainly purchased specific seeds or plants.
In Sarah's Garden you will learn *new* vegetables like ghost tomatoes or white wonder cucumbers as well as other rare facts such as a horse and buggy can travel at most eight miles an hour (from Chapter 10).
When I read about taking half-frozen clothes off the line to "iron dry" it brought back memories. My mother and I did this when I was growing up.
Kelly can impart knowledge while writing a wonderful story and like all the books I have read by her thus far, I enjoyed every word of it.
January 11, 2011
Sarah's Garden is the first in Kelly Long's Patch of Heaven series. When the Amish Juliet meets the Englisch Romeo, there are fireworks. They come from two different worlds, but can they make things work? Shy Sarah King, sent to take her turn at the family's roadside stand, grows more over the summer than what can be raised in her garden. Dr. Grant Williams, the new veterinarian to the Amish community, tends to more than just the neighbors animals as the months pass. Can it work?
Having read many other Amish fiction novels, I have always been amazed by how innocent the couples are when they come to find that they are in love. I was surprised by the passion shared by Sarah King and Dr. Grant Williams. Thank you Kelly for showing us that the Amish do have more emotions than we've seen in other works.
Having read many other Amish fiction novels, I have always been amazed by how innocent the couples are when they come to find that they are in love. I was surprised by the passion shared by Sarah King and Dr. Grant Williams. Thank you Kelly for showing us that the Amish do have more emotions than we've seen in other works.
February 21, 2012
I must say, for an Amish book, this was quite spicey! Loved it! Also my first audio book!
November 23, 2019
Parts of the plot (and some of the descriptions of Sarah’s beauty) were a bit silly but Amish Romance is my comfort reading and this had everything I could possible ask for. It was so cozy and sweet I can’t get enough, so I’m going straight into the next part of the series!
October 1, 2024
September 26, 2024
I always hated ebooks, and then I downloaded some on my phone and realized that ebooks make for a much faster read, no matter how much I prefer physical books. I finished this book in one day, whereas it took a while to read the second book in this series, Lilly's Wedding Quilt. I didn't like that book very much, and I can't say that I enjoyed this one either.
The characters
Firstly, Jacob Wyse (one of the main protagonists in the second book) seemed completely different in this book. I don't remember him always being teasing and unserious. Did he just change personalities between books? Also, he was a bit of a jerk in the beginning of the story until he suddenly started becoming more romantically interested in Sarah. I dunno, I didn't like him. Lilly was great.
The Matthew Fisher subplot was just weird. It was similar to the Tommy/Kate subplot in Lilly's Wedding Quilt where there were troubled teenagers who just have their pasts wiped clean with no work at all and everything's suddenly great for them. Never mind the fact that Matthew and his friend cornered Sarah in her family's stand and... Oh, I'll let the text explain it for you.
Something that rubbed me the wrong way was Sarah's reaction to Ms. Fisher, who is Matthew's mother. Matthew's father was abusive, so Matthew's mother escaped to the outside world with her children. She is now divorced, and Sarah's first thought was: "If an Amish family left the community, they were not to be acknowledged by any of the community. Yet Sarah could not bring herself not to respond politely; the woman looked so radically different and happy." I don't like divorce, either, but if your husband is abusing you and your children, then by all means, get out! It's not fair that Ms. Fisher has to be shunned by her entire community and cut off from them just because she divorced an abusive man! Sarah also says: "One part of her wanted to rejoice that the woman had gotten away from the man who had so abused her, but the other part of her mind wrestled with the difficult concept of divorce and all of its implications." What in the world is that supposed to mean?
I didn't like Grant nor Sarah very much. Sarah was too mumbly and quiet and moping for my liking. She didn't really do anything. Grant was fine when he was narrating, but when Sarah was narrating, he was extremely aggravating. What sort of man goes after an Amish woman (when he is not Amish), clearly wanting to pursue a romantic relationship, and doesn't ask for her thoughts? He keeps complimenting her and touching her when she hasn't really expressed that she wants it (in fact, she specifically asks him not to compliment her multiple times). At one point, she's standing barefoot outside, and because she's cold, Grant starts rubbing her bare feet right then and there. Really? Is that a thing that guys do? I don't know about you, but if a guy started doing that to me (even if I knew him), I'd give him a good kick in the face and run in the opposite direction! I mean, come on!
The writing
I didn't really notice the writing in Lilly's Wedding Quilt, but the writing in this book irked me greatly. THOSE DARN ELLIPSES. THOSE DROVE ME FREAKING CRAZY.
I swear, if the characters had "laughed," "smiled," or "murmured" one more time, I would have screamed. The author needs to find a thesaurus. "Smiled" is used 121 times in the book, "murmured" is used eighteen times, and "laughed" is used 79. Repetitive much?
Some other writing gems:
- "Fresh-faced expression." What on God's green earth does that mean?!
- "OOooOOooOOooOO" in the middle of a very serious text had me cracking up.
- "...the sound spinning into his chest..." Just... what?
- "Luke stayed to lunch a happy, laughing affair of sweet creamed tomatoes, roast beef sandwiches, blueberry pie, and fresh cheese." Maybe it's just that my PDF is messed up—some of the quotation marks were wonky, and there was a space after almost every apostrophe (she 's instead of she's, for example)—but I had to reread this sentence a couple of times to try to understand what it was saying. While Spanish has a "to lunch" verb (almorzar, to eat lunch), English does not, so I was very confused at "Luke stayed to lunch." Either the PDF forgot to put in a few words, or the author needed to replace "to" with "for."
- "Sarah followed the aged woman, admiring the little house so crammed with quilts and crocheted items, as well as books and copies of The Budget and framed paintings of different birds filling up the walls." Correct me if I'm wrong, but the Amish don't allow paintings, correct? Something to do with vanity or pride? The Amish can't paint or have art on their walls, I think, so reading this sentence struck me as odd. This does take place in the "doddy haus," so maybe the rules are a little different, I dunno.
- Sarah reading a letter: "The words telegraphed their meanings across the page." What? Words don't telegraph meanings. Words are the meanings. It wouldn't make sense for a word to "telegraph a meaning" across the page. If words were telegraphing meanings, they'd be doing so to Sarah's brain or maybe her eyes, but definitely not "across the page." By the way, how does Sarah, who has used a phone once in her life, know what a telegraph of all things is?
- This quote from Grossmudder (Grandmother): "I'm glad to hear it just the same; no granddaughter of mine will ever marry an Englischer, that's for certain." My social studies teacher went on a rant one day not too long ago about how he was offended at being called English by the Amish. "I'm not English," he said, "I'm not from England. I'm American." Anyway, I was mad at Grossmudder for saying that, especially in the presence of kindly Mrs. Bustle, who is non-Amish. I just didn't like the character of Grossmudder at all.
The wrap-up of the Matthew Fisher subplot was way too rushed. How did Matthew just have a random 180-degree change of heart out of nowhere, just because Sarah told him that she'd been praying for him? That bothered me a lot, especially considering what happened before (cornering her in the stand, committing arson) and what happens afterward. Sarah helps him get in contact with his non-Amish uncle who will take him in and help him, and then there's this:
I initially rated this book as two stars, but as I've been writing this review, I realized how much I disliked it, so it gets one star from me. It's also past eleven o'clock, so there's that. I'll read Threads of Grace after this, but since this whole series has been disappointing thus far, I won't expect much.
I always hated ebooks, and then I downloaded some on my phone and realized that ebooks make for a much faster read, no matter how much I prefer physical books. I finished this book in one day, whereas it took a while to read the second book in this series, Lilly's Wedding Quilt. I didn't like that book very much, and I can't say that I enjoyed this one either.
The characters
Firstly, Jacob Wyse (one of the main protagonists in the second book) seemed completely different in this book. I don't remember him always being teasing and unserious. Did he just change personalities between books? Also, he was a bit of a jerk in the beginning of the story until he suddenly started becoming more romantically interested in Sarah. I dunno, I didn't like him. Lilly was great.
The Matthew Fisher subplot was just weird. It was similar to the Tommy/Kate subplot in Lilly's Wedding Quilt where there were troubled teenagers who just have their pasts wiped clean with no work at all and everything's suddenly great for them. Never mind the fact that Matthew and his friend cornered Sarah in her family's stand and... Oh, I'll let the text explain it for you.
[Matthew's] companion had come to stand next to Sarah's chair and pulled on her kapp strings with dirty fingers. "She's pretty, Matt. Let's have a little fun." He leaned close, and she could smell the lanky teenager's foul morning breath... The boy laughed and squeezed hard at the nape of her neck... "I bet I could loosen her up," [he] said, keeping a firm grip on Sarah's neck... The youth moved to kiss her and she jerked away, knocking over her chair and rising to press herself into the small corner of the stand. "Sarah, is it? Not shy, are you?" The boy was moving closer as she screamed while he laughed... [Then Grant comes to rescue her.]I felt immensely uncomfortable reading this scene. Is this a guy whom you would forgive as easily as that, especially after he commits arson and burns your father's crops later in the book? No, I don't think so.
Something that rubbed me the wrong way was Sarah's reaction to Ms. Fisher, who is Matthew's mother. Matthew's father was abusive, so Matthew's mother escaped to the outside world with her children. She is now divorced, and Sarah's first thought was: "If an Amish family left the community, they were not to be acknowledged by any of the community. Yet Sarah could not bring herself not to respond politely; the woman looked so radically different and happy." I don't like divorce, either, but if your husband is abusing you and your children, then by all means, get out! It's not fair that Ms. Fisher has to be shunned by her entire community and cut off from them just because she divorced an abusive man! Sarah also says: "One part of her wanted to rejoice that the woman had gotten away from the man who had so abused her, but the other part of her mind wrestled with the difficult concept of divorce and all of its implications." What in the world is that supposed to mean?
I didn't like Grant nor Sarah very much. Sarah was too mumbly and quiet and moping for my liking. She didn't really do anything. Grant was fine when he was narrating, but when Sarah was narrating, he was extremely aggravating. What sort of man goes after an Amish woman (when he is not Amish), clearly wanting to pursue a romantic relationship, and doesn't ask for her thoughts? He keeps complimenting her and touching her when she hasn't really expressed that she wants it (in fact, she specifically asks him not to compliment her multiple times). At one point, she's standing barefoot outside, and because she's cold, Grant starts rubbing her bare feet right then and there. Really? Is that a thing that guys do? I don't know about you, but if a guy started doing that to me (even if I knew him), I'd give him a good kick in the face and run in the opposite direction! I mean, come on!
The writing
I didn't really notice the writing in Lilly's Wedding Quilt, but the writing in this book irked me greatly. THOSE DARN ELLIPSES. THOSE DROVE ME FREAKING CRAZY.
"Are you Mr. Kemp?"This scene is from one page in the book. Almost all of the dialogue is written like this. I kid you not, there are 436 uses of the ellipsis in this book. FOUR HUNDRED THIRTY-SIX. ARGH.
"John... please. And you're Dr. Williams?"
"Yes. How is your wife doing?"
The young man shook his head and swallowed hard. "It's our first, you know. Frau [Mrs.] Knepp has been with her for hours... I don't know."
"Frau Knepp is the midwife?"
"Jah..."
"Well," Grant tried to encourage him. "First labors always take a while. It's normal."
"Jah. Please... will you come inside?"
Grant considered; Sarah would probably have a fit. "I'd better not," he said with regret. "I've got some calls."
"Just for a bit... I could do with some menfolk's company."
"Alright... for a few minutes."
I swear, if the characters had "laughed," "smiled," or "murmured" one more time, I would have screamed. The author needs to find a thesaurus. "Smiled" is used 121 times in the book, "murmured" is used eighteen times, and "laughed" is used 79. Repetitive much?
Some other writing gems:
- "Fresh-faced expression." What on God's green earth does that mean?!
- "OOooOOooOOooOO" in the middle of a very serious text had me cracking up.
- "...the sound spinning into his chest..." Just... what?
- "Luke stayed to lunch a happy, laughing affair of sweet creamed tomatoes, roast beef sandwiches, blueberry pie, and fresh cheese." Maybe it's just that my PDF is messed up—some of the quotation marks were wonky, and there was a space after almost every apostrophe (she 's instead of she's, for example)—but I had to reread this sentence a couple of times to try to understand what it was saying. While Spanish has a "to lunch" verb (almorzar, to eat lunch), English does not, so I was very confused at "Luke stayed to lunch." Either the PDF forgot to put in a few words, or the author needed to replace "to" with "for."
- "Sarah followed the aged woman, admiring the little house so crammed with quilts and crocheted items, as well as books and copies of The Budget and framed paintings of different birds filling up the walls." Correct me if I'm wrong, but the Amish don't allow paintings, correct? Something to do with vanity or pride? The Amish can't paint or have art on their walls, I think, so reading this sentence struck me as odd. This does take place in the "doddy haus," so maybe the rules are a little different, I dunno.
- Sarah reading a letter: "The words telegraphed their meanings across the page." What? Words don't telegraph meanings. Words are the meanings. It wouldn't make sense for a word to "telegraph a meaning" across the page. If words were telegraphing meanings, they'd be doing so to Sarah's brain or maybe her eyes, but definitely not "across the page." By the way, how does Sarah, who has used a phone once in her life, know what a telegraph of all things is?
- This quote from Grossmudder (Grandmother): "I'm glad to hear it just the same; no granddaughter of mine will ever marry an Englischer, that's for certain." My social studies teacher went on a rant one day not too long ago about how he was offended at being called English by the Amish. "I'm not English," he said, "I'm not from England. I'm American." Anyway, I was mad at Grossmudder for saying that, especially in the presence of kindly Mrs. Bustle, who is non-Amish. I just didn't like the character of Grossmudder at all.
The wrap-up of the Matthew Fisher subplot was way too rushed. How did Matthew just have a random 180-degree change of heart out of nowhere, just because Sarah told him that she'd been praying for him? That bothered me a lot, especially considering what happened before (cornering her in the stand, committing arson) and what happens afterward. Sarah helps him get in contact with his non-Amish uncle who will take him in and help him, and then there's this:
"You think you'll turn my heart with your gentleness, but I'll not have it." [Side note, the dialogue is awful—who talks like this?!]Sarah, girl, have some self-worth! Also, if you don't like Grant's compliments and weird touching, then just say NO! It would make all your lives so much easier!
[Sarah] nodded as if in agreement. "Just talk to me; not everything has to be in anger." She took a deep breath. "Then, if you wish to kiss me, I will let you."
"You will kiss me when I desire it," he stated.
[A few pages later, after Sarah gets him in contact with his uncle and she gives him a haircut.]
[Matthew] couldn't look [Sarah] in the face, so she leaned near to him. "I promised a kiss if you would talk with me. I freely give it." He glanced up, and she kissed him on his cheek.
I initially rated this book as two stars, but as I've been writing this review, I realized how much I disliked it, so it gets one star from me. It's also past eleven o'clock, so there's that. I'll read Threads of Grace after this, but since this whole series has been disappointing thus far, I won't expect much.
January 23, 2011
Sarah buries her shyness in her garden, nurturing her plants with her God-given gift and love of the land. But when her sister marries and leaves the family farm, Sarah has to step into her shoes and tend the vegetable stall. Initially scared at the prospect of having to deal with people - especially Englishers! - on a regular basis, Sarah soon finds that she's enjoying herself. Especially since Grant Williams, the local English vet and her new neighbour, continually visits the stall and becomes a close friend. It begins to feel like Grant has always been part of her life, and as Sarah spends many hours helping him plant a vegetable garden she realises that what she feels for Grant is more than she's ever felt for any Amish boy. But where can their relationship go? Sarah could never leave her community. Could Grant ever give up his sports car and join the Amish world?
Kelly really grasps the essence of the Amish way of life in this simple love story. I felt like I was working with Sarah in her garden and walking beside her and Grant in the forest. There was a true sense of peace, despite the dramas occurring in the lives of the characters. And I really got the impression that the Amish were welcoming, loving people. While some novels choose to focus on shunnings and people who find themselves pitted against the Elders in their community, this portrayal was entirely different. I loved the way in which the Amish welcomed Grant with open arms when he expressed his desire to become a vet for their community. And they freely accepted his help in emergencies, allowing him to drive them to the hospital or a friend's house if needed. This was very different to other novels where the Amish avoid anyone English at all costs.
Sarah and Grant's story isn't terribly complicated. A girl falls for a boy that she cannot be with because of societal differences, yet both yearn to be together. Sarah's parents were surprisingly accepting of their daughter's developing relationship to an outsider, and while they discouraged her they didn't actively try to stop them being together. They could have banned her from seeing him, but they let her make her own choices. And while Sarah does have another love-interest, her best friend Jacob, it is clear that Grant is the only man that she's interested in. I appreciated that Kelly showed not only the blossoming friendship between Sarah and Grant, but also their attraction to each other and the physical aspect of their relationship. While the emotional and spiritual foundations of any relationship are always the most important, a lot of authors forget about attraction and even simple hugs and kisses. I'm sure that any reader will agree that the kisses shared between Sarah and Grant were not lustful, but emphasised their love for each other and their desire to be together.
My only minor complaints about this book would have to be that Grant initially appeared to be far too forward in his flirtations, and that the situation with the Fisher farm was resolved a little too easily. Grant is, in my eyes, clearly flirting with Sarah from their first meeting at the vegetable stand. Something just didn't sit right with this, and it made me a little wary of him to begin with. I wouldn't have minded if their relationship had built up to flirtations, but it seemed a little odd to behave in such a forward manner from the start. I did warm up to him, but this niggled me for a while. As for the Fisher farm and the mystery surrounding that, all the problems were resolved in a couple of pages near the end of the novel and it just seemed a bit too fast and too easy.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story and became so involved in the lives of the characters that I even shed a tear or two over their struggles! Kelly Long is definitely an author to keep your eye on if you're interested in Amish fiction. Not only does she understand her subject inside and out, she creates characters that you'll wish you never have to say goodbye to. 9/10
Kelly really grasps the essence of the Amish way of life in this simple love story. I felt like I was working with Sarah in her garden and walking beside her and Grant in the forest. There was a true sense of peace, despite the dramas occurring in the lives of the characters. And I really got the impression that the Amish were welcoming, loving people. While some novels choose to focus on shunnings and people who find themselves pitted against the Elders in their community, this portrayal was entirely different. I loved the way in which the Amish welcomed Grant with open arms when he expressed his desire to become a vet for their community. And they freely accepted his help in emergencies, allowing him to drive them to the hospital or a friend's house if needed. This was very different to other novels where the Amish avoid anyone English at all costs.
Sarah and Grant's story isn't terribly complicated. A girl falls for a boy that she cannot be with because of societal differences, yet both yearn to be together. Sarah's parents were surprisingly accepting of their daughter's developing relationship to an outsider, and while they discouraged her they didn't actively try to stop them being together. They could have banned her from seeing him, but they let her make her own choices. And while Sarah does have another love-interest, her best friend Jacob, it is clear that Grant is the only man that she's interested in. I appreciated that Kelly showed not only the blossoming friendship between Sarah and Grant, but also their attraction to each other and the physical aspect of their relationship. While the emotional and spiritual foundations of any relationship are always the most important, a lot of authors forget about attraction and even simple hugs and kisses. I'm sure that any reader will agree that the kisses shared between Sarah and Grant were not lustful, but emphasised their love for each other and their desire to be together.
My only minor complaints about this book would have to be that Grant initially appeared to be far too forward in his flirtations, and that the situation with the Fisher farm was resolved a little too easily. Grant is, in my eyes, clearly flirting with Sarah from their first meeting at the vegetable stand. Something just didn't sit right with this, and it made me a little wary of him to begin with. I wouldn't have minded if their relationship had built up to flirtations, but it seemed a little odd to behave in such a forward manner from the start. I did warm up to him, but this niggled me for a while. As for the Fisher farm and the mystery surrounding that, all the problems were resolved in a couple of pages near the end of the novel and it just seemed a bit too fast and too easy.
I thoroughly enjoyed this story and became so involved in the lives of the characters that I even shed a tear or two over their struggles! Kelly Long is definitely an author to keep your eye on if you're interested in Amish fiction. Not only does she understand her subject inside and out, she creates characters that you'll wish you never have to say goodbye to. 9/10
February 5, 2013
I was really excited to read this series. Kelly Long has a way of making me want to jump into a book and run away with a fictional character. I have to say—she makes an Amish man sound pretty enticing! I cannot believe how fast I’m reading through this series. I gulped down this book and moved right on to the next which I finished in one day! If you’re looking for Amish romance that is a little more vivid in the romance department—Kelly Long sure has that area down pat. It’s still tasteful but just a little bit sensuous!
Sarah's Garden by Kelly Long is the first book in the Patch of Heaven series and takes us into the lives of the King family. Sarah takes comfort in her garden and feels as if she doesn’t really fit in with the women in her community. She isn’t great at quilting fabric—instead she looks at her garden as her quilt. This makes her unique and it catches the interest of the new veterinarian in town. Problem is—he’s not Amish and as much as Sarah wants to deny her feelings, she’s pretty interested in the Doctor.
At the urging of her family, she tries to put the thoughts of Grant Williams out of her mind but after a stolen kiss here or there it just isn’t possible. When Grant makes the decision to leave and let Sarah go so that she is not shunned from her family and taken from her faith—Sarah’s world comes crashing down around her. It is then that her family tries to set her up with her best childhood friend, Jacob. Jacob has always been in love with Sarah and is determined to step in and be there for her if he can. Thing aren’t so easy for Sarah to accept though and while she seeks peace—Grant is seeking something else entirely. I don’t want to spoil it, in fact I’d like to tease you perhaps and make you wonder…
Does Grant return and steal Sarah’s heart or has she found peace in the arms of her best friend? I’ll leave it for you to decide (and hopefully to read!) I think you’ll love it! Just the right touches of romance to make you wish you were able to snag the heart of some handsome man out in the middle of Amish country. A delightful read that has been an absolute pleasure and honor to add to my growing collection of Amish fiction.
View all my reviews
Amazon|CBD|Barnes&Noble
April 30, 2015
Sarah's Garden - Kelly Long
(*SPOILER ALERT!!!*) 4.5stars
So, after my mom gushing about Lilly's Wedding Quilt by Kelly Long for over a year, I finally decided to read the Patch of Heaven series (Lilly's Wedding Quilt is book two). Or, more accurately put, she finally just told me to read them. And, being the wonderfully obedient daughter that I am (not to mention I wasn't reading anything at the time and they really sounded interesting), I agreed and started reading.
I first started reading it and, I must admit, it was boring. Amish girl is nervous 'cuz she has to start working at her family's roadside stand, new Englisch vet moves to town and gets comfortable, blah, blah, blah. But then... beautiful Amish girl meets hunky Englischer and - oh, look, I see a spark!
Grant (aka, hunky Englischer) was a total sweetheart! He was so charming, and romantic, and gentlemanly. He sure started liking her fast! He was literally charming the moment they met! I really liked the part where he ate the apple butter off of Sarah. I think I must've worded that wrong, because the sweet moment suddenly sounds disgusting!
Sarah was great. Sweet, gentle, kind, and innocent. Her love for Grant and tumultuous emotions were so real and endearing. It's funny, Grant and Grossmudder (Grandmother) King (Man, that woman's got herself a tongue!) both called Sarah sassy, but she didn't seem very sassy to me, the official Queen of Sass.
I felt so sorry for poor Jacob! He's in love with Sarah, fully knowing she loves someone else. It's so sad! The poor man. He's funny too. And he's such a sweetie (page 259). Though he did make me want to slap him once or twice.
Poor Matthew. I hope his uncle can help him heal and move on. His dad was such a jerk. And his mom was so nice. I'm glad Sarah gave her the quilt.
Sarah's mamm and father were really nice, and kind, and patient.
Bishop - He was just too funny. His humor was so refreshing and silly. And the manure idea, ha!
Mr. and Mrs. Bustle were sweet. Though I thought that was kind of strange how Mrs. Bustle had been a housekeeper for ages and she was still afraid of mice. The bats were funny.
I enjoy Kelly Long's writing style. She had the romance, the quality, and the depth. I do wish she had more action though. The crop fire was exciting, but, well, let's just say I'm used to Mary Connealy. Hangings, shootouts, floods, fires, you name it.
She didn't do so well on the faith either. Oh, she had a lot of God in there, but not so much about His Son. Which was disappointing.
(*SPOILER ALERT!!!*) 4.5stars
So, after my mom gushing about Lilly's Wedding Quilt by Kelly Long for over a year, I finally decided to read the Patch of Heaven series (Lilly's Wedding Quilt is book two). Or, more accurately put, she finally just told me to read them. And, being the wonderfully obedient daughter that I am (not to mention I wasn't reading anything at the time and they really sounded interesting), I agreed and started reading.
I first started reading it and, I must admit, it was boring. Amish girl is nervous 'cuz she has to start working at her family's roadside stand, new Englisch vet moves to town and gets comfortable, blah, blah, blah. But then... beautiful Amish girl meets hunky Englischer and - oh, look, I see a spark!
Grant (aka, hunky Englischer) was a total sweetheart! He was so charming, and romantic, and gentlemanly. He sure started liking her fast! He was literally charming the moment they met! I really liked the part where he ate the apple butter off of Sarah. I think I must've worded that wrong, because the sweet moment suddenly sounds disgusting!
Sarah was great. Sweet, gentle, kind, and innocent. Her love for Grant and tumultuous emotions were so real and endearing. It's funny, Grant and Grossmudder (Grandmother) King (Man, that woman's got herself a tongue!) both called Sarah sassy, but she didn't seem very sassy to me, the official Queen of Sass.
I felt so sorry for poor Jacob! He's in love with Sarah, fully knowing she loves someone else. It's so sad! The poor man. He's funny too. And he's such a sweetie (page 259). Though he did make me want to slap him once or twice.
Poor Matthew. I hope his uncle can help him heal and move on. His dad was such a jerk. And his mom was so nice. I'm glad Sarah gave her the quilt.
Sarah's mamm and father were really nice, and kind, and patient.
Bishop - He was just too funny. His humor was so refreshing and silly. And the manure idea, ha!
Mr. and Mrs. Bustle were sweet. Though I thought that was kind of strange how Mrs. Bustle had been a housekeeper for ages and she was still afraid of mice. The bats were funny.
I enjoy Kelly Long's writing style. She had the romance, the quality, and the depth. I do wish she had more action though. The crop fire was exciting, but, well, let's just say I'm used to Mary Connealy. Hangings, shootouts, floods, fires, you name it.
She didn't do so well on the faith either. Oh, she had a lot of God in there, but not so much about His Son. Which was disappointing.
July 16, 2011
For most of you that don’t know, I’ve recently returned to Christianity. With that return, I’ve noticed that my reading tastes have once again changed, as I am reading more Christian Fiction/Romance than I used to. I’ve even challenged myself to read 100 of these types of books by end of year and I just got started in May!
I’ve also signed up on netgalley.com, a website that looks for readers to review books that publishers put out to them. As this is one of the places where I said I would post a review, I’m going to practice by reviewing a couple of the books I just finished.
Sarah’s Garden and Lilly’s Wedding Quilt by Kelly Long are part of her A Patch of Heaven series. They are both set in the Amish Community of Pine Creek, Pennsylvania. Of the two books in the series so far, I prefer the second book, Lilly’s Wedding Quilt. Both books are very well written and entertaining to read, but I was able to connect more with the characters in Lilly’s Wedding Quilt than I did with the characters of Sarah’s Garden.
To me, Sarah’s Garden suffered from the problem of the main character being too unreachable. Sarah seemed to be very distant and unreachable from a reader’s perspective. While the mysteries surrounding Grant were able to keep me interested in the book, Sarah’s constant withdrawals made it difficult for me to care about what happened to her. This could have been a case of extreme shyness, but it became wearying as the book went on. However, it did allow us to see how much Sarah grew as a woman of faith, and her newfound confidence was apparent in the second book.
Lilly’s Wedding Quilt tackled some tough issues for an Amish community, depression and a marriage of convenience. Lilly was easy to identify with, even as an Englisher (Amish term for anyone that is not a member of the Amish Community). Her fear of a loveless marriage is something that many of us go through. Her strength in caring for her mother during a difficult illness is also something easily identified with. Her husband, Jacob, also has some trust issues that any woman can easily identify with as well. Their story is all the more poignant for what they had to go through in order to realize the depth of their love for one another.
I would have to give the series as a whole four stars, with Sarah’s Garden earning 3.5 stars and Lilly’s Wedding Quilt earning 4.5 stars. I would definitely recommend this series to others and would read it again when the mood strikes.
I’ve also signed up on netgalley.com, a website that looks for readers to review books that publishers put out to them. As this is one of the places where I said I would post a review, I’m going to practice by reviewing a couple of the books I just finished.
Sarah’s Garden and Lilly’s Wedding Quilt by Kelly Long are part of her A Patch of Heaven series. They are both set in the Amish Community of Pine Creek, Pennsylvania. Of the two books in the series so far, I prefer the second book, Lilly’s Wedding Quilt. Both books are very well written and entertaining to read, but I was able to connect more with the characters in Lilly’s Wedding Quilt than I did with the characters of Sarah’s Garden.
To me, Sarah’s Garden suffered from the problem of the main character being too unreachable. Sarah seemed to be very distant and unreachable from a reader’s perspective. While the mysteries surrounding Grant were able to keep me interested in the book, Sarah’s constant withdrawals made it difficult for me to care about what happened to her. This could have been a case of extreme shyness, but it became wearying as the book went on. However, it did allow us to see how much Sarah grew as a woman of faith, and her newfound confidence was apparent in the second book.
Lilly’s Wedding Quilt tackled some tough issues for an Amish community, depression and a marriage of convenience. Lilly was easy to identify with, even as an Englisher (Amish term for anyone that is not a member of the Amish Community). Her fear of a loveless marriage is something that many of us go through. Her strength in caring for her mother during a difficult illness is also something easily identified with. Her husband, Jacob, also has some trust issues that any woman can easily identify with as well. Their story is all the more poignant for what they had to go through in order to realize the depth of their love for one another.
I would have to give the series as a whole four stars, with Sarah’s Garden earning 3.5 stars and Lilly’s Wedding Quilt earning 4.5 stars. I would definitely recommend this series to others and would read it again when the mood strikes.
August 6, 2013
Sarah King loves nothing better than to work in her beloved garden, but duty to her family calls and she has to run the family's roadside stand. On her very first day there her world turns upside down when she meets handsome veterinarian Grant Williams. Sparks fly immediately between the two and they are falling in love. But there is a major obstacle in their way: Sarah is Amish and Grant is Englisch and their love is forbidden.
"Sarah's Garden", the first book in the new "Patch of Heaven" series set in the Amish community, is a very sweet romance. By Amish romance novel standards this romance sizzles - meaning Sarah and Grant exchange a few forbidden kisses. The romantic tension between them is obvious from the beginning and it is fun, although at times a bit sad, to watch them fall in love, a love that seems meant to be but against all odds. Both are nicely done characters. Sarah is from a large, loving family, sure of her faith in God, a bit shy yet sure of herself at times. Grant is another strong character - orphaned at an early age, wanting to give to the Amish community, yet a little bewildered by them at times. Mixed in with the romantic elements is a great deal of humor, mostly involving the Bustles' and Grant's attempts to renovate his new house (I actually wish there was more of this in the book as there are some laugh out loud moments early in the book). One of the reasons I like Amish romances so much is the Amish setting and author Kelly Long does an excellent job of capturing it and the Amish lifestyle in this book. She shows that while many think the Amish life is simpler, the Amish work hard. Their devotion to their family is extraordinary and Long does a good job of showing not only the closeness Sarah has with her family, particularly her brother Luke, but also shows that even Amish families have problems and even they can suffer from domestic abuse. The Amish ability to make beautiful quilts is legendary and I wish this book came with pictures or illustrations so I could see some of the quilts mentioned in this book (one of my favorite scenes in the book is the quilting one).
"Sarah's Garden" is a nicely done romance set in the Amish community and I look forward to reading more books in the series.
"Sarah's Garden", the first book in the new "Patch of Heaven" series set in the Amish community, is a very sweet romance. By Amish romance novel standards this romance sizzles - meaning Sarah and Grant exchange a few forbidden kisses. The romantic tension between them is obvious from the beginning and it is fun, although at times a bit sad, to watch them fall in love, a love that seems meant to be but against all odds. Both are nicely done characters. Sarah is from a large, loving family, sure of her faith in God, a bit shy yet sure of herself at times. Grant is another strong character - orphaned at an early age, wanting to give to the Amish community, yet a little bewildered by them at times. Mixed in with the romantic elements is a great deal of humor, mostly involving the Bustles' and Grant's attempts to renovate his new house (I actually wish there was more of this in the book as there are some laugh out loud moments early in the book). One of the reasons I like Amish romances so much is the Amish setting and author Kelly Long does an excellent job of capturing it and the Amish lifestyle in this book. She shows that while many think the Amish life is simpler, the Amish work hard. Their devotion to their family is extraordinary and Long does a good job of showing not only the closeness Sarah has with her family, particularly her brother Luke, but also shows that even Amish families have problems and even they can suffer from domestic abuse. The Amish ability to make beautiful quilts is legendary and I wish this book came with pictures or illustrations so I could see some of the quilts mentioned in this book (one of my favorite scenes in the book is the quilting one).
"Sarah's Garden" is a nicely done romance set in the Amish community and I look forward to reading more books in the series.
August 20, 2010
Sarah's Garden
By Kelly Long
Book Review
It is hard to tell if the activities at that time were to blame, or the book really did begin a little too slowly for me, but once I got into it I couldn't put it down. Kelly Long has very thoroughly researched for this book. In the beginning of the book is a glossary of different Pennsylvania Dutch words and their meanings. The language of the Amish in this book adds to the story and makes the side characters more real.
The main characters are memorable. There is just enough danger to snag your interest, but mostly the central plot focuses on the struggles of Sarah King and veterinarian, Dr. Williams. As their love grows so does their awareness of the cultural divide between them. He is Englisch and she is Amish. Sarah loves her home, family and garden and choosing Dr. Williams to love would mean a Shunning. It's a story about forbidden love and family. The end will please you.
“It is a lesson to me as an Englischer, that though the Amish may appear to live “the simple life,” their differences provide a rich culture for both fact and fiction, and it is my honor to represent some small threads of their ways of life,” says Kelly Long at the beginning of the book. Sarah's Garden is a light read. Curl up with your favorite cup of hot tea and homemade cookies and take a walk in Sarah's Garden. The descriptions will delight you and for one moment you can smell, see and touch Sarah's Garden. “She breathed a silent prayer for the coming day as her toes met the carpet of moss that she cultured as a natural insulator to keep the fruits and vegetables cool for picnics and Sunday gatherings. She supposed she'd need a lot of moss at the stand to cover the produce and hold in the coolness, for the day promised to be as warm as the one before. She passed the kale and the kohlrabi, stroked the green heirloom tomatoes, and then ventured farther into the flower garden. Careless of her clean apron, she knelt next to the wild roses and curled close to the scented blooms deep in thought.”
By Kelly Long
Book Review
It is hard to tell if the activities at that time were to blame, or the book really did begin a little too slowly for me, but once I got into it I couldn't put it down. Kelly Long has very thoroughly researched for this book. In the beginning of the book is a glossary of different Pennsylvania Dutch words and their meanings. The language of the Amish in this book adds to the story and makes the side characters more real.
The main characters are memorable. There is just enough danger to snag your interest, but mostly the central plot focuses on the struggles of Sarah King and veterinarian, Dr. Williams. As their love grows so does their awareness of the cultural divide between them. He is Englisch and she is Amish. Sarah loves her home, family and garden and choosing Dr. Williams to love would mean a Shunning. It's a story about forbidden love and family. The end will please you.
“It is a lesson to me as an Englischer, that though the Amish may appear to live “the simple life,” their differences provide a rich culture for both fact and fiction, and it is my honor to represent some small threads of their ways of life,” says Kelly Long at the beginning of the book. Sarah's Garden is a light read. Curl up with your favorite cup of hot tea and homemade cookies and take a walk in Sarah's Garden. The descriptions will delight you and for one moment you can smell, see and touch Sarah's Garden. “She breathed a silent prayer for the coming day as her toes met the carpet of moss that she cultured as a natural insulator to keep the fruits and vegetables cool for picnics and Sunday gatherings. She supposed she'd need a lot of moss at the stand to cover the produce and hold in the coolness, for the day promised to be as warm as the one before. She passed the kale and the kohlrabi, stroked the green heirloom tomatoes, and then ventured farther into the flower garden. Careless of her clean apron, she knelt next to the wild roses and curled close to the scented blooms deep in thought.”
October 20, 2019
I wanted to read this book because the main character loved gardening and I have had a tough time finding books in which the characters have (food) gardens.
Sarah King is a young Amish girl that ends up falling for Grant Williams, the local vet, who is not Amish. Grant is also in love with Sarah but understands that they can never be together because he is not part of the Amish community.
I love this story and these characters.
While most of the women in the community are gifted quilters, Sarah tends to gravitate toward her garden and is very gifted at making things grow. She is known for this. As the story progresses, her community teaches her to quilt and she becomes quite proficient, which I think is very cool (I've always wanted to know how to make a quilt myself). Grant is new to the area in the beginning of the book, taking a special interest in bringing his knowledge of veterinary medicine to the Amish community. He loves their sense of togetherness and their bond as a group, and begins to look for reasons to spend time with them - and of course, to see Sarah King.
I enjoyed reading a story with parents like Sarah's and a bishop like these - they seemed genuinely kind and loving and understanding of the feelings that Sarah and Grant are having. Even though there are rules to govern these people, they never lose their human, emotional side, and I loved that about this particular story.
There are quite a few small plot lines tucked away in this story but I loved reading it; the extra plots never really felt cumbersome. This is exactly the type of Amish story that I love: low on drama and suspense, a sweet story, and great characters with plausible issues. I loved Christine Williams' narration on the audiobook: it was so calming and fit the story and Sarah King as main character super well. I'll be continuing on with this series, and I plan to read the remaining books as print + audio reads.
Sarah King is a young Amish girl that ends up falling for Grant Williams, the local vet, who is not Amish. Grant is also in love with Sarah but understands that they can never be together because he is not part of the Amish community.
I love this story and these characters.
While most of the women in the community are gifted quilters, Sarah tends to gravitate toward her garden and is very gifted at making things grow. She is known for this. As the story progresses, her community teaches her to quilt and she becomes quite proficient, which I think is very cool (I've always wanted to know how to make a quilt myself). Grant is new to the area in the beginning of the book, taking a special interest in bringing his knowledge of veterinary medicine to the Amish community. He loves their sense of togetherness and their bond as a group, and begins to look for reasons to spend time with them - and of course, to see Sarah King.
I enjoyed reading a story with parents like Sarah's and a bishop like these - they seemed genuinely kind and loving and understanding of the feelings that Sarah and Grant are having. Even though there are rules to govern these people, they never lose their human, emotional side, and I loved that about this particular story.
There are quite a few small plot lines tucked away in this story but I loved reading it; the extra plots never really felt cumbersome. This is exactly the type of Amish story that I love: low on drama and suspense, a sweet story, and great characters with plausible issues. I loved Christine Williams' narration on the audiobook: it was so calming and fit the story and Sarah King as main character super well. I'll be continuing on with this series, and I plan to read the remaining books as print + audio reads.
January 10, 2011
Summary from Good Reads: When Sarah realizes that she has fallen in love with an Englisch doctor, she must choose between loving a man and losing her family.
Deep in the heart of Pennsylvania's Allegheny Mountains, shy Sarah King is happiest when working in her vibrant Amish kitchen garden, but new family responsibilities lead her into the confusing world of the Englisch.
Sarah finds her life turned around when she encounters the community's new Englisch veterinarian, Grant Williams. His blue-gold eyes and his obvious concern for her people attract her immediately. Sarah seeks solace and direction from the Lord as she creates a quilt pattern which details her struggle between two worlds.
The Lord is guiding Sarah to follow His will, but will she listen?
Sarah is a very shy and faithful Amish woman who is 20 years old and not married. She is given the responibility of managing the farm stand at the end of their driveway. She is very nervous since she has never dealt with Englishers. Then she meets her new neighbor, Dr. Grant Williams. He is an honest man looking to make friends and become accepted by the Amish communiy as the new vet.
As time goes on, Sarah starts to develop feelings for Grant and Grant feels the same but is more vocal about his thoughts and feelings. Their friendship begins to bloom as she assists in preparing a kitchen garden for him at his house. But there is more growing between them than should. Will Sarah leave her faith, family and community to follow her heart???
I am really looking forward to reading the next book in this series, Lilly's Wedding Quilt, which is due out in April 2011. I love Kelly Long's writing style and character development. As a quilter myself, I loved how she used it to help Sarah think through and work out her problems.
Deep in the heart of Pennsylvania's Allegheny Mountains, shy Sarah King is happiest when working in her vibrant Amish kitchen garden, but new family responsibilities lead her into the confusing world of the Englisch.
Sarah finds her life turned around when she encounters the community's new Englisch veterinarian, Grant Williams. His blue-gold eyes and his obvious concern for her people attract her immediately. Sarah seeks solace and direction from the Lord as she creates a quilt pattern which details her struggle between two worlds.
The Lord is guiding Sarah to follow His will, but will she listen?
Sarah is a very shy and faithful Amish woman who is 20 years old and not married. She is given the responibility of managing the farm stand at the end of their driveway. She is very nervous since she has never dealt with Englishers. Then she meets her new neighbor, Dr. Grant Williams. He is an honest man looking to make friends and become accepted by the Amish communiy as the new vet.
As time goes on, Sarah starts to develop feelings for Grant and Grant feels the same but is more vocal about his thoughts and feelings. Their friendship begins to bloom as she assists in preparing a kitchen garden for him at his house. But there is more growing between them than should. Will Sarah leave her faith, family and community to follow her heart???
I am really looking forward to reading the next book in this series, Lilly's Wedding Quilt, which is due out in April 2011. I love Kelly Long's writing style and character development. As a quilter myself, I loved how she used it to help Sarah think through and work out her problems.
July 29, 2010
Title: SARAH’S GARDEN
Author: Kelly Long
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
July 2010
ISBN: 978-1-59554-870-2
Genre: Inspirational/Amish
Sarah King is used to it just being her and her garden. Her father jokes that instead of having a green thumb, she has a green arm. Her garden is famous among the Amish for the many varieties of heirloom vegetables she grows, and the family’s road side stand is an important source of income for the family.
Grant Williams is the new veterinarian to the Amish farmers and he’s bought a former Amish farm and moved into it with his housekeeper and butler. But when going to the roadside stand to buy fresh vegetables for his housekeeper, Grant meets Sarah and is instantly smitten.
The King family reaches out to Dr. Williams, helping him to become incorporated into the community, volunteer Sarah’s services to help Grant plan and plant a garden, and invite him into their home, yet they warn Sarah to guard her heart against him. What will it take for an Englisch man and an Amish girl to be together?
SARAH’S GARDEN is Ms. Long’s debut novel, and the first book in the Patchwork of Heaven series. Sarah is a spunky, sassy, and spry heroine, and quite an expert in the heirloom gardening which piqued my interest in this. I may have to take on a new hobby so I can try a lot of the vegetables that she was a wealth of information on.
Some things I found a bit unrealistic or unthoughtful, but overall, the book was a light, sweet summer read. Ms. Long included a lot of Amish phrases that most Amish authors don’t use, which was nice. There were some tender romantic moments in the book. Discussion questions are included at the end of the book. $14.99. 304 pages.
Author: Kelly Long
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
July 2010
ISBN: 978-1-59554-870-2
Genre: Inspirational/Amish
Sarah King is used to it just being her and her garden. Her father jokes that instead of having a green thumb, she has a green arm. Her garden is famous among the Amish for the many varieties of heirloom vegetables she grows, and the family’s road side stand is an important source of income for the family.
Grant Williams is the new veterinarian to the Amish farmers and he’s bought a former Amish farm and moved into it with his housekeeper and butler. But when going to the roadside stand to buy fresh vegetables for his housekeeper, Grant meets Sarah and is instantly smitten.
The King family reaches out to Dr. Williams, helping him to become incorporated into the community, volunteer Sarah’s services to help Grant plan and plant a garden, and invite him into their home, yet they warn Sarah to guard her heart against him. What will it take for an Englisch man and an Amish girl to be together?
SARAH’S GARDEN is Ms. Long’s debut novel, and the first book in the Patchwork of Heaven series. Sarah is a spunky, sassy, and spry heroine, and quite an expert in the heirloom gardening which piqued my interest in this. I may have to take on a new hobby so I can try a lot of the vegetables that she was a wealth of information on.
Some things I found a bit unrealistic or unthoughtful, but overall, the book was a light, sweet summer read. Ms. Long included a lot of Amish phrases that most Amish authors don’t use, which was nice. There were some tender romantic moments in the book. Discussion questions are included at the end of the book. $14.99. 304 pages.
August 25, 2010
Sarah's Garden by Kelly Long is the first book in the Patch of Heaven series. Sarah King loves her life with her Amish family in the Allegheny Mountains where she spends much of her time working on her large garden that provides produce for her entire family as well as the family's roadside stand. After her elder sister, Chelsea, marries, Sarah's father assigns her to work at the stand and take care of the customers. Sarah is terribly shy and most comfortable with her heirloom seeds and plants, but new Englischer veterinarian Grant Williams touches her heart and gently brings her out of her shell. But their relationship is forbidden, because to marry him would be to leave the only world she's ever known and the life she truly loves. I absolutely loved Sarah and Grant's romance. Too often in romances, even Christian ones, the hero and heroine meet and have instant chemistry and then after only a few brief meetings decide they are in love with each other, and the writers would have us believe that they live happily ever after. Long allows Sarah and Grant to spend much of the book talking together and learning about each other. The growing romance definitely has some chemistry, but these are two characters that genuinely care about each other, are best friends as well as being in love. Long has written and beautiful and believable romance, and I can't wait to read the next book in the series.
June 27, 2010
Sarah’s Garden
By Kelly Long
Published by Thomas Nelson
A young Amish woman named Sarah King is gifted with a green thumb in the beautiful Pennsylvania Allegheny Mountains. With her eldest sister married and now with child, Sarah must leave the confines of her precious garden and take over the family’s roadside stand. A job that will place Sarah face to face with the outside world, and her new neighbor, a handsome, charming Englischer veterinarian named Grant Williams.
Forbidden to be anything more than friends despite the strong compulsion drawing them closer, Sarah and Grant struggle between duty and an undeniable attraction. Sarah knows she must marry an Amish man, and Grant knows that to be with him, Sarah would have to give up her family and community forever; a price much too high to contemplate.
Kelly Long creates a world of such breathtaking beauty and heavenly grace, it is easy to imagine the struggle Sarah faces within her heart. A sweet and touching love story, Sarah’s Garden is the first novel in the Patch of Heaven series, and I personally can hardly wait for the next book to be released!
I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
By Kelly Long
Published by Thomas Nelson
A young Amish woman named Sarah King is gifted with a green thumb in the beautiful Pennsylvania Allegheny Mountains. With her eldest sister married and now with child, Sarah must leave the confines of her precious garden and take over the family’s roadside stand. A job that will place Sarah face to face with the outside world, and her new neighbor, a handsome, charming Englischer veterinarian named Grant Williams.
Forbidden to be anything more than friends despite the strong compulsion drawing them closer, Sarah and Grant struggle between duty and an undeniable attraction. Sarah knows she must marry an Amish man, and Grant knows that to be with him, Sarah would have to give up her family and community forever; a price much too high to contemplate.
Kelly Long creates a world of such breathtaking beauty and heavenly grace, it is easy to imagine the struggle Sarah faces within her heart. A sweet and touching love story, Sarah’s Garden is the first novel in the Patch of Heaven series, and I personally can hardly wait for the next book to be released!
I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
July 29, 2010
Sarah's Garden is the first novel in the Patch of Heaven Amish fiction series. Sarah King is of marrying age but has not yet found someone to love. She is content to spend time in prayer while gardening for her family. The needs of her family change so Sarah is now in charge of running the family produce and bakery stand where she must step outside the comfort zone of her faith community.
Grant is a young veterinarian who feels drawn to serving the Amish and buys a farm that borders their community. From the moment Grant and Sarah meet at the stand, they are both drawn to each other although Sarah fights against her feelings since dating and marrying an Englischer is heavily frowned upon. You'll have to read Sarah's Garden to see if love prevails.
Unlike some Amish fiction, the glossary of 'foreign' words is right up front instead of hidden at the end of the book. The author acknowledges that Amish communities are not all the same as we may think from our limited exposure. She makes note of differences in spelling as well as customs and habits.
I have read a fair amount of Amish fiction and usually love it but for some reason I only liked this particular book. I really can't put my finger on the reason so it may have just been I was distracted. If you enjoy Amish fiction, then I recommend you try Sarah's Garden since other authors have praised it
Grant is a young veterinarian who feels drawn to serving the Amish and buys a farm that borders their community. From the moment Grant and Sarah meet at the stand, they are both drawn to each other although Sarah fights against her feelings since dating and marrying an Englischer is heavily frowned upon. You'll have to read Sarah's Garden to see if love prevails.
Unlike some Amish fiction, the glossary of 'foreign' words is right up front instead of hidden at the end of the book. The author acknowledges that Amish communities are not all the same as we may think from our limited exposure. She makes note of differences in spelling as well as customs and habits.
I have read a fair amount of Amish fiction and usually love it but for some reason I only liked this particular book. I really can't put my finger on the reason so it may have just been I was distracted. If you enjoy Amish fiction, then I recommend you try Sarah's Garden since other authors have praised it
July 30, 2010
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The scenery was detailed and very vivid, the thoughts of both Sarah and Grant were understandable and developed an indepth character history. It wasn't overly sentimental nor mushy but rather dealt with the struggles a young girl would definitely face when falling in love with a person who was not approved of by her parents and her community. Sarah had other struggles besides falling for the wrong man, she was also pushed into daily contact with a world that she was totally unfamiliar with and being very shy, had to build her confidence. I like that her family and the Amish community were given different personalities and characterists rather than being left as an anonymous background group. It also provided quite a bit of sly humour. Grant was also forced to choose a life path that would either include or exclude Sarah and his path was definitely unexpected. I also liked that the author included an Amish family that had left the community due to inappropriate behaviour showing that it does happen, not everything is perfect. It was definitely a good read. I look forward to more in the series.
I received a copy of the book from Thomas Nelson Amish Books
I received a copy of the book from Thomas Nelson Amish Books
March 6, 2011
When I picked up this book I expected another predictable Amish fiction love story – don’t get me wrong I love Amish fiction, but sometimes the love stories can be a little unsurprising if you know what I mean. I was really happy to find that Sarah’s Garden did not follow the typical formula. The love story in this book was more of a struggle, and also about the development of Sarah’s love for the Lord and for herself.
I was happy to find that as the novel progressed Sarah developed into a strong, capable and rather independent woman. She was strong enough to understand herself and her needs and was able to turn down a life that would have been comfortable, and what was expected of her in order to wait for the life that she truly desired. She had enough faith in the Lord and in herself to know that she did not have to settle for second best.
There were actually a few shining examples of female strength and independence in Sarah’s Garden that are not always seen in this genre and I really appreciated these themes and the ways that Long developed the stories around these women. I am immediately starting in on the sequel Lilly’s Wedding Quilt by the same author.
I give it 4*s / 5!
I was happy to find that as the novel progressed Sarah developed into a strong, capable and rather independent woman. She was strong enough to understand herself and her needs and was able to turn down a life that would have been comfortable, and what was expected of her in order to wait for the life that she truly desired. She had enough faith in the Lord and in herself to know that she did not have to settle for second best.
There were actually a few shining examples of female strength and independence in Sarah’s Garden that are not always seen in this genre and I really appreciated these themes and the ways that Long developed the stories around these women. I am immediately starting in on the sequel Lilly’s Wedding Quilt by the same author.
I give it 4*s / 5!
July 6, 2011
My parents live in "Amishville" (they purchased land from Amish and built their house across the street from Amish), so I find occasional opportunities to learn more about them. I enjoyed reading the Sarah's Garden for that reason.
The characters were mostly Sarah's family and a few community members that she interacted with. I believe this is the first in a series, so I'm eager to see the number of characters expand as we possibly meet other community members.
The author portrayed Sarah as extremely sheltered and described her seeing more of the world when she took charge of her family's fruit/vegetable stand. I had a hard time imagining that she saw much more of the world by working at the fruit/vegetable stand. Even though she is portrayed very sheltered, I do like her character, a lot. It might be her love for gardening that endears me to her...even though I'm not a gardener at all. Maybe it's because I admire people who can grow things! :)
So I can't leave out the romance! There was, of course, the Englisch man who Sarah falls in love with. She isn't given a chance to risk her world turning up-side-down because he leaves! I'll let you read the book to find out if and how the romance has a happy ending!
Recommendation: Good Read!
The characters were mostly Sarah's family and a few community members that she interacted with. I believe this is the first in a series, so I'm eager to see the number of characters expand as we possibly meet other community members.
The author portrayed Sarah as extremely sheltered and described her seeing more of the world when she took charge of her family's fruit/vegetable stand. I had a hard time imagining that she saw much more of the world by working at the fruit/vegetable stand. Even though she is portrayed very sheltered, I do like her character, a lot. It might be her love for gardening that endears me to her...even though I'm not a gardener at all. Maybe it's because I admire people who can grow things! :)
So I can't leave out the romance! There was, of course, the Englisch man who Sarah falls in love with. She isn't given a chance to risk her world turning up-side-down because he leaves! I'll let you read the book to find out if and how the romance has a happy ending!
Recommendation: Good Read!
July 28, 2019
Love the Amish and their stories. This one had a twist.
June 29, 2010
I'm always excited to learn about new authors and while I'm not the world's biggest Amish fiction fan I do occasionally read it. When I saw that Amish fiction writer, Kelly Long had a full length novel releasing I jumped at the chance to review it. While not any different from any of the other Amish themed books that I've read it was still enjoyable.
The doctor, Grant Williams was a great hero. He was very likable, funny, and sweet. Sarah King, the female lead was also winsome; sweet and a little shy but still feisty. They were well rounded characters but the story wasn't much different from most of the other Amish fiction that I've read. I was a tiny bit bored with it by middle of the book.
For a first full-length novel it was still a nice story and I really did enjoy the interesting tidbits about veterinary medicine through Grant's character and gardening through Sarah's eyes. I never knew there were so many types of tomatoes! Wow! I'm sure that fans of the genre will like the story and it may also appeal to readers who enjoy a sweet romance. Sarah's Garden is available now and Book 2, Lilly's Wedding Quilt releases in April 2011!
The doctor, Grant Williams was a great hero. He was very likable, funny, and sweet. Sarah King, the female lead was also winsome; sweet and a little shy but still feisty. They were well rounded characters but the story wasn't much different from most of the other Amish fiction that I've read. I was a tiny bit bored with it by middle of the book.
For a first full-length novel it was still a nice story and I really did enjoy the interesting tidbits about veterinary medicine through Grant's character and gardening through Sarah's eyes. I never knew there were so many types of tomatoes! Wow! I'm sure that fans of the genre will like the story and it may also appeal to readers who enjoy a sweet romance. Sarah's Garden is available now and Book 2, Lilly's Wedding Quilt releases in April 2011!
July 13, 2010
I enjoy read Christian fiction books about the Amish once in awhile. These books are like home to me. Some would say they are predictable but sometimes predictable can be comforting. I found this book to be light and comforting which is the type of book I was needing at the moment.
Sarah is a young Amish girl who would rather hide in her garden. After the marriage of her older sister, Sarah is put to work in the family's roadside stand. While working there she finds herself drawn to Grant, the Englischer neighbor who is also the new veterinarian for the area. They develop feelings for each other which Sarah knows can go nowhere as it is forbidden by the Amish. At the same time Sarah's family seems to be the target of someone who has it in for them. Sarah turns to the Lord for guidance and learns she must put her trust in Him. I enjoyed the simple life of Sarah and her family. I was very interested in the quilt Sarah makes to represent her struggle with her feelings. This was a very nice book and it was a quick read. If you enjoy Christian fiction and stories about the Amish you will enjoy this book.
Sarah is a young Amish girl who would rather hide in her garden. After the marriage of her older sister, Sarah is put to work in the family's roadside stand. While working there she finds herself drawn to Grant, the Englischer neighbor who is also the new veterinarian for the area. They develop feelings for each other which Sarah knows can go nowhere as it is forbidden by the Amish. At the same time Sarah's family seems to be the target of someone who has it in for them. Sarah turns to the Lord for guidance and learns she must put her trust in Him. I enjoyed the simple life of Sarah and her family. I was very interested in the quilt Sarah makes to represent her struggle with her feelings. This was a very nice book and it was a quick read. If you enjoy Christian fiction and stories about the Amish you will enjoy this book.
October 25, 2011
Christian fiction is warming for the soul. Like my mother, I enjoy all things Amish and this quick read was delightful.
Quite by accident, Sarah King has fallen in love. But this love is forbidden, and could cost her everything she holds dear.
Tucked into the majesty of Pennsylvania's Allegheny Mountains is a garden Sarah King has been nurturing for years. She never feels more alive than when she is alone with her thoughts and her Creator among the delicate rows of plants. But then duty calls her away from her beloved garden and into a world she knows little about.
Grant Williams, a handsome young veterinarian, has left the city to open a rural practice among the Amish. Within minutes of meeting shy but feisty Sarah King, he is captivated by her.
As their feelings grow for one another, Sarah insists they can never be together. Marrying Grant would mean being uprooted from her home, her family, and her community. Throughout the cold Pennsylvania winter, with her garden tucked away until spring, Sarah begins crafting a quilt that illustrates her pain. Can anything lasting blossom from a love that's forbidden?
Quite by accident, Sarah King has fallen in love. But this love is forbidden, and could cost her everything she holds dear.
Tucked into the majesty of Pennsylvania's Allegheny Mountains is a garden Sarah King has been nurturing for years. She never feels more alive than when she is alone with her thoughts and her Creator among the delicate rows of plants. But then duty calls her away from her beloved garden and into a world she knows little about.
Grant Williams, a handsome young veterinarian, has left the city to open a rural practice among the Amish. Within minutes of meeting shy but feisty Sarah King, he is captivated by her.
As their feelings grow for one another, Sarah insists they can never be together. Marrying Grant would mean being uprooted from her home, her family, and her community. Throughout the cold Pennsylvania winter, with her garden tucked away until spring, Sarah begins crafting a quilt that illustrates her pain. Can anything lasting blossom from a love that's forbidden?
Displaying 1 - 30 of 152 reviews