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Quilts of Lancaster County #2
A Time to Heal
Christopher Matlock is a weary and wounded ex-soldier who just wants some peace in his life, but then he meets Hannah Bontrager, a gentle, pacifist Amish woman who turns his world upside down. Born and raised on a Kansas farm, Christopher finally finds peace in this simple community helping with the crops. He expects resistance from the Amish but is appalled when he and Hannah experience threats. When he discovers who his enemy is, he realizes he must stay and reveal a secret that could take away everything.
285 pages, Paperback
First published February 2, 2011
110 people are currently reading
1313 people want to read
About the author
Barbara Cameron
86 books222 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
CBD, CBA, and ECPA bestselling author of 24 books (including new series upcoming for Abingdon Press in 2011/2012) including fiction and non-fiction books for Abingdon Press, Thomas Nelson, Harlequin, and other publishers.
I sold three films to HBO/Cinemax and am the first winner of the Romance Writers of America Golden Heart Award.
My two novellas won the 2nd and 3rd place in the Inspirational Readers Choice Contest from the Faith, Love, and Hope chapter of RWA. Both were finalists for the novella category of the Carol Award of the American Christian Writers Award (ACFW).
CBD, CBA, and ECPA bestselling author of 24 books (including new series upcoming for Abingdon Press in 2011/2012) including fiction and non-fiction books for Abingdon Press, Thomas Nelson, Harlequin, and other publishers.
I sold three films to HBO/Cinemax and am the first winner of the Romance Writers of America Golden Heart Award.
My two novellas won the 2nd and 3rd place in the Inspirational Readers Choice Contest from the Faith, Love, and Hope chapter of RWA. Both were finalists for the novella category of the Carol Award of the American Christian Writers Award (ACFW).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 140 reviews
December 28, 2016
Four and a half stars.
Chris Matlock, suffering from post-traumatic stress after events that happened during his time as a soldier overseas, decides to visit Jenny who he met while in hospital. He thinks she may be able to help him find some peace. Married to Matthew, and living the Amish life, Jenny seems to have found happiness and peace in the simple life. Chris plans to only spend a few days and then move on. But events conspire to change those plans. He also meets Matthew’s sister, Hannah. She manages to turn anything he thinks about the Amish on its head, as she is very outspoken and not afraid of confrontation. I really liked Hannah. Actually, I liked most of the characters except the two who show themselves unlikable by their actions.
There is a lot about God in this story and the difference He makes in a person’s life. This was just the positive sort of book with likeable characters that I needed after the previous read. It was good to read in the lead up to Christmas. But it is not all sweetness and light. Several inexplicable events occur before it becomes apparent that danger has found Chris and the community.
I hadn’t read the first book in this series but it didn’t matter. I was quickly into the story and engaged with the characters. With a love story, likeable characters, good setting, some teary moments, touches of humour as well as the danger presented, this was easily a four and a half star read for me. I thoroughly enjoyed it
Chris Matlock, suffering from post-traumatic stress after events that happened during his time as a soldier overseas, decides to visit Jenny who he met while in hospital. He thinks she may be able to help him find some peace. Married to Matthew, and living the Amish life, Jenny seems to have found happiness and peace in the simple life. Chris plans to only spend a few days and then move on. But events conspire to change those plans. He also meets Matthew’s sister, Hannah. She manages to turn anything he thinks about the Amish on its head, as she is very outspoken and not afraid of confrontation. I really liked Hannah. Actually, I liked most of the characters except the two who show themselves unlikable by their actions.
There is a lot about God in this story and the difference He makes in a person’s life. This was just the positive sort of book with likeable characters that I needed after the previous read. It was good to read in the lead up to Christmas. But it is not all sweetness and light. Several inexplicable events occur before it becomes apparent that danger has found Chris and the community.
I hadn’t read the first book in this series but it didn’t matter. I was quickly into the story and engaged with the characters. With a love story, likeable characters, good setting, some teary moments, touches of humour as well as the danger presented, this was easily a four and a half star read for me. I thoroughly enjoyed it
February 21, 2011
Christopher Marshall has recently been released from the hospital. He was injured in a roadside bomb attack in Afghanistan and spent 11 months recuperating. While he was in the hospital he had met Jenny and after corresponding with her decides to visit her Amish home. He is able to find the peace he has been looking for among the Plain people. He meets Hannah Matthew's sister and an attraction ensues.
Hannah longs for a family of her own. After Matthew's wife dies, she fills in and loves the role of taking care of the three children and being a Mom. Things change after Matthew and Jenny marry and she returns to just being an Aunt.
You will love the warm feeling of family and the interaction of the adults and the children. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a sweet Amish family story. You will find out a lot about forgiveness!
Hannah longs for a family of her own. After Matthew's wife dies, she fills in and loves the role of taking care of the three children and being a Mom. Things change after Matthew and Jenny marry and she returns to just being an Aunt.
You will love the warm feeling of family and the interaction of the adults and the children. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves a sweet Amish family story. You will find out a lot about forgiveness!
May 28, 2013
I personally don't see someone, especially a man, joining the plain community unless they were born to it. The story was interesting but not very believable to this reader. 3 stars
April 19, 2019
The character development is better in this second book of this series, so I could rate it higher. It probably helped that there are a couple of suspenseful scenes as well. It kept the pacing steadier. I love the underlying message of the story and look forward to reading the next one in the series. Happy reading/listening!
May 11, 2011
Overall rating: 9/10
Bonus points for referencing "breakfast casseroles", an idea which my fiancé and his friends are now obsessed with!
Yet again, Barbara Cameron manages to blend modern day war conflicts with the peaceful Amish life in the second book in her Quilts of Lancaster County series. Having encountered Jenny, the heroine of A Time to Love, while recuperating in a veteran's hospital, Christopher heads to Lancaster County in search of the Amish countryside that Jenny described so vividly to him. Unsure of where life will take him next, Christopher is content to rest on Jenny and her husband Matthew's farm, far from the horrors of war and the harsh treatment he received for reporting a fellow soldier for mistreating a civilian. He finds a kindred spirit in Hannah, Matthew's sister, and the two build an unlikely friendship. But when a series of attacks on the farm make Christopher think he's still being punished for turning in his old comrade, he begins to regret bringing his troubles to Lancaster County, particularly when Hannah might get hurt. Will Christopher run from his past, or place his trust in God and believe that he has brought him to Lancaster County for a reason?
Barbara is a refreshing voice in the Amish genre and her second "bonnet" novel is just as strong as her first. Fans of the series will be pleased that Jenny and her new family feature heavily in this novel, and that Hannah gets a story of her own. As with A Time to Love, a wounded soldier falls for an Amish local on a visit to Lancaster County, and, as can be expected, this creates a lot of culture clashes. While I'm not always a fan of the conversion-to-the-Amish storylines, I do find it quite believable that someone who has witnessed the horrors of the war zone first hand would turn to a rural, old-fashioned, pacifist society for solace and fall head over heels in love with it. When Chris arrives on Jenny’s doorstep, desperate to talk to her about his worries, it’s clear that he sees her as a the key to his problems – but instead, he finds freedom in the beauty of God’s nature while working on the farm. Barbara has clearly done her research into military court cases and PTS, making Chris a very realistic character with whom readers will instantly connect and sympathise.
The relationship between Chris and Hannah was fun to read, and it was sweet to witness their friendship slowly developing into something more. Both of them tried to fight any feelings of attraction, and it was particularly amusing to see Jenny and her grandmother, Phoebe, pushing both of them forwards in their relationship. While some Amish novels portray the Plain people as being hostile to outsiders, Barbara’s characters were entirely welcoming to Chris, even entertaining the idea of an outsider developing a relationship with Hannah. Hannah is not your typical “Amish miss”, as Chris remarks on several occasions, but her desire for a husband and family is one that all readers of romantic fiction will be able to understand.
However, I have to admit that something didn’t sit right with Chris’s decision to stay in the Lancaster County. While I felt it was convincing when Jenny made the same decision in A Time to Love, the fact that she had visited her Amish grandmother every summer as a child made her conversion to the faith so much more understandable. I felt that Chris was drawn in by nothing more than the allure of escaping the modern world and, of course, Hannah. While I can’t condemn him for appreciating how freeing the Amish lifestyle appears to outsiders – I’m sure all readers of this genre are equally guilty – I felt that there was no sign of Chris having made a spiritual connection with the Amish way of life. It seemed almost as if Chris was considering converting only so he could be with Hannah, and I find it hard to imagine that he would be making the same decision if a girl wasn’t in the picture. I have a feeling that this is something that more critical readers of Amish fiction might take issue with. If you can suspend disbelief and get wrapped up in the romance of this novel, this issue is very minor, but it is a point that remained in my head days after I’d finished the novel.
If you’re a romance fan who wants a subtle change to your Amish fiction, A Time to Heal is the book for you. Blending modern day issues into the lives of the Amish, Barbara Cameron brings context to her fiction, and a contrast between the Plain folk and the war zones of the Middle East that will make the lives of her Lancaster County residents even more appealing. While I wasn’t entirely convinced by Chris’s final decision, it didn’t spoil my reading experience and I was still thoroughly pleased with the conclusion to Hannah and Chris’s romance.
Review title provided courtesy of Abingdon Press.
Bonus points for referencing "breakfast casseroles", an idea which my fiancé and his friends are now obsessed with!
Yet again, Barbara Cameron manages to blend modern day war conflicts with the peaceful Amish life in the second book in her Quilts of Lancaster County series. Having encountered Jenny, the heroine of A Time to Love, while recuperating in a veteran's hospital, Christopher heads to Lancaster County in search of the Amish countryside that Jenny described so vividly to him. Unsure of where life will take him next, Christopher is content to rest on Jenny and her husband Matthew's farm, far from the horrors of war and the harsh treatment he received for reporting a fellow soldier for mistreating a civilian. He finds a kindred spirit in Hannah, Matthew's sister, and the two build an unlikely friendship. But when a series of attacks on the farm make Christopher think he's still being punished for turning in his old comrade, he begins to regret bringing his troubles to Lancaster County, particularly when Hannah might get hurt. Will Christopher run from his past, or place his trust in God and believe that he has brought him to Lancaster County for a reason?
Barbara is a refreshing voice in the Amish genre and her second "bonnet" novel is just as strong as her first. Fans of the series will be pleased that Jenny and her new family feature heavily in this novel, and that Hannah gets a story of her own. As with A Time to Love, a wounded soldier falls for an Amish local on a visit to Lancaster County, and, as can be expected, this creates a lot of culture clashes. While I'm not always a fan of the conversion-to-the-Amish storylines, I do find it quite believable that someone who has witnessed the horrors of the war zone first hand would turn to a rural, old-fashioned, pacifist society for solace and fall head over heels in love with it. When Chris arrives on Jenny’s doorstep, desperate to talk to her about his worries, it’s clear that he sees her as a the key to his problems – but instead, he finds freedom in the beauty of God’s nature while working on the farm. Barbara has clearly done her research into military court cases and PTS, making Chris a very realistic character with whom readers will instantly connect and sympathise.
The relationship between Chris and Hannah was fun to read, and it was sweet to witness their friendship slowly developing into something more. Both of them tried to fight any feelings of attraction, and it was particularly amusing to see Jenny and her grandmother, Phoebe, pushing both of them forwards in their relationship. While some Amish novels portray the Plain people as being hostile to outsiders, Barbara’s characters were entirely welcoming to Chris, even entertaining the idea of an outsider developing a relationship with Hannah. Hannah is not your typical “Amish miss”, as Chris remarks on several occasions, but her desire for a husband and family is one that all readers of romantic fiction will be able to understand.
However, I have to admit that something didn’t sit right with Chris’s decision to stay in the Lancaster County. While I felt it was convincing when Jenny made the same decision in A Time to Love, the fact that she had visited her Amish grandmother every summer as a child made her conversion to the faith so much more understandable. I felt that Chris was drawn in by nothing more than the allure of escaping the modern world and, of course, Hannah. While I can’t condemn him for appreciating how freeing the Amish lifestyle appears to outsiders – I’m sure all readers of this genre are equally guilty – I felt that there was no sign of Chris having made a spiritual connection with the Amish way of life. It seemed almost as if Chris was considering converting only so he could be with Hannah, and I find it hard to imagine that he would be making the same decision if a girl wasn’t in the picture. I have a feeling that this is something that more critical readers of Amish fiction might take issue with. If you can suspend disbelief and get wrapped up in the romance of this novel, this issue is very minor, but it is a point that remained in my head days after I’d finished the novel.
If you’re a romance fan who wants a subtle change to your Amish fiction, A Time to Heal is the book for you. Blending modern day issues into the lives of the Amish, Barbara Cameron brings context to her fiction, and a contrast between the Plain folk and the war zones of the Middle East that will make the lives of her Lancaster County residents even more appealing. While I wasn’t entirely convinced by Chris’s final decision, it didn’t spoil my reading experience and I was still thoroughly pleased with the conclusion to Hannah and Chris’s romance.
Review title provided courtesy of Abingdon Press.
February 5, 2011
Quilts of Lancaster County
Barbara Cameron
2011 (April)
Abingdon Press
Fiction/Christian/Amish
Reviewed by Cindy Loven
Paradise Pennsylvania seems to draw wounded hearts, and souls to the small Amish community. First it was Jenny, in book one A Time to Love. Now we meet Chris, a young soldier that Jenny met in the VA hospital, during one of her visits there.
Chris has been wounded physically, but the emotional toll of the war and the things that happened there have worn on him hard. He remembers how Jenny spoke of Paradise, and he is just hoping for a place to have some quiet time to heal. What Chris is not prepared for however is the feelings that he feels toward Hannah, Jenny's sister in law. Nor is he prepared for the bad things that are starting to happen on the farm.
An explosion, then the barn catches on fire, clues Chris in that something bad is happening, compound that with one of the horses being poisoned, and now he is positive that the person he put in prison, and who he thought was still in prison, has to be out and causing these troubles.
A confrontation with this person leaves Hannah injured and near death and Chris feeling responsible. This is not what he wanted. He just wanted peace. And it seems to be illuding him. Will Chris find the healing he needs to move forward with his life?
I loved this story, as much as I loved the first book! Barbara Cameron tells a wonderful story, you will not want to put down this book until you finish it! A discussion guide and Amish recipes at the end of the book. 264 pages US $13.99 5 stars
This book was provided for review purposes only, no payment was provided for this review.
Barbara Cameron
2011 (April)
Abingdon Press
Fiction/Christian/Amish
Reviewed by Cindy Loven
Paradise Pennsylvania seems to draw wounded hearts, and souls to the small Amish community. First it was Jenny, in book one A Time to Love. Now we meet Chris, a young soldier that Jenny met in the VA hospital, during one of her visits there.
Chris has been wounded physically, but the emotional toll of the war and the things that happened there have worn on him hard. He remembers how Jenny spoke of Paradise, and he is just hoping for a place to have some quiet time to heal. What Chris is not prepared for however is the feelings that he feels toward Hannah, Jenny's sister in law. Nor is he prepared for the bad things that are starting to happen on the farm.
An explosion, then the barn catches on fire, clues Chris in that something bad is happening, compound that with one of the horses being poisoned, and now he is positive that the person he put in prison, and who he thought was still in prison, has to be out and causing these troubles.
A confrontation with this person leaves Hannah injured and near death and Chris feeling responsible. This is not what he wanted. He just wanted peace. And it seems to be illuding him. Will Chris find the healing he needs to move forward with his life?
I loved this story, as much as I loved the first book! Barbara Cameron tells a wonderful story, you will not want to put down this book until you finish it! A discussion guide and Amish recipes at the end of the book. 264 pages US $13.99 5 stars
This book was provided for review purposes only, no payment was provided for this review.
August 21, 2011
Title: A TIME TO HEAL
Author: Barbara Cameron
Publisher: Abingdon Press
March 2011
ISBN: 978-1-4267-0764-3
Genre: Inspirational/Amish
Chris Matlock is a wounded and weary soldier, healing after a period of time in the Veteran’s Hospital, and he decides to visit Jenny, a woman he met when they were both at the hospital. When he arrives to see Jenny, no one is home, so he falls asleep in the hayloft.
Hannah Bontrager is worried an animal is in the barn, and she is frightened when she finds a man in the hayloft. She falls, but Chris catches her, hauling her up into the loft. But then he’s met by suspicion by Jenny’s husband, Matthew.
Hoping for peace and quiet, Chris decides to stay on at the Bontrager’s, and forms a friendship with Hannah. But then his past catches up with him, complete with an enemy who wants him dead…
A TIME TO HEAL is book two in Ms. Cameron’s Quilts of Lancaster County series, but it easily stands alone. Readers will want to read the first book in the series, A Time to Love, so they have an idea about Jenny and Matthew’s romance—especially as they play a major part in this story—and the third book A Time for Peace, coming in the fall of 2011.
I enjoyed getting to know Chris—a wounded English man—and Hannah, a steady and solid Amish woman—and wondered how this relationship would work out—would he join the Amish or would she leave? That had lots of conflict right there. An enemy in Chris’ past just made the tension higher. There are several yummy sounding recipes included at the end of the book, and a fascinating interview with Barbara Cameron. Don’t miss A TIME TO HEAL. $13.99. 285 pages.
Author: Barbara Cameron
Publisher: Abingdon Press
March 2011
ISBN: 978-1-4267-0764-3
Genre: Inspirational/Amish
Chris Matlock is a wounded and weary soldier, healing after a period of time in the Veteran’s Hospital, and he decides to visit Jenny, a woman he met when they were both at the hospital. When he arrives to see Jenny, no one is home, so he falls asleep in the hayloft.
Hannah Bontrager is worried an animal is in the barn, and she is frightened when she finds a man in the hayloft. She falls, but Chris catches her, hauling her up into the loft. But then he’s met by suspicion by Jenny’s husband, Matthew.
Hoping for peace and quiet, Chris decides to stay on at the Bontrager’s, and forms a friendship with Hannah. But then his past catches up with him, complete with an enemy who wants him dead…
A TIME TO HEAL is book two in Ms. Cameron’s Quilts of Lancaster County series, but it easily stands alone. Readers will want to read the first book in the series, A Time to Love, so they have an idea about Jenny and Matthew’s romance—especially as they play a major part in this story—and the third book A Time for Peace, coming in the fall of 2011.
I enjoyed getting to know Chris—a wounded English man—and Hannah, a steady and solid Amish woman—and wondered how this relationship would work out—would he join the Amish or would she leave? That had lots of conflict right there. An enemy in Chris’ past just made the tension higher. There are several yummy sounding recipes included at the end of the book, and a fascinating interview with Barbara Cameron. Don’t miss A TIME TO HEAL. $13.99. 285 pages.
February 2, 2011
My 2 Cents:
First let me say Matthew's sister is named Hannah not Rebecca like it mentions in the description.
Barbara Cameron is one of my favorite Amish writers. This is the 2nd book in the quilt series and I loved this book just as much as the first. You could read this book as a stand alone as it gives a little bit of detail from the first one. You would no be lost. Now if you are like me you want to read the series in order.
Chris comes to Paradise to see Jenny whom he met at the VA hospital. He helped Jenny by talking to her through her anxiety attack. He felt comfortable talking with her and decided to come see Paradise. The way she described the small town he thought it would be nice to visit.
He meets Hannah first and her brother which did not go well at first. They slowly came around to thinking of him as a friend. Hannah thought he was hard to talk to as he never wanted to talk about himself. Things start to change for Chris and some not in a good way. The barn catches on fire could it have been his fault as he was working on a machine in there. Other things start happening as well.
The ending was great as it brought the whole story together. I will be looking for book 3 soon.
First let me say Matthew's sister is named Hannah not Rebecca like it mentions in the description.
Barbara Cameron is one of my favorite Amish writers. This is the 2nd book in the quilt series and I loved this book just as much as the first. You could read this book as a stand alone as it gives a little bit of detail from the first one. You would no be lost. Now if you are like me you want to read the series in order.
Chris comes to Paradise to see Jenny whom he met at the VA hospital. He helped Jenny by talking to her through her anxiety attack. He felt comfortable talking with her and decided to come see Paradise. The way she described the small town he thought it would be nice to visit.
He meets Hannah first and her brother which did not go well at first. They slowly came around to thinking of him as a friend. Hannah thought he was hard to talk to as he never wanted to talk about himself. Things start to change for Chris and some not in a good way. The barn catches on fire could it have been his fault as he was working on a machine in there. Other things start happening as well.
The ending was great as it brought the whole story together. I will be looking for book 3 soon.
August 3, 2012
This is the second book in a three book series! This book has a lot of the same characteristics as do typical love story type Amish books that have been out on the mass market in recent years. However, I thought this one stood out because most of the book is from the view point of a male character (Chris) in the story. He is not Amish himself but comes to visit Jenny (the main character of the first book in the series). The storyline kept my interest. There was a love story/mystery going on in the book. Although the story line was there to place a mystery inside the love story, I was not quick to notice that there would be such a huge mystery involved in the end. It was kind of a surprise and very abrupt. I don't want to give away the story line at all so I will stop there.
I would give this book three stars as it was satisfactory. If you want to have some light reading that is relaxing and takes you out of your element completely then this is for you. I enjoy reading about real life situations but with different settings from what I am familiar with. The Amish topic is of interest to me as I am fascinated to learn about them and their culture. If you enjoy Amish books then this will be one to read soon!
I would give this book three stars as it was satisfactory. If you want to have some light reading that is relaxing and takes you out of your element completely then this is for you. I enjoy reading about real life situations but with different settings from what I am familiar with. The Amish topic is of interest to me as I am fascinated to learn about them and their culture. If you enjoy Amish books then this will be one to read soon!
April 12, 2011
Christopher Matlock heads to Paradise, PA with hopes to speak with Jenny Bontrager. He met her in the veteran's hospital when she was recovering from surgery in the last book. Once Chris arrives, he starts helping out on the family farm during harvest. He falls in love with the tight family bonds, the community, the way of living and even with Hannah. Some unusual things start happening on the farm and he begins to question if his past has caught up with him. Will he stay in Paradise or leave to save the family from any future danger?
I really enjoyed getting back in touch with these characters. I was anxiously awaiting the release of this book after reading A Time To Love. This books focused on Hannah as she began to wonder if she would ever marry. Although Chris is an Englisher, they have a special connection. I really enjoyed seeing Hannah grow and the decisions she makes along the way.
I love this series! Barbara Cameron is a wonderful author who has a strong character development. Her writing style makes you feel like you are there and part of the family. I am looking forward to reading the third book of this series as soon as it is available!
I really enjoyed getting back in touch with these characters. I was anxiously awaiting the release of this book after reading A Time To Love. This books focused on Hannah as she began to wonder if she would ever marry. Although Chris is an Englisher, they have a special connection. I really enjoyed seeing Hannah grow and the decisions she makes along the way.
I love this series! Barbara Cameron is a wonderful author who has a strong character development. Her writing style makes you feel like you are there and part of the family. I am looking forward to reading the third book of this series as soon as it is available!
September 24, 2011
I devoured this book!!! I started reading and just couldn't put it down. Luckily I had the day off work but now I'm behind on all the things I was supposed to get done!!!
There's a lovely cadence to Cameron's voice. It makes reading a pleasure and makes me want to slow down and savor every word.
This is the second in the Quilts of Lancaster County series, but it can easily stand alone. However, since I read the first book, I really enjoyed catching up with my favourite characters -- especially Matthew and Jenny and the kinner.
But Hannah's feisty spirit paired with Chris's worldly broodiness made for an exciting and romantic read. There's suspense and drama and some of the most tender love scenes I've ever read. And the hope that only God can bring is laced through it all. Sublime reading!
There's a lovely cadence to Cameron's voice. It makes reading a pleasure and makes me want to slow down and savor every word.
This is the second in the Quilts of Lancaster County series, but it can easily stand alone. However, since I read the first book, I really enjoyed catching up with my favourite characters -- especially Matthew and Jenny and the kinner.
But Hannah's feisty spirit paired with Chris's worldly broodiness made for an exciting and romantic read. There's suspense and drama and some of the most tender love scenes I've ever read. And the hope that only God can bring is laced through it all. Sublime reading!
December 29, 2012
It was fun to revisit Jenny, Matthew, Phoebe, Hannah, and the kinner in Paradise. Chris, an Englisch acquaintance of Jenny's, comes looking for peace while dealing with physical and emotional injuries of war.
I just loved this book and I could not put it down. I read it in 1 day!!
The authorhas a strong character development. Her writing style makes you feel like you are there and part of the family. I am looking forward to reading the third book of this series.
A Time to Heal hits on hard themes, such as doing the right thing even when it hurts, forgiveness, and trying to understand.
Loved the story... felt very involved and interested in each character. Enjoyed how our differences are sometimes what draw people together. Well written.
I am looking forward to reading Book #3. I want to see what happens next with Jenny and Matthew and also Hannah and Chris.
I just loved this book and I could not put it down. I read it in 1 day!!
The authorhas a strong character development. Her writing style makes you feel like you are there and part of the family. I am looking forward to reading the third book of this series.
A Time to Heal hits on hard themes, such as doing the right thing even when it hurts, forgiveness, and trying to understand.
Loved the story... felt very involved and interested in each character. Enjoyed how our differences are sometimes what draw people together. Well written.
I am looking forward to reading Book #3. I want to see what happens next with Jenny and Matthew and also Hannah and Chris.
August 25, 2015
This was a pretty interesting read. It had a slight suspense plot, and I especially liked reading about Chris, and how he was coping after returning from war. I didn't like how they ended things, not really knowing how things would end up for Chris or even what happened to Malcolm. There was a connection to the previous novel, so this is definitely not a standalone book. Hannah was not a likable heroine for me, and I didn't really get how she was supposed to be the perfect person for Chris. I think this is a worth reading once book, but can and would be easily forgotten.
January 28, 2013
If you enjoy a good read with some insights into the Amish way of life, this is a good book for you! An ex-soldier looking to heal his damaged soul and a young Amish woman find themselves caught up in an attraction that is not approved of when his past comes back to haunt him.
In order to set things straight, they risk all.
Again, Barbara Cameron gives us a glimpse into the lives of the Amish, who, are so very much like other humans, both good and not-so-good, with very human flaws.
In order to set things straight, they risk all.
Again, Barbara Cameron gives us a glimpse into the lives of the Amish, who, are so very much like other humans, both good and not-so-good, with very human flaws.
October 30, 2018
I enjoyed this Amish book as it focused on another one of the characters from Book 1, Hannah; yet continued with the stories of the other characters from Book 1 as well. When Jennie was recuperating in the hospital from her accident, she met soldier, Chris, when he helped her through an anxiety attack. She has since become Amish and married her first love Matthew. Chris has come to find her in order to try and get his life back together after discharge from the military. It was interesting reading about Chris' PTSD and his recurring nightmares. This definitely added a different touch to what can be ho-hum formulaic Amish stories. Cameron has added touches that definitely give a different feel to this series.
May 27, 2019
Forgiveness
O loved this story of a soldier that came to the hospital for wounds he received in battle while serving his country. He meets a woman and decided to visit her. He falls asleep on her life and meets her sis in law w and the sparks fly. A bit simplistic, but really good story.
O loved this story of a soldier that came to the hospital for wounds he received in battle while serving his country. He meets a woman and decided to visit her. He falls asleep on her life and meets her sis in law w and the sparks fly. A bit simplistic, but really good story.
August 21, 2019
A great combination of romance, suspense, and every day drama. Barbara Cameron did a wonderful job of telling the back stories of the characters so the reader would know what motivated to say what they said and act a certain way. Although this book is part of a series, they don't have to be read in order.
August 15, 2022
I enjoyed this 2nd book of the series. Catching up with the characters from the previous book and adding Chris to the mix.
I liked the theme of helping each other, Chris, a newcomer, came looking to talk to Jenny, found that she was going away for work. He decides to stick around and help Matthew on the farm with the harvest.
Now onto the next book.
I liked the theme of helping each other, Chris, a newcomer, came looking to talk to Jenny, found that she was going away for work. He decides to stick around and help Matthew on the farm with the harvest.
Now onto the next book.
November 5, 2025
I love that the conflicts in the story are within Chris—his own struggles with faith, trust, and belonging—and conflicts between the family, including Chris, and an unknown adversary. Whatever misunderstandings come up between Chris and the family are quickly resolved, and offense is never assumed.
The characters were realistic, and the story was engaging.
The characters were realistic, and the story was engaging.
November 8, 2018
Nice to read after the horrific shooting of the school children in Lancaster County. Having just had another shooting in CA which most likely was related to PTSD, it seemed so spot on. Thank you, Barbara Cameron for sharing your knowledge of the Amish.
September 10, 2021
The characters and the stories in this series are so loveable. You just want to go and visit and hope they are really there. I love this second book because I fell in love with Hannah in the first and to have the mystery, romance, and her story told just made my day.
May 21, 2017
Simple heart
A story told of love, determination and challenges of heart. A mystery, love story and the showing of God's will will be done.
A story told of love, determination and challenges of heart. A mystery, love story and the showing of God's will will be done.
January 29, 2018
Really enjoyed this story
This Amish story was great. It was fun to see how Chris healed and how the plot twisted. Enjoyed it very much.
This Amish story was great. It was fun to see how Chris healed and how the plot twisted. Enjoyed it very much.
February 3, 2019
Once again, the English and Amish worlds connect in unexpected ways. Another enjoyable story.
February 22, 2020
Nice story about consequences of war and truth
Author does a nice job of developing her characters and showing how loving people like the Amish show God’s love.
Author does a nice job of developing her characters and showing how loving people like the Amish show God’s love.
March 9, 2020
This series!! This was such a good read! I really like the way the characters were developed! I feel like I was right in the middle of Lancaster County with them!
August 3, 2022
A good book with a strong message of faith. Loved the characters and really enjoy the writing.
November 6, 2022
Meh, it was just ok for me. Liked book one better.
July 17, 2024
very good book
May 25, 2011
A Time to Heal, by Barbara Cameron
Chris, one of the main characters of this book, had been injured overseas in Afghanistan during the war while in the Marines. He met a woman, Jenny, who was working in the medical unit in Afghanistan during the war as well, who was also injured and was staying in the Veterans Hospital. She is from Paradise, (Lancaster County), Pennsylvania. She is Amish. She told him all about where she was from, that she was Amish, about her family and more. While they had both been recovering from their injuries, he decided he wanted to go and visit the area where she lived as he thought it would be so peaceful it would be the perfect place to finish recovering from his injuries, both physical as well as mental. He had been having flashbacks from the war, PTSD, (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and needed a nice, quiet, peaceful place to fully recover. Throughout the book, he gets flashbacks from the war. Jenny even explains to him he is suffering from PTSD, and exactly what the disorder is.
When he does arrive in Paradise, (Lancaster County), he does end up at Jenny’s parent’s home. Is this a coincidence or is it God at work? He ends up staying at her family's home and helping as a farmhand as well. He likes this. He likes the work very much as well.
It is here that he meets Jenny's sister, Hannah. He found himself starting to have feelings for her that did not go away. He knew he was an 'Outsider', (meaning he is not Amish, nor was he raised Amish,) so would he be accepted by the Amish Community? This even prompted a visit to Hannah’s family from the local Bishop of that community. Did Hannah love him back? Could she love him back since he is an Outsider? He found he was quite able to readjust and follow the Amish ways of life very easily. He was already living the Amish way of life since her arrived in Paradise. He loved being here. He liked everything about being Amish.
Suddenly, bad things start to happen around the farm. He felt responsible because he believed he knew who it was causing these terrible things to happen around the farm, including Hannah being injured very badly. He starts to worry he has brought trouble with him (he thinks he knows who it is that is causing this trouble) and he decides to leave. What about Hannah? He did fall in love with her, was she in love with him? It would be safer for Hannah and her family if he left.
There is more to this story, but I cannot say anymore without giving spoilers. You must read this love story. It is so good! I found myself lost in this story, turning page after page as it was such an enjoyable read.
The author, Barbara Cameron, writes a lovely love story. Her writing is very easy to follow, and very descriptive at that. She paints a picture with her words so well you can easily envision where the characters are at, what they are doing, and the beauty and peacefulness of the land. She is truly talented at this.
In my opinion, I enjoyed this Amish series of books much better than some of the other famous authors who write Amish books. I believe this author is able to mix the old ways of the Amish into the current, modern days of ‘now’ with much more ease and a lot nicer than some of the other authors.
I give this book an overall rating of a 4. The time spent reading this book is very enjoyable and worthwhile to spend at it. I do plan on reading more from this author. I do look forward to her 3rd book in this series.
I received this ebook format to read from United Methodist Publishing House through NetGalley in exchange for a written review. No monies were exchanged whatsoever.
Laurie Carlson
www.lauriehere.blogspot.com
Chris, one of the main characters of this book, had been injured overseas in Afghanistan during the war while in the Marines. He met a woman, Jenny, who was working in the medical unit in Afghanistan during the war as well, who was also injured and was staying in the Veterans Hospital. She is from Paradise, (Lancaster County), Pennsylvania. She is Amish. She told him all about where she was from, that she was Amish, about her family and more. While they had both been recovering from their injuries, he decided he wanted to go and visit the area where she lived as he thought it would be so peaceful it would be the perfect place to finish recovering from his injuries, both physical as well as mental. He had been having flashbacks from the war, PTSD, (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) and needed a nice, quiet, peaceful place to fully recover. Throughout the book, he gets flashbacks from the war. Jenny even explains to him he is suffering from PTSD, and exactly what the disorder is.
When he does arrive in Paradise, (Lancaster County), he does end up at Jenny’s parent’s home. Is this a coincidence or is it God at work? He ends up staying at her family's home and helping as a farmhand as well. He likes this. He likes the work very much as well.
It is here that he meets Jenny's sister, Hannah. He found himself starting to have feelings for her that did not go away. He knew he was an 'Outsider', (meaning he is not Amish, nor was he raised Amish,) so would he be accepted by the Amish Community? This even prompted a visit to Hannah’s family from the local Bishop of that community. Did Hannah love him back? Could she love him back since he is an Outsider? He found he was quite able to readjust and follow the Amish ways of life very easily. He was already living the Amish way of life since her arrived in Paradise. He loved being here. He liked everything about being Amish.
Suddenly, bad things start to happen around the farm. He felt responsible because he believed he knew who it was causing these terrible things to happen around the farm, including Hannah being injured very badly. He starts to worry he has brought trouble with him (he thinks he knows who it is that is causing this trouble) and he decides to leave. What about Hannah? He did fall in love with her, was she in love with him? It would be safer for Hannah and her family if he left.
There is more to this story, but I cannot say anymore without giving spoilers. You must read this love story. It is so good! I found myself lost in this story, turning page after page as it was such an enjoyable read.
The author, Barbara Cameron, writes a lovely love story. Her writing is very easy to follow, and very descriptive at that. She paints a picture with her words so well you can easily envision where the characters are at, what they are doing, and the beauty and peacefulness of the land. She is truly talented at this.
In my opinion, I enjoyed this Amish series of books much better than some of the other famous authors who write Amish books. I believe this author is able to mix the old ways of the Amish into the current, modern days of ‘now’ with much more ease and a lot nicer than some of the other authors.
I give this book an overall rating of a 4. The time spent reading this book is very enjoyable and worthwhile to spend at it. I do plan on reading more from this author. I do look forward to her 3rd book in this series.
I received this ebook format to read from United Methodist Publishing House through NetGalley in exchange for a written review. No monies were exchanged whatsoever.
Laurie Carlson
www.lauriehere.blogspot.com
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