Series: Brides of Lancaster County #1
Published by Barbour Pub. on 2006
Genres: Amish, Amish & Mennonite, Fiction, Romance
Pages: 288
Miriam Stoltzfus is a young Pennsylvania Amish woman once filled with dreams for a future with a man who jilted her. Now she is known as the old maid schoolteacher with a heart of stone. Could a forbidden romantic friendship with an English newspaper reporter stir the embers of her heart? Or, will she follow the traditional path and settle for a marriage of convenience born out of the sake of a child? Either way, she must find the key to letting go of the bitterness that binds her ability to love.
Note: Kristin reads and reviews both Christian and secular fiction on A Simply Enchanted Life. Out of respect for my readers, I am including a content review. This content review will help you decide whether this book is suitable for you.
Content Review:
Christian or Secular: Christian
Profanity: None
Sex: None
Violence: None
Trigger Warnings: None
Disclosure: None
A Merry Heart is book #1 in the Brides of Lancaster County series by Wanda E. Brunstetter. Other books in the series include Looking for a Miracle: Book #2, Plain, and Fancy: Book #3, The Hope Chest: Book #4.
I have to be honest, I really struggle to like people who are overly bitter. Miriam is one of those people. I’m this way in real life and with my fiction. I totally understand that some people cannot help feeling bitter. As a fairly optimistic person with a positive outlook on life, bitterness just makes me want to smack someone and tell them to snap out of it. I felt that way through much of this book. I wanted to reach into the pages, grab Miriam by the collar and give her a good shake.
This book is based on Proverbs 17:22 which states that A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones. Miriam’s family and friends were constantly pointing this out to her. I get where they were coming from but at the same time, I also feel like maybe Miriam needed to seek professional help. I felt that depression was downplayed. Who pines for an old boyfriend for years after a breakup? Oh, some people do that? Maybe I’m just cold-hearted? I might have cried for a couple of weeks over old boyfriends but then I was okay. Crying for years and condemning yourself to a life as an old maid is not the typical response to a breakup. No, I truly feel that Miriam was already depressed and then tragic events further damaged her spirit.
However, I did love the underlying message of hope in the salvation of Christ. I just don’t want anyone to get the idea that becoming a Christian automatically takes care of every problem. Have I known people who were healed of depression by the Lord? Yes, I absolutely do. But I also know people who still battle and still fight with it.
Overall, I liked the book. Despite the struggle with Miriam, I began to love the story because I fell in love with the secondary characters, Amos, and his daughter. They made this book enjoyable for me. I just wish Miriam had seen their worth as early on as I did.
About Wanda E. Brunstetter
A nationally recognized authority on the Amish community, Wanda E. Brunstetter has sold more than seven million copies of her fiction and nonfiction books. Wanda enjoys an uncommon kinship with the Amish and continues to visit their communities throughout the country. Her books have won numerous awards and topped several bestselling charts.
We love hearing from you! Share your comments below