I received a complimentary copy of this book from Netgalley and was under no obligation to post a review. No compensation was received for sharing this review and all opinions are my own.
Series: Peace in the Valley #2
Published by Harvest House Publishers on August 1st 2017
Source: Netgalley
Genres: Christian, Fiction, Romance
Pages: 352
Dreams Never Die When You Believe in Them
Phoebe Lapp's grandmother was anything but ordinary. Before her death, the eccentric elderly woman purchased three Assateague ponies, seemingly for no reason. But after her passing, Phoebe learns of her beloved grandmother's wish to start an Amish pony farm in a lovely little valley near the Adirondack Mountains for hurting Englisha children. That dream now lies with Phoebe if she decides to fulfill it, but a teaching position is available as well. Which path should she choose?
Further complicating her decision, before her passing, Grandma Lapp asked a neighbor, David Fisher, to be involved in running the farm and help Phoebe. David agrees, but his sister Ruth has yet to abandon her rumspringa, and the only reason she hasn't left the church already is because of Grandma Lapp's kindness. Unbeknownst to Phoebe, David has secret hopes of attracting her affection, but Ruth's decision to stay or jump the fence could make things difficult for him.
Phoebe knows she has choices to make—whether or not to honor her grandmother's legacy and what to do about David's growing attentions toward her. But she's not alone. God is with her every step of the way.
Phoebe’s Gift is the second book in the Peace in the Valley series by Jerry Eicher. Like the first book in this series—this one just didn’t do it for me. It kills me to say it because I generally enjoy this author.
Let me say, this book has a very interesting premise. You don’t often read a book involving the Amish that cares for troubled children. However, I felt that this book oversimplified the process. In addition, page after page of dialogue between the characters and their back and forth self-esteem issues really bogged me down. I mean, there was absolutely no way that Phoebe could like David and no way David could like Phoebe! Yes! They can like one another. No, they can’t! Yes, they can! Nope…can’t! It went back and forth for the entire book and I got lost in the lull of the endless dialogue and inner dialogue.
Last but not least, every person in this book was entirely too excitable. It seemed that an exclamation was made for every situation the characters found themselves in.
It really bothers me that I’ve disliked both of the books in this series so far. I usually enjoy this author’s books so it’s just a disappointment.
About Jerry S. Eicher
Jerry Eicher’s bestselling Amish fiction (more than 210,000 in combined sales) includes The Adams County Trilogy, the Hannah’s Heart books, and the Little Valley Series. After a traditional Amish childhood, Jerry taught for two terms in Amish and Mennonite schools in Ohio and Illinois. Since then he’s been involved in church renewal, preaching, and teaching Bible studies. Jerry lives with his wife, Tina Eicher, and their four children in Virginia.
Aww!! I’m sorry you didn’t like it! I haven’t read any by his author so I don’t know what his books usually are like but I remember you living past books