🐎🐂🏡 "The Cowboy's Amish Haven" (Texas Amish Brides #1) (2021) 🏡🐂🐎 - Book Review

 

 

MY REVIEW

 

Series: Texas Amish Brides (Book #1)

Paperback: 256 pages

Publisher: Love Inspired (August 24, 2021)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 1335758747

ISBN-13: 978-1335758743

⬅️ Click Photo for Purchase Information

 

 

“Her home and her heart are on the line…

 

On the same day Gail Schroder’s faced with losing her Amish family ranch, her old crush Levi Wyse shows up on her doorstep. He doesn’t know that when he left ten years ago he'd taken Gail’s heart with him. Now Levi’s her only hope of keeping a roof over her head. But can this cowboy teach Gail the ropes in time to save her home?”

 

Thank you in advance to the author, Pamela Desmond Wright, for providing a complimentary copy of the book. A positive review was definitely not required or requested in any way; all words are my own.

Most people who’ve read my reviews know by now, I like entering contests and winning books. I also do enjoy reading Amish romance, even Amish romantic suspense – especially the Love Inspired lines.

 

It should come as NO surprise that when the author announced a contest to win an advanced copy that I jumped at it – and, yes, I won. And, as I stated above, there was no requirement for a positive review.

 

Let’s start off with that cover. A lot of authors have asked if we readers prefer the characters on the front or the landscape. Honestly? I’m not picky. As long as it looks good, I’m good with it. This one definitely has a lot going for it. Shows both the cowboy and Amish lady gazing, almost as if they’re pondering their lives at this point and the future they either want or can’t have.

 

But, what really grabbed my attention was what seemed like the dark clouds over the barn. Being from Texas (the lakes and prairies area; Tarrant/Dallas Counties), those dark clouds (to me) represent a bad storm coming. Is the cover foretelling something or is it merely a metaphor?

 

If you’ve lived in certain areas of Texas, sometimes referred to as tornado alley (even in this book), those clouds are not something to just brush off. In 1979, my family and I went through a lower scale tornado while living in a mobile home. The damage and devastation is unimaginable, which is depicted in this book. The sound? Exactly as the author writes – the sound of a freight train. You don’t forget that. The description of the day going from hot, windy, cloudy, and stormy isn’t far off. That has even happened where I currently live with the monsoon season.

 

Anyway …

 

The author’s writing moves the pace along quite well without rushing. It certainly doesn’t “plod” along either. I found myself moving right through this story and these books are a 1-2 day read; usually what I call a “day read” (especially if I am not busy that day). This was definitely a day read. I was hooked right after a “mystery” came up. I really didn’t want to put this book down for any length of time.

 

The plot is very realistic in dealing with death, debt, and even a mystery about stolen assets. There is a blend of Englisch and Amish life – and the author is very detailed about the differences. There are some heart-breaking moments as well. Warning –> there will be mentions of alcohol abuse, DUI, and DUI with death.  

 

Just as realistic as the author creates the plot and that scene about the tornado, her characters are very realistic as well.

 

Levi is a single parent of 5-year-old set in addition to being on the rodeo circuit. He left the Amish order to live the Englisch life. But, he still feels a draw back to his roots. He also happens to have been the childhood crush of Gail Schroder whose father took Levi in.

 

There are Gail’s younger sisters – Rebecca, Amity, and Florene. Florene is the more troublesome one for Gail. Florene enjoys using her smartphone for texting her friends and is planning to leave her Amish roots behind when she becomes of age. I definitely want to know her story.

 

Just after Levi shows up, a banker by the name of Wilkins shows up – turns out the Schroder farm is in debt and none of the bills, even the mortgage hasn’t been paid. It is then that Gail discovers the man her father hired (Slagel) has stolen the money from their cattle sale after her father’s death. Their mother also passed as well. And, Gail is under the impression that Levi is a widower.

 

Levi decides to stick around and help Gail out, after all, her father had helped him out. The first step is for Gail to file a police report against Slagel. The Sheriff (Evan) understands Gail’s position. She sees it as avenging and only wants the money back. However, Englisch law doesn’t work like that -no complaint, no arrest, no legal way to force Slagel to repay the money. Since Evan had grown up in the Amish order, he is able to help Gail through the difficulty. Slagel didn’t commit just a petty theft – it is a major felony. Eventually, Gail signs the complaint.

 

That part of the storyline almost goes to the end of the book before coming to a conclusion.

 

After the complaint, Gail learns there are other debts that have gone unpaid. Levi steps up and tells Gail she can repay him when her money is recovered. She then has the hard task of informing her sisters.

 

Levi has a plan to sell off more cattle to get the ranch caught up. And, as he makes plans, he ponders the what-ifs.

 

The author delves right into the uncomfortable parts of ranching, particularly the branding of cattle and the realities of the job. In addition, she also points out the realities of baptism in the Amish order and the penalties for leaving.

 

Levi finds out that those in the community and church didn’t forget him and he is slowly connecting back to the community. Another connection is Florene and her phone. At one point, Gail sees Florene and her friends on their phones and wonder why they don’t talk to each other. Something that is all too common in the Englisch world as well. Yet, there are some good technologies the Amish employ for power – solar energy and other renewables for conveniences. I could almost live that life – but I do need my laptop, internet, and electricity for lighting (as well as cooking, my fridge, and laundry).

 

Soon Levi is asked to take up bible study, but the invite is immediately revoked when an awful truth is revealed – Levi isn’t a widower. And, it seems his reason for why he did what he did might prevent him from settling down in Burr Oak.

 

He still stays to help Gail save her ranch, and Gail sees the realities of the rodeo when a competitor is injured, cutting short his career.

 

But, a storm threatens the plans Levi has to help Gail and he has to rely on a new idea to help her save her ranch. He also has to tell Gail the truth about Seth’s mom and his marriage.

 

Wright keeps the reader’s attention until the very end with the conclusion. Some of which is predictable, but still an enjoyable read.

 

I will say there was a trigger moment in reading this when Tarrant County (Ft. Worth) is under a tornado watch, much different than a warning (which wouldn’t probably been more accurate). Having gone through a tornado in nearby Dallas County in 1979, it was a bit too close to home so to speak. The author is spot on with tornados and Texas going hand-in-hand though.

 

This wasn’t all serious, there were some funny moments to balance those out – one was on page 140 when the cows were referred to as stubborn critters; and one near the end about Texas women getting their man.

 

Being not only distributed by Love Inspired, but an Amish romance; expect references to God, prayers, and biblical quotes. These are slightly tied in with the plot.

 

This is written with typical Amish language, usually Pennsylvania Dutch. As of note, the “French” side of my family settled in Pennsylvania Dutch country shortly after migrating to the United States hundreds of years ago. And, I also have a German side of my family as well.

 

According to the back of the book “dear reader” section, this sounds like it might be the first book in an un-named series. I would be very interested to read future books in the series, along with other books by the author.

 

Readers who enjoy Vanetta Chapman and/or Tracey J. Lyons, are sure to enjoy this book!

 

 

RATING:

 

5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Goodreads

 

5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Bookbub

 

5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Personal Rating (see rating explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html)

 

 

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

Like the Amish, Pamela Desmond Wright is a fan of the simple life. Her childhood includes memories of olden days: old-fashioned oil lamps, cooking over an authentic wood-burning stove and making popcorn over a fire at her grandparents’ cabin. The authentic log cabin Pamela grew up playing in can be viewed at the Muleshoe Heritage Center in Muleshoe, Texas, which was donated to the city after the death of her grandparents.

 

 

You can also find her on the following social media accounts:

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PamDWrites

 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pamdwrites/

 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PamDWrites

 

 

 

 

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