Sarahs Garden [Paperback]

Kelley Long is a new writer to me and I really enjoy the Amish books, even though there are so many coming out now with this theme. Kelley put a whole new twist on the Amish story. This book started out with a bang and ended with one.
When I started reading it I thought it would be the same as the others I have read and enjoyed but this one was so different.

Sarah was the only daughter at home with older brothers and she loved to garden, that was her top priority, she didn't care for quilting or sewing as most of the Amish women tend to do. But she could make a mean garden and knew about all the plants.
When a new vet moved into the Amish community everything started to change. He was loved by all and did his work great but he was not Amish. This did not seem to brother the people as other books led us to believe in the past. They took him on as one of them.
Sarah was a loner as she didn't like to meet a lot of people, (I understand her because that is the way I am) but she was made to run the stand that the Amish make a lot of their money from in the summer, and she hated it. She didn't know what she was going to do when the "Englishers" came. She decided to start a quilt top for her sister's baby that would soon make his appearance, so this is the way she got by sitting all day at the stand.
As the story unfolds the Amish man that is in love with her "but she not him" keeps trying to get her to go out with him and he is a nice man but she grew up with him as a friend and that is all he will ever be.

She does get by and with her new nephew she begin to see things more in the light of an Amish woman and even starts her own quilt and has a quilting party. This is a must read for all that enjoy Amish books, it is a good clean Christian book with a new twist.

This book was sent to me for review by BookSneeze

This is the first Christian romance book that I have read and the first Amish romance that I have read. I enjoyed the book, but not as much as I was anticipating. The book started off strong with the introduction of Sarah and Grant and then the sparks that fly as they flirt and try to resist the romantic ties, but then it kind of floundered in the middle. They know they are in love and want to marry the other person within about 1/4 - 1/3 of the way through the book and then it is just struggling to resist feelings until the very end of the book. This was a bit tiresome for me as I wanted to see the relationship grow and develop more. I understand that one of the people would have to make a huge lifestyle change and many sacrifices so it was a serious decision to make, but it is not the most fascinating reading to rehash the same problem over and over again. To fill the time, the author started inserting filler subplots like a disturbed teenage boy, a local animal show that mistreats its animals, a near fatal heart attack and so on. While all of these subplots are possible in even a tight-knit Amish community, I felt that they were introduced, resolved and dropped within a chapter or two and were just being used to fill the time. I wish that the author had spent more time on the courtship and Grant's learning about the Amish culture and trying to fit in and find a place with his neighbors.

I loved a lot of the details that the author included in this book, such as the type of goods Sarah sold in their family's stand, the types of plants she grows in her garden, local plants and animals, scenery, quilting, what is expected of an Amish girl, and many sweet scenes with Amish family gatherings. This was the most enjoyable part of the book for me and I felt like I was getting a good introduction to the Amish culture in a fast, enjoyable way. Nothing is overly worked in these details, which was refreshing, and the pages just fly by as you read. I also enjoyed all of the information about the animals that Grant tended while he was working. The descriptions were wonderful and the author has a lovely, clear writing style that is atmospheric and evocative without being overly flowery or bogged down. Kelly Long has a real knack for describing characters in just a few lines that made you fee like you had known them for years. I was easily able to identify with most of the characters in the book and really felt for Sarah, as most of the book is written from her point of view. I am a Christian and could empathize with Sarah trying to work out a balance between love and her faith and all that she knows. I am not sure what I would have done if I were in her shoes, but that would be a very difficult, if not impossible, decision to make!

In the end, I will recommend this book as it was an enjoyable read, but it has some limitations. I think that I will give this series another chance with the next book, though, as I really liked the author and felt like her characters were real people struggling with real problems. I really enjoyed her writing style and found this a quick, easy read. There is not a lot that happens in this book as far as exciting, action-packed scenes, but that is actually part of its charm. This book is a nice, old-fashioned romance with a kiss or two and lots of wonderful descriptions of the simple, beautiful life that the Amish choose to lead in our modern world. If you are looking for a clean romance for those of the Christian faith, this is a good one to pick up and enjoy.

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 plan on passing Sarah's Garden around to my family, because I really think they will enjoy it!

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