Review: Breath of Spring by Charlotte Hubbard

Paperback, 352 pages

Published May 6th 2014 by Zebra

more details...

ISBN: 1420133071 (ISBN13: 9781420133073)

edition language : English

series: Seasons of the Heart #4

From Goodreads:

As a bright season brings a fresh start to Willow Ridge, Annie Mae Knepp feels she can never make peace with the past. Her disgraced ex-bishop father is furious she has taken her five siblings to live with her. She's never been truly at home in her faith. . .or believing in herself. And Annie Mae fears no man will want to take on the responsibilities she's gladly shouldered. True, her quiet neighbor Adam Wagler has been steadfast and unshakeable helping her through her trials, but he surely couldn't think of someone so lost as more than a friend. Believing she is unworthy because of her doubts, Annie Mae will find in a moment of surprising revelation that God can work impossible miracles--and that love makes all things new.


My thoughts:

 Not too sure what it is about Amish fiction that draws me in so quickly but maybe it is the seeming simplicity of their lives. The Amish seem to know what is expected of them and generally they do that. I've read the other three in the series and enjoyed them tremendously, although this one seemed a little more "preachy" than the previous three. Even so, the first three in the series captivated me with the varied characters and situations.

 Miriam has her own story going on as well as her three daughters. I really liked Miriam, the mother of the triplets, and her dedication to her faith, family, and her cafe business. In this fourth book, Hubbard branches out to another Willow Ridge family member, Annie Mae Knepp. We had met her father, Hiram, in the first book. Hubbard did a terrific job of bringing Hiram, as well as all the other characters,  to life. There's not usually a villain as nefarious as Hiram Knepp but this character, Annie Mae's father, definitely filled the bill as villain. I think it added to the reality of the series that not all people are perfect and some people are just downright deplorable despite their religious title.

Recommended for fans of family sagas, romance, Christian fiction. 3.5***

Disclosure: A review copy of the book was provided by Kensington/Netgalley  in exchange for my honest opinion.