The Story of Love - by Beth Wiseman

The Story of Love by Beth Wiseman was a delight to read. It is the second book in The Amish Bookstore Novels. It can be read as a standalone, but you will get the bigger picture if you read The Bookseller’s Promise first. I thought The Story of Love was well-written with relatable characters. I enjoyed getting to know Yvonne and Abraham. I am glad the author gave Yvonne her own story. We met her in the first book, but we really get to know her in this one. Abraham grew up Amish, but he decided to not become baptized. He joined the police force which is a very un-Amish profession. I loved that we get to catch up with Eva and Jake from The Bookseller’s Promise. Eva is such a lively character. The Story of Love has mystery, suspense, and romance. I especially enjoyed the mystery (I love solving a whodunit). There are some touching moments especially with Yvonne and the dog who decided her porch was his new home. I like that Christmas is shown in a different light. We get to see Yvonne experience her first Christmas as a Christian. She gets to experience the true meaning of the season. I also liked that the gifts given were useful and homemade. The author’s word imagery had me feeling the cold of Indiana. I could just imagine Yvonne shivering inside the farmhouse. I loved Yvonne’s delight with the falling snow (wait until her first blizzard). The story is told from three points-of-view: Yvonne, Abraham, and Brianna. Brianna is the woman Abraham is dating when Yvonne moves to Montgomery, Indiana. We get to see how jealousy can affect a person. Sometimes the green-eyed monster can make an individual do things they would not normally do. I like how the various storylines all worked together in this book (so much going on). There is some repetition of details (how Yvonne lost her fiancé, failed to write Abraham back, Abraham is dating Yvonne). I loved the ending which left me smiling. The Story of Love is a book that I stayed up very late to finish. I am eager to read Hopefully Ever After. The Story of Love is a captivating Amish tale with wintry weather, a dirty dog, a pair’s rough relationship, crafting presents, telling traces, and a cheerful Christmas.

I was so excited to receive the latest book in this series because I absolutely adore Yvonne. She captured my heart with her love of books and how she tracked down very rare books for clients. That would be such an exciting job and what wonderful treasures you would find. Yvonne has decided to move from Texas when she is offered a job running a bookstore. She finds herself in Montgomery, Alabama where her new friends Jake and Eva live. She is so excited to start this new job and is thankful that Jake and Eva have hired her. I would love to be in a bookstore all day surrounded by stories waiting to be read. Yvonne is hoping that she can heal her broken heart after losing her fiancé. Abraham has grown up Amish but decided to not be baptized so at times it may be hard for him living near the community. He is still welcomed but his job as a police officer keeps him pretty busy. He also has a girlfriend who I’m not sure is suited for him. He still enjoys the simple life but his girlfriend loves to dress up and drives a fancy car. I thought it was funny when Abraham finds out that Yvonne has moved to his town because he still has a major crush on her. I can see trouble heading his way once his girlfriend finds out he still has feelings for Yvonne. I did enjoy Yvonne describing why she is happy that she has moved. She loves the simple life and slow pace the Amish live. One thing she points out is that there is no competition between women. They all dress the same so that takes away women being jealous of how others dress. But be careful about that thought Yvonne. Women can become jealous of others if they think you are showing their boyfriend or husband attention. When a dog adopts Yvonne I found it be comforting. They both seem lonely and I think they will be good for each other. I’m a big animal lover and anytime I read a story with a dog in it it melts my heart. I couldn’t wait to see if this relationship would turn out to be a happy ending. I did find myself wrapped up in a thick blanket as I read the book after the author describes the dog shivering on the porch. Weather in the winter can be harsh and Yvonne can’t let that poor dog stay outside. It is a nice scene when the dig finds comfort in her home. The story does have a frightening moment when Abraham is shot in the line of duty. He never thought in the quiet area he patrols that something like this would happen to him. But what is more alarming to me is his girlfriend Brianna at the hospital and Yvonne shows up. Talk about awkward. Why does Yvonne mention that Abraham got her a Christmas tree in front of Brianna? Let’s just say I think a line was drawn in the sand as Brianna explains that Abraham will be staying with her as he recovers. Oh my have the claws come out or what. The author has written a story that explores relationships, forgiveness and most of all standing together in faith. I was very surprised at who had been stalking Yvonne and it saddened me to learn this person did it. I loved how the author handled the relationship between Yvonne and Abraham. They both have decisions to make about continuing and a bigger decision will be about their faith. I loved how these two asked God for direction in their lives and waited on Him for direction. The ending leaves readers hanging a little and I’m excited to see if the author will continue the series. I received a copy of this book from the author and publisher. The review is my own opinion.

It was hard to put this down after becoming immersed in Yvonne’s life story in book one. I left the bookshop wondering what turn her life would take. Although this could be read as a stand-alone I recommend reading book one so you get the feel for Yvonne’s faith journey and how she became acquainted with the Amish community. This story has many aspects going on and leaves you scratching your head as to what, who, why. Abraham has a lot of turmoil going on in his life with choices to be made that can be life altering. I love his open and honest relationship with Yvonne. You can see God at work in their lives leading them to where they belong. I love that we get snippets of my favorite characters Lizzie and her sister Esther as they always invoke a chuckle. I especially enjoyed the ending and how it leaves you with a clue for book three. Anxiously awaiting to read. You can always count on a great read from Ms Wiseman. I received a complimentary copy from the publisher/author. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.