The Amish Blacksmith - The Men of Lancaster County 2 - by Mindy Starns Clark & Susan Meissner

About the book:

New from bestselling authors Mindy Starns Clark and Susan Meissner, The Amish Blacksmith (Book 2 in The Men of Lancaster County series) explores the men of an Amish community in Lancaster County, how their Amish beliefs play out in their unique roles, and the women who change their lives.
Apprenticed blacksmith Jake Miller is skeptical of Priscilla Kinsinger’s innate ability to soothe troubled horses, especially when he has own ideas on how to calm them. Six years earlier, Priscilla’s mother died in an awful accident at home, and Priscilla’s grief over losing her mother was so intense that she was sent to live with relatives in Indiana. She has just returned to Lancaster County.

Not that her homecoming matters to Jake, who is interested in courting lighthearted Amanda Shetler. But Jake’s boss is Priscilla’s uncle, and when the man asks Jake to help his niece reconnect with community life, he has no choice but to do just that. Surprisingly, he finds himself slowly drawn to the beautiful but emotionally wounded Priscilla.

Jake then determines to prove to her that it’s not her fault her mother died, but what he discovers will challenge everything they both believe about the depth of love and the breadth of forgiveness.

My review:

I really enjoyed this story with a twist!  I liked how the story was told from the viewpoint of Jake, who thought he had his life all figured out.  His spiritual and emotional growth were wonderful and really made the story compelling.  There was also a slight mystery as the circumstances surrounding Priscilla's mother's death weren't clear.  Priscilla was very interesting as I never knew what she would say or do next and neither did Jake!   I felt like I had a lot in common personality-wise with both Priscilla and Jake and could relate to them a lot more than Amanda.  It was fascinating watching him gentle horses and the techniques he employed, but it was especially interesting getting Priscilla's insights.  I also found it interesting to learn more about the blacksmith trade.  There were a couple of cute romantic moments, but there really wasn't much to that aspect of the story and I wished there had been.  I didn't want to put this book down!  I think men would like this story just as much as women and I especially recommend it for lovers of Amish fiction, romance, or horses.

I received this book free from Harvest House Publishers in exchange for an honest review.

Mindy Starns Clark

Mindy Starns Clark is the author of many books, which include the popular Smart Chick Mysteries, Whispers of the Bayou, Shadows of Lancaster County, and Under the Cajun Moon. In addition, Mindy’s plays and musicals have been featured in schools and churches across the United States.

Susan Meissner

Susan Meissner is a multi-published author, speaker, and writing workshop leader with a background in community journalism. Her novels include The Shape of Mercy, named by Publishers Weekly as one of the 100 Best Novels of 2008 and a Carol Award winner. She is a pastor’s wife and the mother of four young adults. When she's not writing, Susan writes small group curriculum for her San Diego church. Visit Susan at her website: www.susanmeissner.com, on Twitter at @SusanMeissner, or at www.facebook.com/susan.meissner.