A SPRINGTIME HEART
SERIES: The Promise Glen #2
GENRE: Amish Romance
PUBLISHER: Berkley
RELEASE DATE: July 7, 2020
PAGES: 283
A second chance at love blooms in the quaint Amish community of Promise Glen, from national bestselling author Marta Perry.
Dorcas Beiler’s reckless teenage years are far behind her. She’s serious and responsible now, and the good people of Promise Glen trust her with the education of their children. But when her first love returns after years of exile from the community, her past comes rushing back. Thomas is the only one who knows her secret, and despite his careless charm and teasing manner, she refuses to let her guard down.
Thomas Fisher has plans. Plans to start a construction company and prove himself a success to all those who doubted him, and plans to find the woman he left behind. His chance comes when he lands the opportunity to rebuild the stable and shed at the community school. He won’t be paid for his time, but he’ll be able to showcase his abilities…and spend time with Dorcas.
Scenting love in the air, Dorcas’s young pupils make excuses to bring them together. As old feelings stir, Dorcas and Thomas wonder whether their first love might also be their last.
Other Books In This Series
A Springtime Heart is a delightful return to Promise Glen, with occasional glimpses of the characters we grew to love in A Christmas Home and a sweet second chance at love.
Dorcas (whom you may remember as Sarah’s best friend if you read A Christmas Home) is the star of this 2nd installment of the series, and she’s easily likable and genuine-hearted. She’s more serious than Sarah, but being the teacher of Promise Glen’s Amish school doesn’t give her too much time or leeway for being otherwise. (Dorcas being the teacher does mean, however, that we get more adorable moments from the Raber twins!) Her budding romance with Thomas Fisher ended abruptly as teenagers, and with his return to Promise Glen, complicated emotions & regret-filled memories/secrets add even further layers to Dorcas’s character as well as Thomas’s. Just as I did in A Christmas Home, I loved the flaws & strengths of both Dorcas and Thomas, as well as the journeys that brought them to this point. They certainly aren’t perfect people but they’re authentic and realistic, allowing us to personally relate to them even though we ourselves aren’t Amish.
Bottom Line: A Springtime Heart is a breath of fresh air amid the uncertainty and upheaval of real life in our current world. Gently-drawn characters struggle with the same emotions & anxieties as we do and they celebrate the same victories, allowing us to embrace them as friends while we’re together in the pages. Moments of humor mingle with a sweet romance and a solid message, and you’ll close the book with a smile on your face and a lighter heart. This can easily be read as a standalone, if you haven’t already read A Christmas Home (but you’ll want to go back and read it too), and Perry’s writing is smooth and engaging. A great choice for the fans of the author and/or the genre.
(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.)
My Rating: 4 stars / loved it
KissingBook Level: 3 / may forget to breathe on occasion
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Marta Perry is the author of more than 50 inspirational romance novels, including the Promise Glen series, the Pleasant Valley series and the Keepers of the Promise trilogy. A lifetime spent in rural Pennsylvania and her own Pennsylvania Dutch roots led her to write about the Plain People who add to the rich heritage of her home state. Marta lives with her husband in a century-old farmhouse in the Pennsylvania countryside, but spends winters at their vacation home in South Carolina. When she’s not writing, she’s active in the life of her church and enjoys traveling and spending time with her three children and six beautiful grandchildren.
Other Books by Marta Perry
What about you? What makes you want to read A Springtime Heart by Marta Perry?
A Springtime Heart sounds delightful!
I want to read about Dorcas’ “adventures” as a teacher! 🙂