"The Amish Marriage Bargain" tells a story of heartache, redemption, and hidden lives and lies. May and Thad are forced by their bishop to marry, since May is a single lady serving as widower Thad's nanny. May and Thad had been sweethearts, until Thad surprisingly married May's sister, April. When April died in childbirth, she left behind her baby daughter, for whom May has promised to care. The backstory exposes a web of lies and deception that threatens the happiness of May, Thad, and baby Leah.

I liked the characters of May and of Thad, and how their relationship developed despite hardships. The basic idea of the story held a lot of potential, and some sections needed to be more thoroughly thought through. Furthermore, some aspects of the story stretched one's credulity, making a person wonder if the people in this Amish community could count (re. how long it takes a baby to come along). I guessed some of the story early on in the book. I also found it a bit of a stretch to think that people could change their personalities and attitudes so very rapidly. I was surprised at how quickly May was ready to throw away their relationship, and the constant wavering of both Thad and May.

The Christian message in this book is overt, but not preachy. Readers who enjoy Amish fiction might give this a try, although they might find themselves a bit incredulous at times, and will surely fall in love with little Leah, if not with the adults in the story.

I received this book from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own. ( )

For the sake of her niece, May Bender must marry Thad Hochstedler. Quite inconveniently, he left her brokenhearted when he chose to marry her sister. Now, they must sort through the challenges lingering from the past, as well as those of day-to-day living within their marriage of convenience.

The Amish Marriage Bargain contains layers as these characters deal with their reality. It’s a story of truth and hardship and second chances, and I enjoyed seeing May and Thad figure it all out. For readers of Amish fiction, this latest release from Marie E. Bast could be just the quick, heart read you need.

I received a complimentary copy of this book and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own. ( )

Imagine being in love with someone and planning to marry him and then being jilted for your sister. That is what happened to May Bender. But then after her sister dies unexpectedly and leaves behind a daughter, May moves in so she can take care of her niece. So when the Bishop of their Amish community tells them they must marry, May struggles with what to do. Add in a domineering mother-in-law and this story comes to life.

From an injury to a tornado to figuring out how to keep her parents’ farm, May struggles and works to take care of those she loves. But when she finds out some secrets Thad has been keeping from her she has to decide what she is going to do. Then she discovers some other secrets someone else had kept from her, and she had to decide what to do. So read this book for yourself to see if May and Thad get a happy ending or not.

I received a copy of this book for my fair and honest review. ( )

This was a very good read. This was inspirational Amish fiction. It was interesting to read how tough May was when it came to her happiness. She was not going to give up. There were great Amish characters throughout. It was interesting to read about how they made there money in the milking trade and then by making cheeses. I received a copy of this book from Celebratelit for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will. ( )

“She didn’t know what was worse…losing the farm or losing her heart. But could she risk sticking around to find out?”

With “The Amish Marriage Bargain”, Marie Bast composes an inspirational romance that tugs at the heartstrings and encourages readers to never lose faith. This is the first Amish novel I’ve read that focuses on a marriage of convenience, at least as far as I can recall, and I have to admit that I’m surprised to have enjoyed it as much as I did. It did not fall into a clichéd trope, which made it all the more appealing. Books such as this excel at demonstrating the similarities between the Amish and English communities; there are obvious differences, but similarities abound, too, and in this divisive day and age it is important to remember the things that can bring us together. Things like family and faith.

After having her heart broken when her beau married her sister, who died shortly after giving birth to baby Leah, May Bender takes over her little niece’s care. Living in her family’s farmhouse with her former beau, Thad Hochstetler, is a sacrifice she is willing to make for Leah, but the situation escalates quickly when the bishop stipulates that the two must marry. Add in several suspenseful predicaments and the scene is set for an intriguing story. Well-crafted characters enhance the story as well, with backstories that Bast reveals over time. May both embodies and defies the image of the ideal Amish wife, as she is willing to do whatever is necessary to overcome obstacles, even if it is unconventional. Her ardent nature is a source of consternation to the bishop and to her draconic mother-in-law, and I appreciated May’s determination and perseverance while sympathizing with her desire for true love. “She didn’t want secondhand love or someone who pitied her, or someone who wanted her out of loneliness. She wanted to feel loved by someone who was content being next to her.”

The circumstances surrounding the dairy farmers’ dilemma provides a glimpse into the challenges that the Amish face, and how these are in some ways unique from those of the Englishers. The sense of community is an aspect of Amish literature that I never tire of reading about, and the faith element in “The Amish Marriage Bargain” is likewise strong. Forgiveness and sacrifice tie faith and community together, reminding us to put Christ first and to live out lives of kindness and service. After all, His plans for us are always greater than we can imagine.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Celebrate Lit and was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own. ( )