"2 out of 5 stars. Lizbeth is an Amish widow who is escaping her life in Ohio and moving back to where she grew up in Pinecraft, Florida. While establishing herself back into the community she grew up her life takes a sudden twist when she learns that her feelings for Fredrik (her older brother’s best friend) is still there. But if they get to close her big secret will be exposed so would it all be worth the heartache?

This novel ... oh this novel ... the book’s description hooked me so I was hyped to read this when I finally got into it. HOWEVER ..."

Read more of this review here: https://frommetoyouvideophoto.blogspot.com/2020/01/disappointmentville-pinecraft... ( )

The Florida Amish/Mennonite are nothing like any Amish/Mennonite I know or have read about. I have to say that made me wonder if the author really knew that community or not.

My question on seeing the title was "how could anyone have a secret Amish child?" My best guess was that she'd been sent away to have the child with her new community being told she was a young widow and then her original community being told she'd married and been widowed at the place she was sent to. That wasn't quite the case--it appears her husband and his family were aware of her pregnancy.

Since the identity of the biological father is revealed in the blurb, another early thought I had was "if they'd had sex, why didn't he remember it along with all the other memories of their childhood exploits?" This question isn't answered until later in the book.

I can understand the abusive atmosphere undermining Lizbeth's confidence in herself and the circumstances making it harder for her to be the mother of her son, but she acts like she's never seen mothering done before. She had a mother--certainly she had to learn some lessons from her mother (of course, that was a mother-daughter relationship rather than mother-son, but . . .) She has a brother, so she could have observed her mother raising him. She may have also seen how Fredrik's mother was a mother to him. So to act like she has no clue is just a big plot hole. Also, she could ask for help from Ulla and others she knows in Pinecraft to gather some ideas. ( )