Living in Harmony

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingLiving in HarmonyHarvest House Publishers (August 1, 2012)byMary Ellis
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Mary Ellis is the author of many books, including A Widow's Hope, Sarah's Christmas Miracle, and A Marriage for Meghan. She and her husband live in central Ohio, where they try to live a simpler style of life. She was a finalist in the ACFW Carol Awards for A Widow's Hope in 2010, and the 3inner of the Award of Merit in the Holt Medallion Awards for A Widow's Hope in 2010.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Living in Harmony is the first book in bestselling author Mary Ellis's New Beginnings series. It's about fresh starts and love...and how faith in God and His perfect plan for our lives provides us with the peace and joy we desire.

Amy King--young, engaged, and Amish--faces difficult challenges in her life when she suddenly loses both of her parents in a house fire. Her fiancé, John Detweiler, persuades her and her sister Nora to leave Lancaster County and make a new beginning with him in Harmony, Maine, where he has relatives who can help the women in their time of need.

John's brother Thomas and sister-in-law Sally readily open their home to the three newcomers. Wise beyond his years, Thomas, a minister in the district, refuses to marry Amy and John upon their arrival, suggesting instead a period of adjustment and counseling.

During this time Amy discovers an aunt who was shunned. She wishes to reconnect with her, but this puts a strain on her relationship with John.

Can John and Amy find a way to live in happily in Harmony before making a lifetime commitment to one another?

Watch the book trailer for Living in Harmony:


If you would like to read the first chapter of Living in Harmony, go HERE.

My thoughts...

This is the first book in The New Beginnings series. After the death of their parents sisters Amy and Nora leave Lancaster, PA. and move to Maine with Amy's fiance, John. They stay in the home of John's brother and sister in law, Thomas and Sally, while looking for a farm to buy and plan to marry as soon as possible. This is the thing I thought didn't really make sense, why would they choose to wait and marry in a community where they know no one other than John's brother instead of marrying in Lancaster where all their friends and family are?

Upon arriving in Harmony troubles start between Amy and John, mostly because of Nora and John's youngest brother, Elam. Both are free spirited. Also because of Amy's search for an aunt who has been shunned. I enjoyed the way this storyline went. Several times John must correct Amy and Nora for breaking the rules of the Ordnung of which they're unfamiliar. The characters are endearing and the events are fun, I look forward to seeing what happens between Nora and Elam in the next book.

Living in Harmony gets 4 out of 5 stars from me. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.