I received a copy of this book from Waterbrook Multnomah's Blogging for Books program. The only compensation I receive for this review is the pleasure of talking about books. Because books are fun and they make me happy.
Um, guess what?
I totally loved this book. Having not read the first two books in the series, I wasn't sure how jumping right into book 3 would feel. Right from the start, I felt perfectly at home. While characters from previous novels are present, even vital in this third installment, the main characters and the main love story is unique to this book and thus easily read without feeling lost.
Here's the thing about romance novels. The point is for two people to fall in love. Most of the time, you know which two people are supposed to wind up together. You know there will be some sort of conflict that threatens to keep them apart forever and ever. You know that in the end, love will conquer all and everything will end with a great big happily ever after. You don't read a romance novel because you expect something different. You read because the process of falling in love is fun--because the journey is worth reading about. Well wait. Not in all romance novels. In many romance novels the journey is never, ever, ever worth reading. But in this book? It's totally worth it.
The Harvest of Grace is full of engaging characters that are easy to love, and easy to feel invested in. There is a wonderful contrast between the simplicity of Amish life and the complexity of human experience, no matter your religion or family background.
If you like a good romance, without the smut that so frequently fills the pages of most mainstream romance novels, based on The Harvest of Grace, I would most heartily recommend Cindy Woodsmall's entire series.
