A Marriage of the Heart

Title:  A MARRIAGE OF THE HEART

Author: Kelly Long

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

November 2012

ISBN: 978-1401687564

Genre: Amish

These three novellas by Kelly Long were all published before in three different collections with Thomas Nelson—An Amish Love, An Amish Wedding, and An Amish Christmas, expanded edition.  I have read all these books previously and loved them, and it is nice to have all of Kelly Long’s novellas in one collection.

A Perfect Secret—Rose Bender has always known she’d marry her long time best friend Luke Lantz. But there is a thief in their Amish neighborhood and when Rose catches a glimpse of the English thief he seems so much more intriguing than her intended. Luke is harboring a secret too. One that could cost him his good standing in his Amish community, not to mention rip Rose from his arms forever.

Christmas Cradles—Anna Stolis has gone to relieve her aunt of her midwifery duties for the night so she can get away. But there are three women expecting. Anna’s aunt arranges for Asa Mast to stay in the barn just in case there is need of Anna acting as midwife. Sure enough, the first call comes and Anna and Asa take off in a blizzard to deliver a first child. With God’s design three babies are born that night and Asa finds a new hope for his life. But is it enough to make her give up her own practice and stay to help her aunt?

A Marriage of the Heart—Abigail Kauffman told a lie. Angry that Joseph Lambert ignored her beauty, she lied about him making inappropriate moves toward her and they are forced to marry. Joseph knows it’s a lie, but he agrees, because he wants a way into the community. Abby is looking for a way out. But instead Joseph moves into her home, with her father, and prepares to stay. Is there any hope for this marriage built on deceit?

At first I didn’t like Abby Kauffman in A Marriage of the Heart, but have to say that I loved Joseph, and I loved the sparks between them. Abby did grow on me. This story was the most fun to read in this novella collection. I loved this story. Kelly Long is getting a reputation as being an edgier Amish writer, and I have to admit that I do love the passion she has in her stories. They are clean, but there is a lot of sexual tension, and she does that so very well.

If you read the previous collections, but didn’t like all the stories or wanted only the ones by ones by one author, then A MARRIAGE OF THE HEART is a great collection. If you haven’t read the previous collections listed at the beginning—do. A Perfect Secret is part of a wedding story that is ongoing through the whole book, An Amish Wedding. The other two are stand-alone. $12.99. 352 pages.