I have kept up with The Amish of Shepherd’s Hill trilogy, and there was no doubt in my mind that I was going to read this book as soon as humanly possible. When I received the July email from Patricia reminding me about the upcoming release, I was in the emergency room, and then, through a series of unfortunate events (that’s a different series than the one we’re talking about today) triggered from that event, I was unable to read until mid August. Why must life interfere with my reading time? But it was very much worth the wait. So very much.

My Summary

The main story from the jacket cover focuses on Miri Shrock and Moses Yoder. This is the largest part of the story, so let’s talk about that a little. Miri is an unconventional Amish woman. Or at least that is what she believes everyone thinks about her and she’s learned to accept that about herself. Perhaps it is true; she has a love for cattle which is how she developed her friendship with Old Tom, her next-door neighbor, over the years. Since she was a little girl (much to her father’s dismay and eventual acceptance), Old Tom let her pitch in around his cattle farm. They often spoke about the herd and gave each other advice. Now as a young woman, she is able to board the few cattle she has at Old Tom’s. When he passed, he left it all to Miri. Miri saw this as her opportunity to make a life for herself doing what she lives for.

Moses, being Tom’s grandson, is not too pleased about Miri inheriting the farm right out from his family. However, he is determined to respect his grandfather’s wishes, no matter how much it hurts. But his family is not as forgiving and is treating Miri as if she has stolen the property right out from underneath them. Which isn’t easy for Moses considering that he continually grows more interested in Miri.

Here is what I would say. This third and final book in the Shepherd’s Hills series continues Tabitha Schrock’s difficult rejoining of the Amish church. Unable to remarry after having divorced when she was living in the Englisch world, she has nothing in common with women her own age – no husband, no children – and no possibility of getting them. As a trained veterinarian, she is also constantly fighting the men’s assumptions about her capabilities, but since she is the primary vet for Shepherd’s Hill they have to learn to trust her. As she continues to find her way in the community, she takes comfort with the widows who have welcomed her with open arms. Tabitha acknowledges the fact that her own choices are what have led her to this. But a shocking turn of events leaves Tabitha with choices she never thought she’d have, proving that God can truly bring beauty from ashes.

Reflections

How many people can die in the first fifty pages of a Christian Amish romance built around hope and fulfilling one’s dreams? Apparently two. And it rocked everyone’s world. That’s all I can say about that. Well this, and what’s above.

Despite the startling beginning, this is a touching, sweet story of growing affection between friends. It’s also a tale of how shared responsibility can both hurt and heal. As the bittersweet elements of these love stories unfold, you’ll find yourself drawn in more and more as you turn each page.

The women in this series are bold and beautiful inside and out, and Miri is no exception. She is unafraid to take the bull by the horns, so to speak, and buck tradition by trading the kitchen for cattle. Miri knows what she’s good at and where her passion is. Which may be why Old Tom left the farm to her. She looks to Tabitha as an inspiration for unconventional living but Tabitha also lays out the heartbreak that can be had when heritage is pushed aside in favor of our wants.

Sometimes I think Moses is the only real man in his family. Yes, convention has the land passing down from generation to generation to the youngest son but that does not mean Tabitha stole from them. The men in Moses’s family have a guttural reaction that is far removed from the Amish custom of forgiveness. Moses is the only one who doesn’t think that Tabitha is stealing by keeping this land. Although his heart is broken too. It’s tough giving up his own dream of being the caretaker of the farm to respect his grandfather’s directives. Especially since he does not understand why this choice was made.

But Tabitha, yes, dear Tabitha, has my heart through this entire series. While my past mistakes were not the same as hers (although we both can put divorce on that list), I can look back at my own life and see where I too was listening to my own wants and desires instead of God’s wants and desires for me. The consequences of this for Tabitha are pretty severe given her faith and it weighs heavily on me. To be able to see how this is all turned around in the end just made me so happy. I cannot even begin to tell you.

Why Read This

Fans of heartwarming friends to more romance will absolutely be enamoured with this book. Filled with healing, redemption, and joy this is the type of book that leaves you with total satisfaction when you close the cover. Especially because of my favorite part, the epilogue. There are also discussion questions for book clubs or buddy reads for those who want to dive into all these elements with a friend or group of friends.

Overall, this book is amazing! It’s the perfect end to the trilogy. Although Johns kept me hanging all the way to the bitter end for those HEAs I was hoping for (and then some), it was well worth the wait. I do think that reading the series in order will provide the best experience. Seeing Tabitha’s journey from returning home through the end will help you to see that when you turn to God and genuinely listen to him, He can take your chaos and provide comfort and peace.