So I was lucky enough to win autographed copies of the first two books in Gayle Roper's Amish Farm Trilogy.What treasures, no?So, what could I do but read them?!?!Starting with book one: A Stranger's Wish by Gayle RoperA Stranger's Wish is the story of Kristie Matthews who has the unique experience to get to live on an Amish farm with an Amish family, even though she is an Englischer.Kristie has always been the "odd one out" in her family. She comes from a family of lawyers and was expected to go into the family profession and work at the family firm. However, as Kristie progressed through school she easily decided that the life of a lawyer was the last thing she wanted. Instead of being starched and logical like her family, Kristie is colorful and an aspiring artist who absolutely loves painting watercolors, an activity her family scoffs on and does not consider a profession.To make matters worse, Kristie's boyfriend, Todd, also a lawyer, finds most of her traits annoying and she feels as if he is constantly trying to change her. He doesn't like her painting, he doesn't understand her living on an Amish farm, he doesn't understand her colorful outfits, and their relationship seems to have a lot of strain. However, Kristie knows he is a good man, a good Christian man, who does, in fact, have a good heart and he is loved by her family, one of the few things in her life that her family actually approves of.Kristie's adventure begins shortly after she moves onto the Zook farm and gets bit by their dog, Hawk, as she goes to pet him, not realizing he has a painful cut that she touches. Kristie is taken to the hospital at the insistance of a young man, John Clarke Griffin who arrived at the farm to visit one of the Zooks' sons, Jake, and the rest of the Zook family.Though he injury is minor, not even requiring stitches, at the hospital Kristie meets an older man, Mr. Geohagan, who comes into the E.R. in the midst of having a heart attack and gives her a key, one which he does not explain what it goes to, and asks her to keep it for him. In a spur of the moment decision, she agrees to keep it, not knowing the adventure she is in for, and how one little key which opens one little lock will forever change her life...In a story of intrigue, mystery, romance and Christian vales, along with being set in an Amish background, the book is a great tale of an Englischer experiencing the Amish world and finding herself along the way.While it was not, perhaps, my most favorite Amish fiction book that I have ever read, it is one well worth reading, especially since it had an air of mystery mixed in, something I always enjoy. If ind it nice to mix between Amish fiction which involves solely Amish characters, and Amish fiction which involves Englischers experiencing the Amish world firsthand.It is definitely a pretty believable story, at least insofar as the character development. I really liked Kristie, and was rooting for her along the way. The only part I did not enjoy is how all the lawyers in the book were portrayed as condescending, unyielding and not understanding. This is probably because I, myself, am in law school and an aspiring lawyer, and though I realize stereotypes may exist for a reason, it gets a bit redundant to see the same clichés over and over, especially in portraying lawyers as cold, unyielding and most of the time, heartless.However, the lawyer we experience the most, Todd, Kristie's boyfriend, we learn more about in the next book, and it definitely paints him in a different light. But that review is for another time.I recommend A Stranger's Wish to those who enjoy Amish fiction, or to those who enjoy Christian fiction but know little of the Amish, as many things are explained that those unfamiliar with the culture would probably be unaware of.Four out of five stars! Liked this book a lot, although could've done without the mystery/endangerment suspense. If this was just a love story/regular fiction book would still have liked it just as well. (But then it wouldn't have been in the new mysteries section and I probably wouldn't have found it!!)Maybe I related to Kristie's being a watercolorist, and to the longing of the Amish mother's longing to do art. I definitely am fascinated with the Amish, living close to them. My friends have very intimate relationships with the local Amish. (Not the PA Amish, though, which are depicted in this book.)Very enjoyable read.
What do You think about A Stranger's Wish (2010)?
Enjoyable combination of light romance and cozy mystery with an Amish twist thrown in as well.
—txsgrl983
Suggested to me by a former Amish lady as being true to Amish life.
—jobeth
I generally avoid "bonnet fiction" but I like Gayle Roper!
—TylerT32
