Diane Craver did it again! This is a must read, especially if you are looking gut a different type of Amish book. Lindsay Prescott is a single mom who gets diagnosed with cancer. She gave birth to triplets at age eighteen and gave two of the babies away. She decides to look for the two girls to reunite with them. What follows is a gut wrenching journey for both mothers and all three daughters.
This book was sad, happy, and so well written. I could feel all of the emotions and yes, at one point I cried.
Many thanks to the author and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of the book. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I enjoyed this book although it was quite a bit different from other Amish books I have read. I have a lot of questions so I hope there are more books to come. This is my first book by this author and I hope to read more. I was provided a copy by Netgalley but the opinions are mine.

Holding a secret is hard but when you have to decide to tell it after so many years is difficult at best. Lindsey has to make decisions that will affect alot of people's lives. Being sick makes a person question alot of things. Her life was not the easiest and during one of the hardest times. She made a decision to give up 2 of her triplets. Her husband had passed away and she had not family to help. Wanting to have a better life for them was a priority. She wants to meet the other 2 daughters and clear the air with their father who knows nothing about the girls. Healing starts for the girls and Lindsey after the truth is told. Their adoptive mother is very much against it. Being Amish makes her weary of what the girls may choose to do. Reading this story I'm not sure how she had the courage to do it but, she did. Her children were loved so much that she did what she thought was in their best interest.

The Amish Mother’s Secret by Diane Craver is an emotional story. Lindsay Prescott is a teacher and widow. Her daughter, Phoebe is attending Ohio State University (Go Buckeyes!). Lindsay has been feeling unwell, but she ignored the symptoms. When Lindsay’s daughter finally persuades her to go to the doctor, she learns that she has stage 4, Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. The first treatment ends up making Lindsay ill and needing to be admitted to the hospital. Lindsay decides it is time to tell Phoebe the secret she has been carrying for over twenty years. Lindsay was seventeen when she became pregnant with triplets. She tries to reach Harris, the birth father, without success. Katie and Roman Yoder helped Lindsay when her car broke down one day. The couple have not had success in having children of their own. Lindsay allows the Yoder’s to adopt two of the triplets. Lindsay decides it is time to tell Phoebe the truth about her parentage and to reconnect with the daughter’s raised by the Yoder’s. I thought it was well-written with steady pacing. The characters are realistic and relatable. You can feel the character’s emotions. I felt for Lindsay who made a difficult choice. I could certainly understand why she would want to meet the daughters she was unable to raise. Phoebe, Amy, Jenna have mixed emotions (naturally). They are upset that their parents did not tell them the truth sooner, but the triplets are excited to be together. Harris Manning is excited to learn he has three daughters and happy to reconnect with Lindsay. I like Roman Yoder. He is a kind, caring man who loves his family. I was not a fan of Roman’s wife, Katie. I knew she loved her children and wanted them to be baptized in the Amish faith. I found some of her thoughts and behavior baffling. I wish the author had captured more of Columbus. I loved the references to Ohio State University. There is repetition of key details. I could certainly understand Jenna and Amy’s desire for more education. I cannot imagine grown women having to get permission from their parents and the bishop to get EMT training or get a GED. I enjoyed reading The Amish Mother’s Secret. It is a story about family, forgiveness, and faith. I look forward to reading more books by Diane Craver. The Amish Mother’s Secret is a touching tale with a dismaying diagnosis, longed for letters, a lost love, a surprising secret, an unhappy parent, and triplet delight.

Not until Lindsay Prescott is diagnosed with stage 4 cancer does she decide to break a years-old promise. She must tell her daughter the truth about her birth. And why her identical sisters were raised by Amish parents, Katie & Roman Yoder.

And learns why the triplet’s father never knew of their birth.

My review…
My tagline is “… an honest review, always” and I’m being honest when I say I had a hard time liking this book. The description as given by the author and/or publisher gives too much away about the story. Fortunately, I had forgotten most of it when I started to read “The Amish Mother’s Secret”. I just remembered it was about a woman who couldn’t keep her triplets and was thankful an Amish couple was going to raise two of the three girls.

The book is a standalone and does have a HEA ending but getting there was this reviewer was not an enjoyable read. I know the book has had several 4 & 5-star reads. For me, it was a 2-star read receiving a 3-star review. And here is why…

-- Katie, the Amish mother, has no faith. She lives in fear and that fear exhibits meanness. She is cruel to Lindsey more than once. I did not like her from the first moment her character was introduced and didn’t buy her sudden change at the end.
-- Roman, Katie’s husband, shows eventually how Katie’s mean streak is affecting him yet he remains his romantic self 99.9% of the time. It would have been much more believable if he hadn’t.
Katie was much older than Lindsey when she got her promise. Fear is a powerful emotion and a big part of this story. But Katie’s fear is really never dealt with. I never got the feeling that Katie regretted any of her actions.
-- Harris, the girls’ biological father, is just too good to be true.
-- Repetition. Repetition. Repetition. The book has 261 pages and quite a bit is the same scene rehashed again. And again. If this had not been a NetGalley book, I would not have finished it.
-- Little things. Like Harris seeing Lindsey for the first time in 20+ years and the author costumes him in a short-sleeved shirt. Harris is a surgeon and a very successful one. Professional men do not wear short-sleeved shirts for such occasions (if ever). They wear a long-sleeved shirt with the sleeves rolled up.

The positive aspect for this reviewer was Lindsey’s cancer treatment although I thought Harris should have INSISTED she gets a second opinion. Lindsey was diagnosed with stage 4, Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma cancer. Turns out there was a very good reason why the author, Diane Craver, wrote this part so well. Make sure you read the section *after* the end.

So, no — I did not like the book even though other reviewers have. For me, it was a two-star read until I read “the rest of the story”.

I received a complimentary DRC (digital review copy) of “The Amish Mother’s Secret” via NetGalley from the publisher, Revell. A positive review was not required; the opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Rating: 3 stars
#TheAmishMothersSecret #NetGalley #DianeCraver

A lovely English/Amish novel. These books always come with a great storyline and this one is no different. Well worth a read 5 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and publisher for this ARC

I started reading this book a couple of days before Christmas, but stopped because a couple of chapters in, it was dealing with a mother diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and I did not want to read a sad book around the holiday. I did, however, start reading again after New Years Day and I am glad I did. It not only deals with cancer, but family, faith and forgiveness. Such an emotional filled book and a reminder that God is always in control.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. All words and opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed this story. It had lots of twists. Will love and forgiveness win out in the end? First time to read a book by this author but it won’t be the last.

Lindsay Prescott meet Harris Manning at a hotel she was working in and fell in love with him. She came from a poor family with a alcoholic mother. Harris came from wealth. She became pregnant from him. He had to wed the women his parents chose for him. When she learned she was pregnant she went to his house to tell him and was told by his promised wife Harris did not want to see her. She married her high school boyfriend who did not care she was caring another man's child. He was killed in a car accident and Lindsey finds out she was having triplets. When Lindsay car breaks down in Amish country she meets Katie and Roman. Katie and Roman can not have any children so Lindsay makes a choice because she wants a better home for them that she can not give. This story was wonderful. The characters were fantastic. I see it having more to come in other books. I do not want to give the whole story away. It is a book that will make you cry and also show you the love that Lindsay had for her triplets.

Identical triplets separated at birth. Two different lifestyles. Two different mothers. One goal. When Lindsay Prescott finds out that she has stage 4 lymphoma cancer, she resolves to right a wrong in her life by telling her daughter Phoebe that is is a triplet and that her sisters were raised by an Amish family. The sisters are understandably hurt. They endeavor to make up for lost time by spending lots of time together. However, Katie, the Amish mother, is terrified that her daughters will leave the faith and turn *Englisch*. Can love and understand bridge the gap and bring two hurting families together?

Masterfully done story, Diane. They characters were well developed. You could just feel the pain and joy experienced. Now you need a sequel! :) I would love to hear what happens next among the characters.

My Thoughts: Heart Wrenching

The Amish Mother's Secret was absolutely heart wrenching. Author Diane Craver has beautifully written this story in such a way that makes the reader feel what Lindsay went through in the past as well as in her present. She doesn't sugar coat any of the feelings, pain, or frustrations that Lindsay has dealt with and is dealing with now. The story also lets the reader feel what the other characters who have also been affected by the past and present situations are feeling as they too must cope with everything. There is pain, joy and so much more as new revelations and situations continue to come up. Through it all are the messages of love, forgiveness, second chances, new beginnings, and trusting God's will, His plans for our lives, and His timing. It truly is a beautiful and moving story.

Diane Craver is a new author to me, and I really didn't know what to expect. However, after reading The Amish Mother's Secret I guarantee that I am looking forward to reading more of her works.

Book Quotes:

Roman shrugged. “Many times, I don’t have the answers, but I pray, and God helps me with everything.”

But God is good. He is my strength, and I leave nothing to chance and everything to God.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book. All comments and opinions are voluntary and strictly my own.

Thank you so much Vinspire Publishingfor allowing me to read, The Amish Mother's Secret by Diane Craver. This is a new to me author, but I would read her in the future. Release date is December 27, 2022.

Such a heartwarming story of love lost, found again through faith and forgiveness.

Diana Craver does a fantastic job of telling the story in such a personal way that you can not help but to be drawn in.

We meet Lindsay Prescott, Harris Manning, their identical triplets, and The Yoders who adopted Amy and Jenna while Lindsay kept Phoebe.

This book offers it all. It is a 5-star read. I was not required to give a positive review.

This is a heartwarming story that is full of hope, forgiveness and faith. It's an emotional story that will tug at your heartstrings and keeps you turning the pages to see what happens next. I enjoyed reading this book.
I received a complimentary copy from Vinspire Publishing via NetGalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This was a nice romance read. It follows the English characters with only a sprinkling of the Amish characters. It has a sweet story. A few times I found the author repeating the story where it could have been left out. Then in the end large parts of what happened are left out and left to your imagination. Even with these few quirks it was an enjoyable read. #netgalley #ARCnetgalley

One of my favorite things about this book was the hope that if offered when things went wrong in this story.
I also loved that even when things aren't going well or the way we should think they go it's always in God's timing NOT ours! The author has done well with this .
I loved all of the characters in this book. Out of all the sisters my favorite was Phoebe. I loved her positive outlook on things especially with her mom.
Really, her mom is the true heroine.
When you read this story you'll see why.
This story made me stop and think about many things mostly life in general.
I thought the author did a fine job in writing this book.
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This was a good book about sisters coming together after being apart for so long. It was q lovely story of overcoming obstacles and a family coming together because the amish helped. This book was approved for me to read and review by netgalley and the publisher.

A mother's cancer illness leads her daughter to find family, a simplistic answer, but yes, the author has the mother diagnosed with lymphoma, and her daughter makes a startling discovery.
I had a lot of mixed emotions as I read this book, trying to put myself in each mother's shoes, and I respect the Amish mother's point of view, and worry about her children leaving the faith, but I struggled with her attitude.
There is a lot of forgiveness shown by a lot of the characters, and I loved the faith shown but most! Family does become the highlight here, and you will need to read to find out what happens with the triplets!
This became a page turner for me, I needed answers!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Vinspire, and was not required to give a positive review.