I really enjoyed this book. A little different that most Amish books I have read. I loved that the book brought out that not all Amish that “jump the fence” are not for worldly pursuits but for other Christian callings as well. Mary is torn between her love and the calling that God put in her heart was touching to see. I don’t know if this is the end of the series, but since it was a Net-Galley offering I did not have the time to read the previous two in the series.
I will go back and read them as well since this is my first experience with the author Jerry Eicher.
The insight into Mary’s groom to be’s work in Africa was an incredible touch on a world that most of us will never experience.
The book moved quickly for me but seemed to lose momentum toward the end which I why I gave it a 4 star rating. But still a great book
I reviewed this book on Goodrrads in January 2018 and do not know why it did not save here. I am fixing it now. Sorry I did not catch it earlier

A nice story, very real feeling with great characters and nice writing. I really enjoy how the characters interact with each other and treat each other!
this is a wonderful book!

Jerry is one to never disappoint in his books. The book has amazing characters and great story line. Pick up this book and read.

Mary’s Home by Jerry S. Eicher is the third installment in Peace in the Valley series. Mary Yoder dreams of getting married, having a home and a large family. Mary knows that God will lead her to the right man for her. A group of young people come in from Lancaster County and Mary meets Josiah Beiler. A year later they are engaged and Mary is looking forward to her wedding. Six months before the wedding, Josiah comes to town and breaks up with Mary. Six months later, Josiah marries another on the exact same day (the cad). Mrs. Gabert, a local widow, encourages a match between her grandson, Willard and Mary. Despite their different backgrounds, Mrs. Gabert believes they can find happiness together. Betsy Yoder, Mary’s sister, is about to jump the fence and would like Mary to join her. Stephen Overholt is an Amish bachelor in need of wife and believes Mary is the right woman for him. What does the future hold for Mary? Will Betsy leave the Amish community or can someone persuade her to stay?

Mary’s Home is nicely written, has good characters and medium pace. Mary’s Home is a simple romance novel. I did find too much focus on marriage (we get it—it is Mary’s dream). Some of the sections were long winded and I ended up skimming through them (Stephen Overholt’s segments were the worst). The character of Stephen Overholt was an unnecessary addition. He did not enhance the story (he downgraded it for me). I felt that the story ended abruptly. It desperately needed an epilogue. The same details are repeated throughout the story. Mary’s Home was lacking in substance. I thought the author missed the mark with Mary’s Home. Mary’s Home is a wholesome story that would suit a younger audience (young adult).

Could not get into this book. Usually love Amish themed reads, but this was not good

Mary's Home is the conclusion of the Peace in the Valley series by Jerry S. Eicher. All three of the books in this series read as standalone novels—a point that you may be curious about since I didn't care for book one and two.

This book displayed the storytelling capabilities of other books that I've read by Eicher. There were still some minor issues with characters being overly excitable. But, the story was solid.

One thing that I found interesting about this book was the inclusion of mission efforts. I thought it perhaps odd and even simplistic that the children in Kenya were sniffing glue in epic proportions. So, I decided to google out of curiosity. Apparently, this is an epidemic in Kenya. I found articles as recent as 2017 discussing this. Yes, I knew that people did this but I was not aware of this epidemic in Kenya. I appreciate when a book challenges me to educate myself. My goodness, if only there were a way to help!

I would absolutely suggest this book to readers of the Amish genre. This story was heartfelt, with a strong emphasis on following God's will for one's life. While the minor issues with dialogue and rushed relationships gave me pause, this book is still a solid four-star read.

A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and have not been compensated for this. All opinions are my own.

Mary's Home is a fantastic book. It is so well written and the characters are so likable that it engages you in the story from the beginning.

Two sisters, Mary and Betsy Yoder are the focus of this book. Mary is the model Amish girl. She had a short rumspringa and was baptized. She dreams of marriage to an Amish man and living in the community. Betsy on the other hand, is vocal in her desire to marry an English man and "jump the fence". Mary feels as if her prayers are answered when she begins to date Joshua Beiler. They seem to be the perfect couple, but shortly before the wedding, he calls it off and marries another girl. Mary is heart broken. She has a good English friend, Mrs. Grabert, that she checks on often. Mrs. Gabert has a grandson, Williard, who is a missionary in Kenya.

Williard has also suffered an broken heart two years ago, but Mrs. Gabert continues to tell both Mary and Williard that God has a plan for them. Mary and Williard begin to talk and Williard shares with Mary all that he does in Kenya. Mary's heart is touched and she wants to help. Falling in love with Williard was not part of the equation.

Betsy on the other hand seeks and English man but she does not find one that she cares for. When she meets Amish man that takes her breath away, it seems her heart really is in the community and not in the English world.

The book really has some unexpected turns. I just loved it. Best in the series in my opinion.

I started reading Jerry Eicher's Peace in the Valley series thinking I'd meet some characters and then follow them through their lives. I met three different main characters, and they had some interesting stories, but they didn't show up again in any of the other novels in the series. What this means is that while these stories take place in one geographic location, the stories stand alone.


Mary is committed to her church community and feels so strongly about it that she's already been baptized into membership. Her sister, Betsy, wants to "jump the fence" so badly she can taste it. Part of Betsy's reason is that she was burned badly on her face and neck and there is nothing that can cover her scars. None of the local Amish boys will look at her. Mary has met and fallen in love with Josiah, a boy from another community. As the date draws near to the wedding, Josiah writes her a letter, telling her that he has met someone else and would be married on the same day they were supposed to marry.

Often on her way to work at the co-op store, she would stop by an elderly woman's house and see how she was doing. One time, she meets the woman's grandson and becomes intrigued by him. He is a missionary to Kenya and his work there aroused Mary's interest even more. He invited her to listen to his fundraising speech at a local church, where he described street urchins that his mission reached out to. The more Mary hears, the more fascinated she becomes.

Meanwhile, an old flame comes back to claim Betsy's heart and gives the reader the surprise of who jumps the fence and who stays faithful. This is an interesting read with great characters and settings. Five stars, two thumbs up, and the opportunity to rescue a glue boy.

My thanks to Harvest House for allowing me to read and review this book.

Mary's Home is such an awesome book. What an opener - can you believe poor Mary - waking up on the day she was suppose to be married to know the slimeball broke it off with you is getting married to someone else and that is ok, but what's not ok - he used all that he and Mary had planned and Married that very same day. Girls - would you have done that? - no way - no how - not me - but you know GOD HE has something better for Mary she just doesn't know it yet - as she fights to keep her younger sister from going to be an Englischer - and she smooth things over with her younger sister and her parents - GOD has other plans - all wrapped up in one thing - and that thing is called - nope you have to read the book to find out what that one thing is - but your hearts will be touched by this story and isn't that what we are all looking for? GOD leading the character and your hearts to be tugged?

For my Dutch review check my website. www.lookaroundthecorner.com Als je van de boeken van Beverly Lewis houd en Wanda E. Brunstetter dan vind je deze boeken zeker super kijk ook voor de andere delen van deze serie.

Phoebe's Gift en Syvia's Rose

I have really enjoyed reading the previous two novels in this series (The Peace in the Valley) and this third book was another great and enjoyable read. I am not going to write what the story is about, as i do not wish to spoil for others, but i do highly recommend.

My thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers. This is my honest review.

Mary's Home is book 3 of the Peace in the Valley Series by Jerry S Eicher. In this book we meet Mary Yoder. Her dreams are to be a upstanding citizen in her Amish community and to have a home and family of her own. This was a really good book. Kept me reading to see which shoe so to speak was going to drop next. There was a lot going on in this book. Soem part did tend to drag a little but in the end it was a good book.

At first she meets Josiah and they decide to marry. Right before the wedding he decides he no longer wants to get married. Mary is left heart broken. Later on she finds out he has found a new love and has set his new wedding date. It just so happens to be the same date they were to be married.

Stephen another man from her community then sets his on on Mary. Mary dos not care for Stephen in the same way and decides her best bet is to help Stephen find his mate since she does not want it to be herself.

Then Mary meets Willard. Willard is the some on Mary's neighbor. He has come to visit for a week. Willard has his own plans for life. He is a missionary to Kenya. As Mary and Willard spend time together during the week their feelings grow for each other. Mary is left wondering what God's plans for her are. Should she marry Willard and go to Kenya or stop the romance and stay in the community hoping for another chance at her dreams of her own home and family.

Also int he book we meet Mary's sister Betsy. As a child Betsy was burned in an accident on her face and has scars. Betsy is considering jumping the fence and living in the English world. Mary has more to worry about then just her dreams as she tries to help Betsy.

I received this book from the Author or Publisher via Netgalley.com to read and review.

This was the third book in this series. This is a story of Mary and Betsy Yoder they are sisters. Mary is engaged to be married and Betsy wants to so call jump the fence and leave the Amish. Mary is heartbroken when her engagement is broken and her beau marries someone else on there wedding day. A a longtime Amish bachelor. Stephen Overholt, wants to date Mary and Betsy tries to protect Mary from him. Mary tells him she has no feelings for him and helps him with a old flame from the past. Mrs Gabert is a English women who has her eye on Mary for her grandson Willard who is a missionary. home on a visit. Who will jump the fence and start a new life and who will find love with a Amish man. . A great story.

Mary's Home is book 3 in the Peace In The Valley series and my favorite book of the series. Mary has a tender heart and aims to please her parents and do things right in the community . She is blindsided when the man she is to marry calls off their wedding at the last minute and her heart is hurting. On top of all that her sister Betsy, has been wanting to jump the fence for years from her Amish life to the Englisher world. Ever the good girl Mary tries to smooth things over with her sister and parents and running on an even keel. Visiting her elderly neighbor one day, as she often does she meets her neighbor's grandson, Willard. Willard's cause is a missionary in Kenya and he feels strongly about his cause and wants to solicit help from others for the street boys there. As feelings between Mary and Willard deepen Mary must figure out if it's God's will to further their relationship. If the relationship does progress is it worth it to leave her family and follow her heart?
An Amish man in the community who has little dating experience in the dating field is convinced God has led him to Mary as his frau. Not feeling the same way she helps him to find his life's mate and he is very grateful. I really enjoyed this book and would like to see an update on the work in Kenya in a future book.
Pub Date 01 Aug 2017
Thank you to NetGalley and Harvest House Publishers for a review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

After enjoying the first two books in The Peace in the Valley series I was disappointed with this book. The idea behind the story is good but the delivery was lacking. There was too much going on with both Mary and Betsy' s story. Though at the same time there slow, drawn out sections. The story ended very abruptly as if the author was tired of writing.

I would recommend the first two books but not the third.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harvest House Publishers for a free ARC copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

www.kentuckybooklover.com

Mary’s Home, book three in the Peace in the Valley series by Jerry Eicher is a sweet love story.
Mary struggles between her Amish upbringing and her love for Willard. This creates tension in her relationship with him, her family, and herself. Eicher does a great job expressing Mary’s turmoil and strength. Mary is confident in the Lord but struggles when Josiah breaks the engagement and then plans to marry his new love on the day they were to be web. Betsy, her sister, sees a chance for romance between Mary and the missionary grandson, Willard, of an elderly friend. Can Mary find love and remain true to her beliefs at the same time?
Readers who are looking for a strong heroine who is rewarded for her devotion will be pleased with Mary’s story.

I received an advance reader copy of this book from netgalley in return for my honest opinion of the book.

Jerry Eicher does it again, with the writing of "Mary's Home"! Eicher weaves such a deep and beautiful story about Mary and her turmoil after being jilted by whom she thought was the man she was meant to grow old with. And to add insult to injury, Josiah, her betrothed, weds his newly chosen fiance on the day he and Mary were to have married. Mary is comforted and supported by her loving family and community. However, her loving sister Betsy also hopes this might coax Mary to leave the Amish community with her. Betsy has every intention of becoming "English" and not being baptized. Meanwhile, Mary has already been baptized, meaning she would be shunned if she leaves. Mary and the family are all increasingly concerned over Betsy's activities on her extended running around time.
Mary starts receiving visits from a local bachelor, Stephen, much to Betsy's dismay and disgust. Betsy feels Mary should be pursuing other relationship possibilities, such as Willard, the missionary grandson of Mary's dear elderly friend Mrs. Gabert. Mary is indeed drawn to Willard emotionally, especially to his stories about the people he serves in Kenya. She begins to feel a deep pull to visit Kenya, and to get to better know Willard. However, Mary tries her very hardest to resist this pull, knowing it will cost her the family and community life she treasures. What will happen as the connection between Mary and Willard deepens? Read "Mary's Home" to find out! I am ready to read it again!

Mary's Home is a great addition to the Peace in the Valley Series. This book is well written with a good plot and characters. I recommend this to fans of Amish romance.

MARY'S HOME by Jerry Eicher, published by Harvest House
Betsy wanting the English ways, is it because of scars on her face, and waiting till she was twenty one. While Mary has Josiah, someone who wants to date her. There is also Stephen, and Willard,though he works in Kenya. Offering her to come, they could use an extra pair of hands. One sister old enough to be married, wanting home, and staying in the community. While the young, waiting till she can leave. Heartache, and first love for Mary, and taking a risk. One thing I like about Jerry Eicher, is the details, of the characters, emotions, that draws the reader in. This new series once again is a winner for him, and readers won't be disappointed. Given ARC by Net Galley for my voluntary review and my honest opinion.