I usually enjoy reading Marta Perry's books, But I did not like this one at all. The author kept repeating the same things over and over again throughout the book which was very tiresome. I found to Caleb to be a gigantic jerk who is one the verge of being an a**hole. Just because his first wife abandoned her family does not give Caleb the right to treat Jessie like she's garbage. Why would the author think that the reader would root for Jessie to wind up in a relationship with a man like Caleb.

3 out of 5 stars. An Amish woman (Jessie) tries to make amends for her younger cousin's "wrong doings" by assisting the family in their time of need. In doing so, she opens herself up to being hurt in the process. Will they all make it out okay?

I really wanted to like this novel but all I really felt was meh. It was okay. What kept my interest was its unique take on the typical Amish widower romance trope. However, the main characters routinely annoyed me, especially Caleb's outright disdain for Jessie that he carried for most of this novel. It made the romance feel forced, especially in light of the 180° ending.

Then to top it off, the novel kept referencing how much Jessie fell for Caleb all those years ago when they first met. Yet it never talks about it from Caleb's POV, which made it seem like he just forgot about her. My question is, if the novel isn't going to romanticize that background info in a good way from both perspectives then why bring it up so much? It just makes Caleb look bad.

I'm sorry but I can't recommend this one. However, if you do read this novel please tell me your thoughts about it.

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I really enjoyed this book Jessie is Caleb's Deceased wife's cousin. Caleb's wife had left them before she passed away. Caleb has a broken leg and needs help with the kids weather he wants to admit it or not.
I like how as time goes on Caleb changes his attitude towards Jessie and his late wife.
This was an enjoyable and clean read. I highly recommend it.

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Jessie Miller knows her duty - caring for her younger cousin's children - even though that means clashing with their father, Caleb King. Years ago, Jessie's dreams were dashed when the man she thought was interested in her, chose her cousin instead. She stayed out of things when her cousin ran out on her husband and two young children, feeling that they did not need a reminder of the woman who left them. Then, she receives a letter from that same cousin saying that she has cancer and is returning to her marriage to try and make things right before she dies. She pleads with Jessie to do what she can to show her family, especially her daughter, that she didn't leave because of them. When word reaches Jessie's family that Caleb has had an accident and will be laid up for the foreseeable future, Jessie can't stay away. Can she convince Caleb that she's only there to help, her only desire to make life easier?

Caleb King has wrestled for 3 years with forgiving his young wife for leaving him. He knows that his Amish faith requires it but every time her name or her memory come up, he feels only anger and disgust. Finally out of the hospital following a fire that could have killed him, he wants nothing more than to recuperate in peace. So, why is Jessie Miller on his doorstep? Doesn't she know that her very presence rubs salt into his festering wounds? Caleb relents and gives her 3 days, telling her that's it. As she quietly works to make his house a home again, will he continue to see the wife who left or the woman who would stay with just a tiny bit of encouragement?

Marta Perry never disappoints. Her stories always have a nugget of truth or two to savor long after the book is completed. In this one, there were two for me: Sometimes you have to forgive then forgive again, then forgive again, until one day you realize you don't need to forgive anymore because you no longer have anything to forgive. The other was that everyone likes to feel useful, be they young children or a man with a broken leg. Everyone needs a purpose.

If you like Amish fiction or if you just enjoy a good story, Second Chance Amish Bride would be a good choice! I definitely recommend it!

Wrong Title, Fantastic Read

Marta Perry has been on the Amish genre scene for a while now. She’s had some really good ones (with Keepers of the Promise series among them.) So when I was given the opportunity to review her newest release, Second Chance Bride, I wondered: Would it be up to par with her other writings? Yes – and then some!

Second Chance Bride tells the story of Amish maedel Jessie Millier. She’s not a spring chicken - she’s in her 30s <gasp>! But Jessie is satisfied with her station in life.

Caleb King is wheelchair bound (hopefully temporarily), due to an accident. His wife abandoned him, and then came home to die. He has kids that need a little TLC. When his late wife’s cousin Jessie (yes, that one) arrives at Caleb’s place, he is outraged and wants nothing to do with her. But what can he do? And don’t forget: The Amish Grapevine is alive and well and causing LOTS of drama!

Can Caleb forgive his late wife? Can he get over his bitterness? Will Jessie be able to answer her heart’s cry, and fulfill the wishes of her late cousin? Read and find out!

I was given Second Chance Bride in exchange for my honest review. The characters were complex and the storylines were gripping. My only criticism is the novel’s title, which does not seem to aptly describe the book. That being said, I absolutely love Second Chance Bride, and it is my favorite Marta Perry novel to-date!

Jessie Miller comes to the King family's aid when Caleb King gets a broken leg and needs help to take care of his family.

Caleb's late wife was Jessie's cousin, and there was a time when Jessie thought that Caleb was a man she might marry. But now he doesn't want any women around let alone Jessie, a reminder of his late wife.

Onkel Zeb and Daniel like her from the start, but I takes a while for her to win Becky's trust. I loved Jessie's patience with the children, she wants to help them to talk about their mother, and share the good memories that she has of her, but Caleb forbids it. She takes the times to teach the children useful skills.

Caleb loves his children, he also has a stubborn streak. He is surprised by how much Jessie has come to mean to him and his family, and that many of her suggestions help. He comes to appreciate Jessie's big heart and determination.

Overall, a heartwarming read about love, healing and second chances. I loved the kids and Onkel Zeb, who are colorful characters. A great reads for fans of Amish romance!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and testimonials in Advertising."

The theme of this story is forgiveness and guilt, and they have compounded so that all have been touched by the hurt.
The author has done a great job of showing just how the lack of forgiveness and keeping a grudge is affecting all of those around you, especially the young and impressionable.
This book does take place in Amish Country, but it could be anywhere, an immature Mom up and leaves her family. Now the people that raised her and the family she left are and have been hurting and each blaming themselves. The ironic part of this Amish family is that it seems that history keeps repeating itself in their home, but why?
Again the same as in all communities, there are those few with loose lips, and it is unexpected here, but does happen. There are some really sad moments here, and it will tear at your heart, then again there are some sweet and cute moments.
This is a read that goes fast, but one that you want to get to the end with for the answers, but them once arrived, there is a sense of loss.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Harlequin, and was not required to give a positive review.

This is a perfect book for those who want a cleaner romance -without swearing and descriptive sex. (well actually no sex at all in this). There is not a lot of preaching (I'm not religious and I found the religious aspect to be just perfect) It did get me to thinking.

The character's are well drawn and the plot is believable.

A thought provoking story about forgiveness and its effects on a person, and those around them.
I have been fascinated by the Amish Love Inspired stories, the culture, the beliefs, the language, I find it intriguing. Second Chance Amish Bride gives a glimpse of the way of living and forgiving. The Amish believe that you are forgiven with the same measure you forgive to others. Something to ponder.
Caleb King is headstrong and prideful. To admit that he needs help is not easy to him, to talk about his late wife and the mistakes she made, and how she broke his heart are too painful still years after. His children are hiding their sorrow and doubts to protect their loving father, there's a lot of healing still needed to happen and wounds that need to be cleaned to be able to mend them.
Jessie Miller has the biggest heart and giving, kind soul. She feels responsible for the action and choices her younger cousin, Caleb's wife, made while alive. Caleb once broke her heart, is there now a chance for a new beginning, forgiveness, and grace for all?
The story is well written with a fluent flow and events changing with a tempo that it holds the interest. All the characters, from the children to the adults, secondary and the primary, were well thought out and had their own temperament and characteristics. It was easy to like them and relate to them. The children were acting a little advanced for their age, I assumed they were years older than the revealed ages, but maybe they grow faster in that element.
I am not sure what I think about the writing in the partially Amish language or writing in any dialect for that matter. If the characters were not speaking English with each other at all, to partially use some terms in the story from the original language isn't then necessary, in my opinion. I think that would be the thing that I could get tired of with these Amish stories if anything.
Learning to forgive, learning to move on, to trust your heart, and daring to open it again to love and embrace the good memories, are some of the lessons Caleb and Jessie have to learn to be able to build a future together.
~ Four Spoons

This is a well-written, quick little Amish romance. Harlequin’s Christian line makes the most sense when the characters are Amish; the occasional praying is completely appropriate and doesn’t happen at odd times.
I liked the heroine, who had thought she might have married the hero years earlier, but because she wasn’t as pretty or immediately appealing, he married her cousin instead. I liked that the hero had to completely change his views on a lot of things, and see what he should have known all along.
I didn’t find the children too irritating or cutesy, but perhaps the little boy was a bit too advanced for his young age. However, they felt like real characters, not accessories, and had their own personalities.
Really, the only thing I didn’t love was that the characters finished half their sentences with ‘ain’t so’ - it might be accurate, but they said it a lot!
It has been a while since I’ve read much Amish-themed stuff, and Second Chance Amish Bride is a good example of why these books can be good little comfort reads.

I really enjoy reading novels by Marta Perry. This one was wonderful. I loved the way the characters personalities developed and how each character grew throughout the story. I am hoping that the next book will focus on another one of the men from this book and also keep us in touch with the other familiar characters. A very good read!

this was a nice story but too chopped up. I thought it could be fleshed out more