This is a wonderful story of Amish and Englishers. Eva loved Jake until he leaves the Amish and goes out to the English world. Eva feels she is an old maid and takes a new job at a cafe in a different town. This story is wonderful and has many twists and turns. There is a little bit of intrigue and some romance. I love the characters and I like how the author solves many of their problems. I received a copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

I enjoyed reading this well written story. I couldn't get enough and didn't want it to end. It held my attention from start to finish. I liked the characters and everything about it. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading Amish books.

I have to admit, although I came to the point where it seemed like the market was saturated with Amish stories, I still selected this book to read. The cover and the synopsis intrigued me.

As an older Amish girl who is still unmarried and has yet to confirm to her faith, I thought it was an interesting twist. It made me wonder how long you could successfully live in the community and not be a confirmed member. 

The story had a nice sprinkling of romance, suspense and humor. I thought the story was well read and written. Based on this book I would read more of Kate Lloyd.

The publisher has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book or advanced reading copy.

This book was well written. I was looking for something different and thought this would check that box for me.

I was given an advanced copy through Netgalley for my review. I would highly recommend this book to family and friends and will buy a copy for myself.

Starting from Scratch by Kate Lloyd is book 2 in the Lancaster Discoveries series. At 29, Eva considers herself an old maid. She goes into the Englisch world and gets a job. Soon, Jake, a long lost love, returns. Can she trust him again? This is a sweet Amish novel. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher. These opinions are entirely my own.

Everyone has something in life they would like to do over. Eva and Jake had planned to be married until he took off without explanation. Rumors swirled through the Amish community and now Eva considers herself an old maid. She takes a job managing a cafe and finds herself attracted to an Englisher boss. Jake comes back. She might still be in love with him.
Throughout the story unfolding are subplots of how people deal with what others think of them. Perceptions change, people change. This thought-provoking book really is the stuff of life. With characters you can care about, and a suspenseful plot, this is not your ordinary buggy and bonnet Amish book.

Soups, suitors, shenanigans, and suspense! Did that grab your attention?

In Kate Lloyd’s “Starting from Scratch”, her second book in her Lancaster Discovery Series, these “s” words will keep you mesmerized and reading until the very last page to find out what Eva decides to do and with which suitor.

Lancaster, PA is my favorite escape, so when Kate’s series first came out, I knew it would be a must read for me. This wasn’t your typical Amish romance from the start. This story had its ups and downs & twists and turns throughout. It kept my attention so much that I’d read late into the night and pay for it the next morning. And I loved the title since I love to cook and bake, so that part of the book I really enjoyed too.

If you want a great book to read, make sure you pick up a copy of “Starting from Scratch”. You won’t be disappointed.

Starting From Scratch was an interesting read. I enjoyed the plot and the characters were well thought out. There was enough drama and suspense to keep me reading and I have to confess I did not know which feller Eva was going to choose. I enjoyed the setting of a small cafe at a commercial nursery. I also enjoyed seeing Eva struggle with a job she was not trained for. My only complaint was the rather abrupt ending. I would have liked a bit more. So grab a glass of sun-tea and a whoopie pie and settle back for a satisfying read!

I was given this book by NetGalley.com for review purposes. All thoughts are my own.

Cute story. The author is very good at detail. Great descriptions I had a clear picture in my head of the setting and characters. I felt like the author was so focused on detail though that her overarching story line got scattered a little. I had trouble following the timeline. Some events were brought up but then dropped and I was left wondering what happened with xyz. Characters who seemed to be a major part of the story suddenly disappeared for a long while. And the ending left me broadsided and confused. New plot lines came out of no where and were kind of strange. I kept wondering “why did you do that? Where did that come from?” I was disappointed with the ending and how many loose ends there were. Seemed like the story lacked big picture plot development.
I received a copy of this story from netgalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion.

From the first page I could feel for Eva Lapp. Her life took so many unsuspecting turns and yet she was open to almost everything. She was the subject of gossip for things she didn't do, she loved Jake Miller even when she shouldn't and wasn't quite sure she was ready to be thrust out of her home when her brother's family moved into the big house.



She could have fallen on her face several times yet recovered with the help of new friends who took her for who she was and could become. In the midst of being hired to manage a restaurant instead of working with plants, she stood her ground and learned not just her job, but how to work with people she never would have associated with before: Stephen, a handsome Mennonite man and Beatrice, an Italian Catholic who seemed to be everywhere and know just about everything.



In the middle of finding her way in her new life, there was Jake Miller, her long time love who just seemed to be everywhere fumbling with her emotions. Would he return to the community and join the church? Would Eva join the church or find another life with Stephen?



I think it is a good omen when I like the first book in a series so well that waiting for the second book seems like a long time. When I picked up A Letter From Lancaster County by Kate Lloyd, I knew I would enjoy it based on reading her other works. Starting From Scratch kept me up reading two nights in a row. The characters were well developed and I found myself trying to help Eva decide the path she wanted to take. I rooted for Stephen, yet Jake was determined. As she battled within her mind, I was excited to see the unlikely friendship developing with Beatrice, who was old enough to be her mother. These characters make the story richer. This coming of age story is not just about Eva and Jake. It is filled with other people who grew once Eva started working at Yoder's Nursery Cafe. Kate Lloyd is a master when it comes to delving into the heart of a matter. I recommend this one without reservation!

Starting from Scratch by Kate Lloyd is the second book in Lancaster Discoveries series. Eva Lapp has just been ousted from her family home by her sister-in-law, Marta. Eva’s father has retired, and her parents are moving into the Dawdi house while Rueben and Marta along with their children are moving into the main house. Eva has accepted a job at Yoder’s Nursery which comes with a cottage. She is surprised to discover that her new job is not in the nursery but as the manager of Yoder’s Nursery Café. Eva wishes that she had paid more attention when her mother was cooking. At twenty-nine, Eva is unmarried and has yet to join the church. She longs to marry and have children, but she is still pining for Jake Miller who left the community many years ago under a dark cloud. Stephen Troyer is the manager of the nursery and Eva discovers that he is friends with Jake. With the Yoder family out of town, Beatrice Valenti, their Italian housekeeper, is at loose ends. She winds up at the café “assisting” Eva with the cooking and providing some guidance along the way. Eva was hoping she would meet some eligible men at her new position and she is fortunate to have three men interested in her. But then Jake returns to town and all her old feelings for him resurface. For them to have a future together, several issues need to be resolved including the reason Jake left Lancaster County. Is there a chance at a happily ever after for Jake and Eva? Or will one of the other men capture her heart?

Starting from Scratch is well-written and has gentle pacing. It can be enjoyed without having read A Letter from Lancaster County (first book in Lancaster Discoveries series). I was not a fan of Eva. I found her to be contradictory. She is twenty-nine, but she acts like someone who is sixteen. I fond her immature in many respects. Eva takes a job and has no clue what she will be doing. She has never inspected the cottage where she will be living and is not prepared to move out on her own. Eva does not bring sheets, towels, or kitchenware with her. If Marta had not packed her clothing, I have a feeling she would have been without that as well. Eva left a job at a quilt shop that she loved to work at the nursery in the hopes that she will meet some eligible men. I wondered if no men lived in her town or went to her church. I did not feel that Eva is ready to be married. Eva is a woman who needs to be comfortable with herself (become independent) before she embarks on a relationship. Beatrice Valenti starts out gruff in the beginning and as a little pushy. I like how she softens over the course of the novel as her story is revealed. The Christian theme is prevalent throughout the book. Forgiveness, grace, acceptance of others, in God’s timing, and following the path God has planned for you are some of the Christian elements. In Starting from Scratch there is a homeless man, a barn fire, a past mystery that needs to be resolved, and someone is breaking into the café. I liked the way the author tied the various events together in the story. I was, though, disappointed in the ending. I would have liked to see Eva make a different choice where she is truly starting from scratch. The story is told strictly from Eva’s point-of-view (first person). It would have helped to know what some of the other characters were thinking and feeling. It would have added more depth. I am giving Starting from Scratch 3 out of 5 stars. Starting from Scratch felt like it was missing something (not sure what) and there were unresolved issues at the end of the book.

This was the first Kate Lloyd book that I read. I enjoyed it thoroughly and found it hard to put down.

I loved the characters and the style of writing. I look forward to reading more of Ms. Lloyd's novels.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Harvest House Publishers in exchange for my honest review.

After reading A Letter From Lancaster County and loving it, I knew I had to get my hands on this book. I was so excited when I got that chance! Don’t get me wrong, when it comes to Amish Fiction, I’m very picky. With favorites like Wanda Brunstetter, Beverly Lewis and Amy Clipston, I have high expectations when it comes to well written, inspiring simple lives of the Amish variety. Ms. Lloyd is right up there with them and I loved every second of this page-turning, scrumptiously written, novel.

The characters within this novel are chiseled flawfully and beautifully. Jake and Eva remind me a lot of my own husband and myself. We both had a rough go for many years, and after meeting each other, and seeking God, we got to start over with each other, start from scratch and create a beautiful life together. Eva and Jake are captivating both alone in their stories, and when they are together. Watching them come to terms with their need to seek God in all they do, and for their need to start over and move on from the past, really tugged at my emotions.

Ms. Lloyd is truly talented. This novel is so worthy of the 5 star praises I’m singing to people. This book will wrap you up, twist you inside out, and land you in a place that only God can prepare for you. The inspiration that Ms. Lloyd pieces into the pages is beyond amazing and before I knew it, I was done with this novel. I can’t wait for another fantabulously done, awesometastic Amish story in this incredible series! Well done, and hats off to you, Ms. Lloyd! Bring on the next!

*I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*

Starting from Scratch by Kate Lloyd

What an enjoyable story by Kate Lloyd! This second book in her Lancaster Discovery series is well worth the read! The author's characters, situations, and circumstances had me wanting to keep turning the pages to see what would happen next. This story is quite unique in that it has Amish, English and Mennonite working together in the story, but it truly made it all that more enjoyable.
Eva Lapp makes a decision to move out on her own and start a new life for herself. Well past the age that most Amish girls marry, she has pretty much decided she might just very well turn out to be a spinster. Of course, this isn't the life that she wants for herself, but has pretty much realized she lost the love of her life years ago when he ran off and left her and the Amish faith, and that God may very well plan for her to be alone. As she starts this new life in a new place though, she not only has to learn how to live by herself, a start a new job that she doesn't know much about with a woman who apparently doesn't care much for her, she finds that her past, the past that she has tried so hard to get away from, may just come back to haunt her. But maybe all this change won't be all for the bad. Could this change in her life all be part of God's plan for her life?
This story, while book 2 in the series, can absolutely be read as a stand alone, but I encourage you to read book 1 as it was just as enjoyable as this one.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley, but was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts are my honest opinion of this book.

I loved this story of Eva and her decision to redefine her life by stepping out on her own and beginning a new job, As Eva moves through new experiences in her job, she sets aside the untrue gossip that’s being said about her and begins discovering just who she really is: A women who loves God and desires to follow His will for her life. She moves from being an “old maid” to deciding which of several beaus she should marry. My only complaint about this story is that I thought she picked the wrong guy! This is my first book to read by Katie Lloyd, but it won’t be my last. A light, sweet, clean story that will touch your heart.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to give a positive review. This is my honest opinion about this book.

This book has the most attractive cover!! It immediately caught my attention and drew me into guessing what it could be about, baking utensils, flour, and a display case full of goodies! Why is a young Amish girl looking at these delicious goods?? I have enjoyed all of the novels that I have read by this author, however, I must say that I think that "Starting from Scratch" is THE BEST!! It was unique in that it didn't follow my usual expectation of the Amish genre. It was NOT a girl meets guy, falls in love, type of story! In fact, it definitely was not a "love at first sight" romance.

The characters are so realistically and well described that I at once became part of their lives and walked alongside them in their rocky journey through life. I easily identified with Eva, a twenty nine year old single woman. After all, I, myself , was 35 when I married. The sense of hopelessness of finding a partner at her age seemed next to impossible. I, too, experienced that dilemma. Family problems abound as Eva attempts to become more independent. Leaving one's home and beginning a new life is not easy. It was difficult for Eva to face her challenges. I became totally engrossed while reading of her family problems, rumors and troubles that arise. She had so much to deal with and faced so much judgement from others. Her meeting with her first love, Jake, caught me by surprise, as she debated if she should trust him, despite a somewhat questionable past. I could feel Eva's struggle in deciding if he had really changed.

The plot moves at a steady pace with just enough twists and turns to keep the reader fully occupied from beginning to end of the novel. So many obstacles appeared in Jake and Eva's path. Could they ever get a fresh start in life ? Can people forgive and forget??? The description of this Amish community was so well done that I could picture the rolling hills and the well kept farms.

This is a MUST READ for all lovers of Amish fiction. To those who normally are not attracted to this genre, try it ! Kate Lloyd writes in her unique style that appeals to all. Her somewhat quirky characters leave you wondering what will happen next in their lives.

This book was received as a gift. The thoughts and opinions expressed are honest and my own. I was not required to write a positive review.

Eva Lapp is a unique protagonist, she is not a starry-eyed young lady planning a wedding and dreaming of a family of her own while waiting to marry the man of her dreams. In fact, her story is quite different which is probably why I enjoyed it as much as I did.

I felt so bad for her when she’s forced to leave her childhood home, but once I saw the possibilities of a fresh start for her, I liked the direction the author was taking her in. Yes, even by placing Eva in a position of managing a cafe she was quite frankly not cut out for. I found that to be a clever way of meeting and getting to know some of the other characters. What characters they are, too!

Overall, I found the characters to be well-developed, interesting and facing real challenges as best as they can with the circumstances they are in. If you enjoy Amish fiction and would prefer something with more mature characters, than I recommend this one.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book and have given my honest opinion.

STARTING FROM SCRATCH is a delightful novel...It captivated my interest from page one. I always look forward to reading another masterpiece from Kate Lloyd. You will too!!!

A wonderful Amish story and one that had me turning the pages until finished. I have read many Amish stories and each time I think that I wouldn't find another book as good as the one before. It was!

Loved the characters, especially the main character Eva. I am not going to say what the story is about as i prefer one to read the book for themselves. I can highly recommend and am now eager to read more Amish books by Kate Lloyd.

My thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers for my copy. This is my honest review, given voluntarily.