Let me just say that I really loved this book! I have read many Kim Vogel Sawyer books over the years and I do believe this is her most powerful one to date. There is quite a bit going on in this book. There is a strong friendship bond between two women since childhood, one an Old Order Mennonite woman and the other a take charge of the board meeting,know her own mind woman. What an unlikely friendship but it works for them. Each woman in life is dealt a devastating blow through some very bad news. Through this they are there to prop each other up and and give the other the support they need. This book has a lot of layers and depth and each character has a purpose in God's eye's . We get to know each character very well and spend a lot of time with them. This book really has the good feelings in it and really makes you appreciate what you have and who you have in your day to day life. I loved seeing the spiritual reawakening in the characters. Sawyer deals with some pretty tough subjects here but they are subjects that need talked about in our society, like sexual predators and homelessness. She covers these subjects in a respectful way and there is information in the back of the book telling you how you can get involved to help. Reader Guide included in the back of the book.
Pub Date 11 Sep 2018
I received a complimentary copy of this book from WaterBrook & Multnomah through Netgalley. Thank you. All opinions expressed are my own.

You might want to have the tissues handy as you read this book, what a journey the author has given us.
There are several subjects that are touched on and they are brought to the forefront by the author, and we are able to put faces on all of these.
We walk in Marty’s shoes as she goes through life without the foremost desire of her heart, a baby, and yet you will see that God has bigger plans for her, and yes, it is hard to accept and move on.
Brook, I felt God put these people in her life, and we soon find out why, and she and Elliot are here for a reason, and oh how blessed we are to get to know them.
Come and enjoy Marty and Anthony’s story and find how touched you are going to be, and when the last page is turned, I still wanted more!

I received this book through the Publisher Waterbrook Press, and was not required to give a positive review.

This one pulled me in page by page, with characters so well written you felt like you could see them, even the ones with the small parts.
So much in this one is really heartfelt, Marty and Anthony’s not being able to have a child, Brook’s cancer and childhood and the troubled teenagers, it just kept my emotions so involved.
You won’t forget this one when you close the book, I would love to see it made into a movie, all though I can just hear myself saying ‘The book was better’!

This is the first book I have read from this author. I must say. she is a really good writer!

This story of Mennonite Marty and her husband and her non-Mennonite friend, Brooke is so different! A breath of fresh air, for sure.

The story covers some difficult topics and the author does that very well.

As Marty's husband Anthony and his crew set out to help Brooke with her ghost town project, some really interesting surprises happen, and you can't stop reading this fascinating story.

I have a childhood fascination with ghost towns so this story grabbed me and kept me reading. You will love it as you read how they learn about God's paths for them. Really great read.

I received an ebook copy from NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.

Ours for a Season by Kim Vogel Sawyer is a lovely book. It is a heartfelt story with real characters and situations. A hurting, childless couple who are having a difficult time in their marriage. They are offered and opportunity for a change. Several things happen along the way as they work through the difficulties of their situation, such as: a friend with cancer, homeless children, etc. This is a very enjoyable book. Looking forward to more of Ms. Sawyer's books.

I received this e-book from NetGalley and all opinions are my own.

'Would this fear be her companion for the next several months?'

I was a bit hesitant to read this book because I'm not an Amish/Mennonite fan. But this is very far from the typical Mennonite book. I've enjoyed Kim Vogel Sawyer's books and I read it on the strength of her name alone. I am so glad I did.

Anthony and Marty Hirschler are an Old Order Mennonite couple. They have grown apart since they were told they would never be able to have children. In their culture, that is a huge deal. Marty is practically despondent and does not enjoy life at all. She desperately wants away from their town in Indiana. Anthony is a contractor and works away from home a lot, often feeling guilty that he doesn't have to be around Marty's morose attitude. When Brooke Spaulding, Marty's childhood friend calls and wants Anthony to restore an old ghost town to a resort area, Marty feels it's God's answer to her prayers to get away. They leave to go and fulfill Brooke's request, not knowing that Brooke has recently been diagnosed with cancer. Everything that happens seems to be filling right in with God's plan for them. Then moral complications arise and they are torn with what to do? Should they leave? Should they trust God to reveal His plan?

Kim Vogel Sawyer tackles some pretty tough issues here: marital problems, infertility, cancer, human trafficking, and she does it very well. She fleshes out these characters so well that the reader feels each one's heart. It was a very moving book. Sawyer reaches deep into her readers' hearts and pulls them into the very lives of these characters. It was difficult to put down when life intruded. Highly recommended.

*My thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book via Net Galley. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Let me start off by saying I LOVED this book! If you’re looking for a typical Mennonite book, this isn’t it. But, don’t let that keep you from reading it. The message is so powerful, and the story may just stick with you long after the final page (as it certainly will for me).

Old Order Mennonite couple Anthony and Marty have lost a child and are unable to have any more. Anthony is putting himself into his construction business, and he travels a lot, spending time away from his wife. Marty can’t seem to move past her longing to be a mother, and it’s putting a strain on their relationship. Her friend Brooke offers them an opportunity to get away and hopefully heal their marriage, and they decide to go for it and see where God leads them. The journey will take them on some unexpected turns, and they will need to rely on their faith.

There is so much depth to this story, emotionally and spiritually. It’s wonderful to see the way God works through and uses each character, and not one character is wasted. They all fit perfectly together. Brooke was one of my favorites, and she experienced the most character growth. But, then again, so did Elliot, and Marty, and… oh, I just enjoyed them all!
The author tackles some serious issues, such as infertility, marital problems, serious illness, sex trafficking, and homelessness. It’s nice to read a story that doesn’t gloss over such things that are prevalent in today’s society. This powerful story is a reminder that God’s hand is always at work, even if we don’t always see it at the time.

This review was posted on Goodreads, and I'll post on Amazon after the book is released.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley, but I wasn’t required to leave a positive review.

The story of a childless Mennonite couple and their friend who is doing her best to help them regain their footing in their marriage. Themes abound—miscarriage, grief, cancer, human trafficking, etc. It was a beautiful story coming to a satisfying end. Highly recommend!

Thanks to Net Galley for a review copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

Kim Vogel Sawyer has the well-earned reputation of being one of the finest Christian fiction and her newest offering holds that reputation quite brilliantly.

Marty and Anthony Hirschler are a young married couple who want nothing more than to have a child. The problem is Anthony had a bad case of the mumps right after Marty miscarried her only pregnancy.

Sometime during her grief, Marty gets a letter from her childhood best friend asking if Anthony will come help her rebuild a ghost town for a vacation resort. Anthony is excited for the opportunity to become close to Marty again, and get his hands in a restoration that will challenge his skills.

While Anthony and his crew are working, they find evidence of a squatter in the ghost town. Marty's friend, Brooke, finds out she's got cancer. All of these challenges along with Brooke's lost condition spiritually keep Marty, Anthony, and the crew busy. While Marty takes Brooke to her treatment, she sees a girl seemingly being abducted; Marty takes down the license number and description of the man taking the girl and calls the police. Her actions take down a sex-trafficking ring.

Kim has seen to it to point out some needs in our society and how to fix them, and she pointed out what a difference coming to Christ makes. This is a five star book, two thumbs up, and children saved from sex-trafficking.

My thanks go to Waterbrook/Multnomah for allowing me to read and review this book. The galley was provided through NetGalley.com

Another great book by Kim Vogel Sawyer. It is a story about a Old Order Mennonite community Mary and her husband Anthony lose a child and was told she would never have more. Her husband Anthony is in construction and travels a lot which puts a strain on there marriage. When her friend Brooke writes and ask her and Anthony for help they make the plunge and do so. It is a beautiful story of Faith and overcoming loss. There are a lot of things that happen in this book that keeps you interested.

Ours for a Season by Kim Vogel Sawyer, is a heartfelt story about coming to turns with heartache and lost dreams. This book had a powerful message that will stay with you long after you put it down.
Old Order Mennonite couple, Anthony and Marty, are struggling to keep their marriage together. Right after the loss of a child, they are given the heartbreaking news that they will never be able to have a child of their own. All Marty has ever wanted is to be a mother and she struggles for years to come to terms with her new reality.
Brooke, Marty’s childhood friend, has built a successful life for herself as a real estate tycoon. Her newest venture will be her biggest score yet, and she wants Anthony to lead the reconstruction of her new ghost town.
Anthony, Marty, and Brooke have no idea what God has in store for them when they start on this new adventure.
Kim does an impressive job with keeping the reader interested as she presents some very serious topics in her novel. You don’t generally see sex trafficking and homelessness arise in many books and she does a great job keeping the story going while opening the eyes of her characters and readers. The take away message is that God always has a hand in our lives even if we are too blind to see.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from netgalley.com and WaterBrook & Multnomah in return for my honest opinion. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Old Order Mennonites are a sect of Christianity that is not quite Amish – they use limited technology, for example – but are very hard line about a lot of the Bible’s teachings. That the man is head of the household is one, as is the sacred duty of marriage as a path to procreation, so when Marty Hirschler finds herself at odds with her husband and unable to conceive, her pain is palpable, her world very gray. It is only when a new project in a new state takes the lonely, heartsick Marty out of herself that she begins to realize that there is other pain in the world that she can soothe (a close friend’s illness and teen victims of sex trafficking, for a start) and that she still has worth and worthiness in the eyes of the world, and the eyes of God. A book of reaffirming faith, exploring the very heart of a marriage, and finding redemption in good deeds and the Good Book. – Sarah Xavier-Jones

3 1/2 stars.

This review appears in Romantic Intentions Quarterly #2, out July 3.

I received an arc copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion of it. It was a typical Amish book with hea

Wow! This is one of the best books I've read in a long time. Anthony and Marty's marriage is struggling due to infertility and depression. They are growing apart instead of together. Marty's best friend offers them a job together away from their tight-knit community in central Indiana. As they relocate and begin new jobs while Marty helps Brooke go through cancer treatments, the couple gains new purposes for their lives and their marriage. This book is FANTASTIC!

What a beautiful story! 

Interesting how the childless Mennonites worked around the moral issues and trusted God to show them the way, and how He blessed them.

Brooke is a hoot, and I loved the way she and Marty interacted.
Marty's desire for a child is what propelled the first part of the story. Living in the Mennonite community where large families were like a badge of honor, was very difficult for Marty. The reader can feel the anguish she feels every time she is around friends and family who have children. I can totally see her wanting to get away.

I don't want to give anything away.....but this is not your typical Mennonite story. This one takes Marty and Anthony far from their Mennenite community. We get to see how they handle living and working out in the real world. I loved watching how God worked in their lives and Brooke's.


I loved this story and I hope you will pick up a copy and let me know what you think of it.

A heartfelt story with a lot of spiritual and emotional depth. Characters whose lives take unexpected turns, struggle with their inner turmoil and search for peace and meaning in their lives.
This is a multi layered novel, starting out a bit slow, but picking up the pace as they get involved in each others lives, and reach out to others, stretching their faith and learning to trust God on a deeper level.
I liked the character of Brooke the best with her determination for independence giving way to circumstances, and opening her eyes to God's love for her. Some serious issues are touched on in this book, like dealing with infertility, marital issues, serious illness, homeless teens, and sex trafficking.
Readers who like stories that include social issues from a Christian viewpoint will probably enjoy this book.

Ours for a Season
Kim Vogel Sawyer has done it again. She has taken what could be an ordinary story and filled it with issues that face each of us every day. She has also done it while bringing smiles and tears to these eyes. In this story, Anthony and Marty are a Mennonite couple that have been struggling in their relationship since they learned that they couldn’t have children. Surrounded by large families in their fellowship, it is especially hard on Marty, who longs for a baby of her own. Anthony is not sure how to deal with the pain and travels a lot for his job. Their marriage is suffering and so are they. Brooke is a longtime friend of Marty’s. She has created her own company from the ground up and proven that she is someone in the world of business. When she contacts Marty and Anthony to come to Kansas and help her restore a ghost town she wants to turn into a resort, Marty thinks it may be a chance to repair more than the town. They agree to go, taking part of Anthony’s crew along for the job. However, when they get there, Marty discovers that Brooke has cancer. Her and Anthony do all they can to help her, while still working at the resort. When they discover a teenage prostitute at the resort hiding, Marty learns that the world is much worse than she has ever known. Together, the three of them will work together to bring healing, both spiritual and physical, to each other. Along the way, they just might make the world a better place.
I absolutely loved this book. Can I say that again?? I loved it! You should read it! No doubt about it. Be ready for tears and laughter and a spiritual awareness in your own life.
I received a free copy of this story from NetGalley for my honest review. All opinions are expressly my own.

I have read many of Kim Vogel Sawyer's books and they are always excellent. This one is no exception. It focuses on the Mennonite religion which I knew little about until I read this book. I am Baptist and both religions believe in God's Word, The Holy Bible. I have great respect for their way of life.

It is a very emotional story about a couple that is unable to have children and how it affects their marriage, a brilliant woman who learns she has cancer, and also deals with human trafficking, another thing I knew little about. I learned a lot from reading this book and I am so glad I got the opportunity to do so. I highly recommend "Ours for a Season".

Ours for a Season was not a normal Amish Romance for some reason I could not connect to the characters, however I finished it but it felt like it took forever to get thru.

This book deals with human-trafficking in a whole new way. It is very well written and will stay with you after you finish the last page. The author has also included tips at the end on how we can help bring an end to this vile, harmful practice. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a free copy in exchange for a honest review.