This was interesting though I question some the accuracy of the Amish lifestyle in this book. A website designer/computer expert has a place in the Amish community? Mennonite I could see, but Amish? If this was a more lenient community, it was not explained this way in the book and especially didn't fit with her father's reaction to her coming home.

If you can forget that for a minute, the story itself was good which was the only thing that saved it from being a one star review because typically not being accurate is an immediate negative rating for me.

** ARC received from Netgalley **

I enjoyed this read, but that being said I questioned some of the things that this book told us, the electricity in the house? Getting past that and the rampant use of computers the story itself was good.
The young woman who returns to her roots when life has thrown her a hard curve ball, the people who welcome her back and those that don’t.
A young Amish man who fights his past and current attraction to this wayward girl, and his journey to make a living.
A different story, but one that held my attention even when I questioned things.

I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Love Inspired, and was not required to give a positive review.

Eli Hochstetler is a blacksmith, on his trips to town he has noticed her bright multicolored hair in the past, but today he sees her crying. He stops to help her offering advice and a sandwich, not recognizing her as his childhood friend, Dori Bontrager.



Dori is pregnant and her boyfriend has kicked her out, when Eli advises her to go home, she takes his advice and goes back to her Amish community. She is dead set on leaving as soon as soon as she can, but she stays because she knows that the Amish will help care for her child. Her grandfather, the bishop, welcomes her whole-heartedly, and just requests that she take the discipleship classes.



Will Dori go back to the English world or stay with Eli?



Dori is hardened and unrepentant when she first comes home to stay with her grandfather. Eli's business has been slow, so Dori offers to help him set up a website to attract more business. As they spend more time together Eli can't help but fall for the beautiful Dori, but she is still bent on leaving.



I has a hard time liking Dori, but perhaps that's more realistic, because she is hard to love and acts that way intentionally. Eli seemed to love the idea of Dori in his head, and their relationship felt one-sided. My favorite character was Dori's grandfather, though she remembers him as stern and judgmental, he is the only one who welcomes her, and he doesn't hassle her about her past or current situation. He opens his home to her, and let's her choose.



Overall, this was a tough one for me to like, I really wanted to but I found the situation frustrating.



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."

Eli had branched his blacksmithing from the practical horseshoes , weather vanes, and weathervanes and herb choppers to decorate items like napkin holders, door knockers, and animal figures . Eli wanted to get a computer and have a website to show off his handmade items. He would need permission from the church leaders. His attention went to Rainbow Girl . that was what he called the young woman with the rainbow colored hair. For the past six months he seen the same girl every time he came to town. But today was different, she held her head low, and her shoulders hunched over . her body shook as though she was crying. He wondered why he was drawn to this Englisher, it made no sense. After his errands Eli stopped and asked her if she was ok. She told him she was fine, to leave her alone. Eli than said she didn’t look fine than he went to mention the black stuff around her eyes and how the makeup had run but than he just said never mind. He was going to leave but instead he sat down about four feet from her . he then said he was Eli . She asked what he was doing and eli said she seemed upset and maybe she needed some company. She answered she was and she didn’t. He still didn’t leave and asked her name . She said she was Dori. Eli said God lead him to come over to her. . Dori than answered that her boyfriend had kicked her out, she had lost her low paying job and she had nowhere to live. When he asked about her family she said that her family wanted nothing to do with her. Than Eli said he was buying her a sandwich . than he left after leaving her ten dollars. He knew that he felt pity, and compassion for Dori. Than he also realized he was attracted to her. She was someone he wanted to get to know better , that was ill advised. Dori had worked hard to erase all of her Amish self. Eli nor his friend had recognized her. She hadn’t talked to an Amish person in four years and avoided them whenever possible. Eli had always been appealing. She had almost told him who she was ands that she knew him. After two weeks of morning sickness and fighting with Craig her now ex boyfriend and unborn baby father, dori had packed her things and checked in to a woman’s shelter. Her father may have let her return but her grandfather never would. Even though she would be shunned by the Amish she would be treated better than she was now. She decided to go back to the community until she could get a job to support herself and her baby. Only a temporary solution. She went home and couldn’t believe her grandfather was an elder welcomed her home. Her father and brother wanted nothing to do with Dorcus/Dori once they learned she was pregnant. Even when his father who was an elder told him to forgive her he refused. Than her grandfather told Dori she could stay with him. Eli did realize who Dori real was, she had turned her back on him. For some strange reason having Dori/Dorcus back in the community both excited and repelled Eli. He needed to forget dori and concentrate on getting his ironworks business going this summer. He had also decided to start courting this summer. He didn’t know who yet but it was time he found a wife. Dori/Dorcus return had changed everything.
I enjoyed this story. Just found some things odd to me when thinking on the Amish like electricity in Amish homes and computers use by some. Even though the Amish had to get permission from the church I didn’t know this was a possibility more now. I just love how the Amish live as they do and that just threw me off with a couple of other things. I liked the plot and pace and read this in less than a day. I loved how dori and Eli’s relationship grew to more than friends and right from the start he was protecting and caring of Dori. I loved the characters and the ins and outs of this book and I recommend it.

In this lovely book, we meet Dori, whose life has followed much of the Biblical account of the prodigal son. She finds herself homeless, starving, and very much pregnant. She does not have any hope, until an act of kindness by an Amish man, Eli, shows her the way to return to her Amish parents’ home. Her struggle then becomes one of deciding to live in the English world or return to her Amish upbringing. The author has done a wonderful job of making Dori a person that you care about, This story flows very well and the ending is not rushed. I had not read the other books in this series, but I had no trouble at all following this one, I love Mary Davis’ writing style and will look forward to reading more from her.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

I love a tale about imperfect people finding a love perfect for them. Eli is a strong hero with a big heart. Dori is the prodigal that returns home but who is constantly looking behind. I enjoyed watching their love blossom and grow. What a different Amish tale.
Favorite Quote
"Some people can't see that this life is the best life they can have. They always think that there is something better someplace else."
Thank you, Netgalley!

I absolutely loved Dori, I felt for her right from the get go and wanted her to find a happily ever after. Mary Davis did a fantastic job with this book.,

Courting Her Prodigal Heart is a good inspirational romance. I enjoyed the plot and the author’s writing. Fans of Amish fiction will enjoy this book. I received an arc from Netgalley and this is my unbiased review.

I enjoyed this story but I found it odd that an Amish household had electricity, there were some other oddities that are not usually found in an Amish household, but besides that. it was an enjoyable read and I would recommend it to anyone that enjoys a clean romance.

When Dori Bontrager returns to her Goshen, IN home, no one recognizes her. With her rainbow colored hair, facial piercings, and ripped jeans, she is the epitome of the worldly Englishers. No one would guess she grew up Amish, her grandfather the bishop. Unfortunately for her, pregnancy has forced her to fall back on the mercy of her family. Will she find love and forgiveness there, or the condemnation she expects?

Eli Hochstedler has seen Rainbow Girl - his name for her - in town for a couple of weeks, and she fascinates him. Something about her draws his gaze every time he's in town. When he notices her defeated posture one day, he steps in and offers her food and what cash he can. He is stunned, then, when she shows up at Sunday church the next day. He is then blown away when the bishop singles her out during his sermon, preaching grace and forgiveness found in the Prodigal Son story. Does the bishop know something that Eli can't see?

Dori intends to stay only long enough to get back on her feet, but that's proving harder than she thought it might be. In the meantime, her grandfather is showing her love, grace and forgiveness that she had not expected. He was so condemning of her wild ways as she was growing up. What brought this change? Other family members - her father and oldest brother - are not so forgiving. The only thing making life bearable is Eli, but what will happen when he discovers not only who she is, but that's she's unmarried and pregnant?

This was a beautiful re-rendering of the Prodigal Son story, with an Amish twist. I loved how Dori found a way to pay back those who helped her by using what computer knowledge she had to provide a service to the community. I also loved Eli. He is such a good man, and invests himself from the start in Dori's well-being.

If it tells you anything, I started this book yesterday, and finished it in one sitting (staying up FAR TOO LATE to do so!) Highly recommend!

When Dori left the Amish community, she never thought she would return. But pregnant and alone, she is forced to seek her parents help, even though she is sure they will turn their backs on her and what they see as her mistakes. To her surprise, not only is she welcomed home but she has been missed by Eli, the childhood friend who has never forgotten her. Hopeful, sweet and full of faith and forgiveness, Courting Her Prodigal Heart is a keeper for any Inspirational reader. – Glory Martin

4 1/2 stars.

This review appears in Romantic Intentions Quarterly #3 - October 2018

3.5 stars

An enjoyable and sweet story. I'm quite interested in reading the story of Dr. Kathleen.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.