Delightful story with amazing characters. When faced with choices we can sometimes learn from the past and it helps us decide our future.

A series of mini reviews: I didn't know this was the third book in the series and so haven't read more than the blurb, while I won't read it since I am currently not reading Amish fiction this is a perfect read for Amish romance lovers.

This story warmed my heart it is about a woman going on to pursue her dreams and being everything she wanted to be, but her faith is little stronger then she thought and going home may be the best thing for her.

Once I got into this book I was unable to put it down. This is also one of my favorite genre to read. Leslie Gould has a flair of putting a current story along with a historical story all put in one. This made it very interesting, but at the same time, I had to keep alert, as I had to know which era I was in.

This is about Leisel, an aspiring nurse, and her Aenti Suz telling the story of her Grandfather Joe back during WWII. There are many trials in this book. Leisel’s boyfriend, who also is a nurse, decides to go into the Air Force. She is definitely against this. Then she meets her sister’s surgeon, whom she begins to date. Which man will she choose? Will she go on being single? You will have to read the book to find out!

Leisel Bachmann left her Amish roots and beloved sisters to pursue a career in medicine without a second thought. She has an Englisch boyfriend, Nick Jordan, and dreams of a new life–but those dreams come crashing down when her sister Marie is diagnosed with cancer.

Soon nothing is going as she planned–not her state boards, not her first nursing job, and certainly not her relationship with Nick. As she becomes increasingly discouraged, her aunt shares the story of Leisel’s grandfather during World War II and the struggle he faced between returning to Lancaster or being with the woman he loved.

Peace and a vision for the future are difficult to find, and when Nick leaves Pennsylvania for a completely new life, Leisel is faced with impossible choices. Will she stay in Lancaster, close to her family and the traditions of her past? Or learn from her grandfather’s story and embrace a life of love and service in an uncertain future?

Leslie Gould is an award-winning author. Leslie received her master of fine arts in creative writing from Portland State University in 2009 and has taught fiction as an adjunct professor at Multnomah University. She also teaches workshops at public and private schools and at writers’ conferences.

A varied work history, from curating a historical museum to editing a bridal magazine, preceded her fiction-writing career. She is also an Army Reserve wife who has supported her husband, Peter, through many years of service, including a deployment to Afghanistan as the commander of a field hospital. Leslie and her husband live in Oregon with their four children.

A Faithful Gathering became available for sale February 5, 2019.

I received a complimentary ebook from NetGalley for this review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book by author Leslie Gould. Not a typical Amish story it is still a compelling novel that is book three in The sisters of Lancaster County, I read it as a stand alone as I haven’t read the first two books in the series. I had no trouble following what was going on.

The characters were well developed, life wasn’t all peaches and cream, and God was faithful. Even when questioning why things were happening, the main characters had strong faith during struggles while trying to stay true to who God made them to be.

Sweet and clean, I highly recommend it.

This book was a good, clean read. It’s a light book with a nice romance and plot. The characters go through some difficult times but overall a nice, easy read. Somewhat predictable.

A Faithful Gathering by Leslie Gould is the third novel in The Sisters of Lancaster County series that begins in April of 2017. Leisel Bachmann will be graduating from nursing school the next day. She wishes her father who encouraged her to pursue her dream was still alive to witness her graduation. Leisel grew up Amish, but she left the community to achieve her goal of becoming a nurse. Once she passes her licensing exam, Leisel hopes to obtain a job in the local emergency room where her boyfriend, Nick Jordan works. She is worried when her sister, Marie fails to show up for her ceremony. Leisel learns that Marie is in the hospital, so she quickly packs up and heads to Lancaster County. When Marie is diagnosed with cancer, Leisel moves into Aunt Suz’s Dawdi Haus so she can take care of her sibling. Leisel becomes discouraged when her life takes a downturn. She even begins to doubt her choice to become a nurse. Aunt Suz shares the story of Liesel’s grandfather, Joe who served with Civilian Public Service during World War II. Joe’s story and his choices strike a chord with Leisel. Nick makes a decision that goes against Leisel’s beliefs and she is faced with an impossible decision. Leisel needs to decide what she wants for her future and a found letter may help her get on the right path.

A Faithful Gathering is a compelling novel. While A Faithful Gathering can be read alone, I suggest you read the books in The Sisters of Lancaster County series in order. It will help you to understand the family dynamics. I thought A Faithful Gathering was well-written with relatable, yet complex characters and set in beautiful Lancaster County. We get Leisel’s story in A Faithful Gathering. She is on the cusp of fulfilling her dreams when her sister, Marie is diagnosed with cancer. When a series of events leave Leisel feeling discouraged and doubting her choices, her aunt shares the story of Leisel’s grandfather, Joe Bachmann. Joe’s draft number comes up in 1944 and, as a conscientious objector, enlisted in CPS (Civilian Public Service). It was interesting to learn about CPS plus AFS (American Field Service). I was not aware of these two divisions previously. The historical elements were beautifully incorporated into the story. I liked how the past and present flowed together. We see how fear comes in many different forms and it can hinder (even cripple) an individual. Prayer, faith and listening to God’s guidance are Christian elements in the story. We must pray to God for Him to lead us down the right path. If you have faith, you know God will provide. The Sisters of Lancaster County has a heartwarming ending. One of my favorite sayings in the book relates back to a woman who has one thing after another go wrong in her life and she believes God is punishing her. The phrase is “sometimes we’re tested, but that doesn’t mean we’ve done anything wrong”. We must remember that God will not give us more than we can handle. Leisel was being tested in A Faithful Gathering. It was nice to see Leisel develop as an individual and in her faith. A Faithful Gathering is clean, Christian novel with realistic characters and situations that will touch your heart.

I really loved Aenti Suz hands down she was my favorite character in the book. I would say this book is geared toward young adults. I would say the characters still had a lot of learning to do and the author used the situations through out the book mature them for sure. I really enjoyed the story of LT. Shaw and Joe, when the story would move away from them the author had away of keeping your attention and leave you wanting more to find out what was going to happen next.
While I did find Leisel a little immature some times I also found that what she was facing was forcing her to grow up and evaluate her life and her choice. This book is from a first person point of view Over all this book is a good clean read and suitable for all ages.

5 Stars ***** 5/5

Leslie is restoring my delight in Amish fiction. I'll be honest with readers; I love Amish fiction and have been an avid reader for many years, but I was getting tired of the predictable plots. This book and series does not follow a predictable pattern and I like that. Thank you, Leslie, for making me want to read Amish fiction again.
I received a digital version of this book from netgalley and Bethany House in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.

"A Faithful Gathering" is book three in the Sisters of Lancaster County series by Leslie Gould. Although this book can be read as a stand alone, it makes SO much more sense if you've read books 1 & 2 in the series. Book 3 tells Leisel's story as she begins her career in nursing, struggles with whether or not to become Mennonite, cares for her sister during a fight with cancer, and chooses between two men. Woven throughout the novel is the story of Leisel's grandparents during World War II. Great story!

I recently read A Faithful Gathering, book three in the Sisters of Lancaster Series by Leslie Gould. I enjoy Leslie's books not only for the good story but also for the characters, each one unique and complex. Leisel is no exception. She courageously left her Amish faith and comforts of home to study nursing, a field she felt God called her to enter. For an Amish woman with an eighth grade education that is no small fete. When you open this book you will find she has accomplished all that hard work and she is ready to take her board examinations. With her future full of opportunity, her life around her shifts and she suddenly finds herself on new ground and nothing is going to be what she planned.

Her mother does not support her leaving the faith and becoming a nurse. Her sister Marie is on shaky ground with a cancer diagnosis. The farm is at a point where some changes need to be made to keep it productive. Nick is planning a change in his career that will alter the life they planned together. The calm in this port of storm is her beloved aunt relating the wonderful story of her grandfather. His story is like the balm she needs to see things in a new perspective.

A Faithful Gathering is the third book in the The Sisters of Lancaster County series. I haven't read the other two books in the series, but I felt that this could easily be read as a stand alone novel. This was such an enjoyable novel to read, and I was pleasantly surprised to find out that it was a dual timeline story. I love dual timelines, but I had never read a dual timeline story in an Amish novel before. The author tells the story of Liesel who left her Amish community to become a nurse and plans to have a future with her Englisch boyfriend Nick. When health issues in her family arise, she is needed to return to the community where she grew up to offer assistance. The historical storyline of her grandfather's World War II service was a great addition to the novel. I would definitely recommend this book to fans of Amish fiction!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House through NetGalley and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

Leslie Gould writes multi-generational Amish stories that sometimes have surprising endings. She does her research well and crafts a story that is not only entertaining but also informative. Her characters have depth and dimension that enhance the settings and make the story all the more entertaining. In the third novel of the Sisters of Lancaster County series, Leisel Bachmann has left her Amish faith to pursue a degree in nursing. She was encouraged in her medical curiosity by her father but not by her mother.

Leisel has gone to Pittsburg to nursing school and has adopted too many of the Englisch ways for her mother to be happy. She also has an Englisch boyfriend who has also attended nursing school with her.

The night of her graduation, she gets a call from her sister that her other sister is in the hospital with excruciating stomach pains. Leisel packs up what she needs and goes home to see about her sister.

While she is gone, her boyfriend enlists in the Air Force, much to her many objections. She breaks up with him and then seeks comfort with her Aenti Suz. Aenti Suz tells her some of the history of her family in the military service as conscientious objectors and gives her a new perspective on what her boyfriend has done.

This is a five-star book with two thumbs up and a nurse to help you through the storms.

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

A Faithful Gathering " is and Amish fiction book by Leslie Gould. This book is part of the Sisters of Lancaster County series. Leisel left her Amish ( from the Lancaster area) upbringing to obtain a nursing career. Her mother was not supportive of her studying nursing. Her Father took an interest in the medical field. He got sick with cancer. Leisel was close to him and took care of him. After taking care of him she decided to study nursing. When she was studying nursing she met Nick Jordan. When the book starts out Leisel was working at a nursing facility and had finished nursing school. She had her nursing graduation and had expected to see her family at the ceremony. Nick came to the ceremony but not her sister Marie. She found out graduation night that Marie was in the hospital with stomach problems. She remembered that Marie had been sharing with her about her stomach problems a month before. She had so much on her mind with the end of her nursing studies that she forgot to check in with Marie. After graduation she was faced with Marie's health situation , preparing for her nursing boards and her current nursing job. She went to see Marie as soon as she was able to do so. Marie's doctors ordered tests to determine what was the cause of her stomach problems. Marie stepped in to read Marie's medical chart, talk to the doctors, care for Marie and her family. In time Marie was diagnosed with stomach cancer. Leisel was torn with her concern for her sister and preparing for her nursing exam. She had trouble studying mentally for her nursing exam and thinking about all her sister's needs. Nick told her he was strongly considering entering the military to help with his school expenses. His desire to enter military life conflicted with her nonresistant Amish views. She tried to avoid any discussions about the military with Nick until Nick told her He was about to enter his military training soon. At the same time Marie was diagnosed with stomach cancer, Leisel failed her nursing board test and she kept hoping Nick would change his mind about the military. After failing the nursing exam she had her doubts about if she should continue to purse the nursing field. Nick wanted to help her study and agreed to travel to the Amish area to help her. She was also taking care of her sister. Her sister had surgery , then chemotherapy and then radiation for her cancer. Leisel also took care of her sister's children and helped her sister. She passed the nursing board exam when she took it a second time. When Nick ended up going off to the military for training and Leisel and Nick broke off their relationship. After Leisel and Nick broke up Leisel got a nursing job at a facility many Amish people went to for medical care. Her Aunt Suz shared the story about her grandfather and his relationship with her grandmother which He met during World War 11. It was a beautiful story about loving someone during war times . He had a lot of uncertainty about if his wife would be willing to live in Lancaster since she was not Amish. He also had nonresistant views about the military. He had to enter the military due to the war. He suffered many trials during the war. He fell in love with a girl that became his wife. The story made Leisel wonder what she should do about Nick since she really did love him even though He did not agree with her nonresistant views. Leisel is a deeply caring person and really grow s on the reader. What will become of Leisel and her love for Nick and his love for her? What will happen to Marie? The story shows the challenges of being Amish and not always agreeing with the Amish views. The Amish rules are not flexible and very rigid. It is difficult to do follow the views. I appreciate netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review this wonderful book. It is well written and quite endearing! I left the book thinking about the wonderful characters and remembering the precious story.

I think dual timeline stories would be very difficult as an author to write. They not only have to get the reader interested in one story but two, then keep that interest throughout both stories and ultimately tie the two stories together in a believable way. But that's exactly what Leslie Gould has done in A Faithful Gathering. Two wonderfully written stories that connect in a very realistic way and with characters you'll find yourself cheering on.

I was hooked from the very beginning of this story. There's a lot going on in the story as far as Liesel. She's about to become a nurse and begin her life with boyfriend Nick, who is also a nurse. But things change when her sister fails to show up for her graduation and Nick makes a surprising revelation. Liesel has a lot to think about and a story her Aenti Suz tells about her grandpa Joe may put things back in perspective. Joe's story, which takes place during WWII, is very compelling, and I found myself just as interested in it as I was Liesel's story.

Leslie Gould is a master at dual timeline stories. Just when one character's story is at a pivotal point she switches to the other story and back and forth this goes throughout the book keeping me involved in both stories and making the book a quick read. Add to that her wonderful way of telling a story that makes me quit seeing words on a page but instead the images she is describing, well, it's no wonder she's one of my favorite authors. I'm pretty sure she could write a math textbook I would be interested in but then again, let's not get too crazy. : )

I definitely recommend this book to fans of Amish fiction or those who like a combination of contemporary and historical fiction. While this book is the third in the series it could easily be read as a standalone. I do recommend reading the other two books in the series though because they are just as wonderfully written as this one and you don't want to miss out on a Leslie Gould story!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was not required to write a review. All opinions are mine.

There’s much to love in this new book by Leslie Gould. The Bachmann family sister were raised in a traditional Amish family, but all three have chosen different paths. This story focuses on Leisel. She’s left her Amish roots to become at registered nurse and is making marriage plans with her English boyfriend. Nothing goes quite as planned for Leisel, especially after her sister begins to undergo treatment for cancer. Leisel decides that she needs to return home to take care of her sister. A conflict comes between Leisel and her fiancé, and leaves Leisel feeling as if she does not belong in either the Amish or English worlds. Her Aunt Suz begins to share with Leisel the story of her Amish uncle as he served as an ambulance driver in World War II. As Leisel hears his story, she begins to view her own life from a very different point of view.

This is a “split time” romance that works very well. I loved the story of Joe and Martha’s romance in World War II. It was sweet and compelling and fit together perfectly with Leisel’s situation. It’s a good story of facing family expectations; honoring traditional roles; yet having the faith to follow the path that God has specifically chosen for you. The overriding theme is of God’s guidance in our lives, and the unusual ways He may lead us.

This is a sweet and clean book that incorporates the best of faith, hope, and love. I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Gould approaches the Amish a different way in this series of books. I like it that she wrote this series from each sister's view point. ( Of course A Faithful Gathering is the best! )
The dual timeline is awesome as well!! Auntie Suz is a wonderful storyteller!!
In a way, she reminds me of my grandfather and the way he told his stories of the 2nd world war. Except they changed with each telling lol! It didn't really matter to me because I enjoyed them and they made me laugh.
I feel like Liesel at times caught at a crossroads not knowing what I really want out of life. I do now though.
I liked how the author wrote with her heart and it is almost like it was her history that she was writing about .
I think that there is some great advice in this wonderful book. Like Gus said" Don't give into fear and don't let it control you" " Do what you were meant to do" "Trust!! A mighty big word in my opinion. Even I have trouble with that! I am just now learning how to forgive people including my dad. He was a sneaky stinker!!
Beathel was a character I didn't really like until there toward the end of the book. She's a perfect example of how fear can control one's life if you let it. That explains why she's so crotchety and mean. She is also a perfect example of how God can slowly change your heart and soul if you let him.
The title for this book is perfect!! I loved how family stuck together down through the years and I don't blame Liesel for not wanting to unequally yoked to a non believer. That has go to be very stressful. You can try and try and the more they will dig their heals in.
I can't imagine not having Jesus in my life. My whole world would definitely be dark without him.
Thank God he came to save us from our sins. For by Grace we are saved and God loved us enough to do just that!!
I admire the Amish for various reasons and I am glad I learned the truth about Jesus. The Ordnung
doesn't save you. Jesus does and it is a wonderful feeling!!
I received a copy from the publisher with no compensations received! All opinions are my own

This is the third book in this series that I have enjoyed, again we back at the farm and with the Bachmann family.
This is mainly Liesel’s story, but really the sister’s and maybe Aunt Suz, as she tells some of the family history. Wow, we are in the present and so involved with what is going on, and then we become engrossed in Gus’s life, he is Suz’s brother and the girl’s father.
The saying that history repeats itself is prevalent in a way that makes them realize what is important and to grab what is being offered.
I didn’t want to leave, and have loved getting to know this family and how their community began and continuing.

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

A Faithful Gathering is book three from The Sisters of Lancaster County series. I thought it was so good and my favorite of the series. I am giving it five plus stars. Highly recommended.

This story warmed my heart it is about a woman going on to pursue her dreams and being everything she wanted to be, but her faith is little stronger then she thought and going home may be the best thing for her.