Listening to Love is the second An Amish Journey Novel. It can be read on its own if you have not read Hearts in Harmony. I thought Listening to Love is well-written with developed characters and steady pacing. Natalie Collins loves animals and is pursuing a degree in veterinary medicine thanks to Mary and Levi Shetler. They sold the beautiful piano they inherited from Adeline and gave the money to her. There is a problem, though, preventing her from moving forward. She cannot give shots and the sight of blood sickens her. Natalie has developed a relationship with God thanks to Lucas. He has become her close friend. They meet each week at the library plus they have lunch dates and talk on the phone each evening. People do not understand that a man and woman can just be friends. Lucas has yet to be baptized, but he has never dreamed of leaving the Amish. As Lucas spends more time with Natalie, his feelings for her change. I could feel the struggle in Lucas and Natalie as well as their developing love. I like that each of them has a close relationship with God. Natalie’s mother, Cecelia is having a hard time after her divorce. She has gone through her divorce settlement, maxed out her credit cards and her mortgage is behind. Cecelia has been getting money from Natalie, but that is her college fund. After attending a housewarming party at Mary and Levi’s, she gets a job with Moses Schwartz, the Shetler’s neighbor. Cecelia’s dream job soon turns into a nightmare that disrupts the lives of those around her. I liked this addition to the story as it gave the story added depth and interest. I enjoyed seeing the changes in the characters as the story progressed especially in Cecelia and Helen. My favorite phrase is “Listen to God and follow His lead.” Listening to Love is an absorbing story about family, faith, friendship, and love.

This is the second book in the Amish Journeys series. What a joy to reconnect with some of the characters, Natalie Collins and Levi and Mary Shetler. This book is a great standalone for those who haven't read the first in the series.
Natalie loves and looks forward to the Friday night dinners at Levi and Mary Shetler's house. The food and company is wonderful! Levi's brother, Lucas, also attends the dinners. Natalie and Lucas have became very good friends. In addition to the Friday nights, they meet on Wednesday's at the library to visit and talk about the books they are reading. They also talk each night before bed on their cellphones, which are not allowed in Lucas' Amish community.
Levi and Lucas express their concern that Natalie and Lucas' relationship may be more than simple friendship, and that it will never work as Natalie is Englisch and Lucas is Amish. While Lucas has yet to be baptized into the Amish church/faith, it would break his family's heart if he were to walk away from them and their community.
Both Natalie and Lucas attempt to give assurance that they are only friends. Until one day...they both realize their feelings for one another go deeper than they had thought.
Lucas has taught Natalie about God and she now has a relationship with Him and feels Lucas has been very instrumental in that. But...is that why God put him in her life? To lead her to Him and nothing more? Natalie realizes she cannot leave her world. Is it fair to expect Lucas to leave his and try to adapt to things he's never had and has been taught against? Air conditioning, cars, music, etc?
Great story and characters! Another winner by Beth Wiseman!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Zondervan through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Natalie Collins has spent her entire life growing up in Amish country. She became fast friends with Levi and Mary Shetler and began having dinner with them on Friday nights. To her surprise, Lucas, Levi's handsome brother begins joining them. What started off as an innocent love of books, and Lucas increasing Natalie's faith in God, quickly turns into something neither on saw coming.

This was a great love story and lesson in trusting God guide your life even if it doesn't make sense. I enjoyed this novel, I was moved by the faith they had and learned quite a bit about trusting that God has total control of one's life.

Very moving

I really like Beth Wiseman's books, and Listening to Love is one of her best. Other reviewers have detailed the plot and described characters in depth so I will not.

What I find inspirational and moving about this book is the depth of insight into the motivation and devotion of the characters alongside a twisty, fast moving plot. The characters are so very believable and each has their own challenges. I am very much looking forward to reading the third book in this series.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a time-constrained e-arc. This review is not required and is solely my own opinions.

I have very high expectations when opening up a book written my Beth Wiseman! This book is the second in the Amish Journey Series. Her ability to draw me deeply into the lives of her characters is a quality that I love! This book was certainly no disappointment. The tale has us continuing the journey alongside the previously met characters, Natalie and Lucas.

The characters are so realistically and well described that the reader is compelled to walk alongside them in their very rocky path of life. One feels the suffering caused by a broken relationship between mother and daughter. Bitterness caused by the divorce of Natalie's parents affects Natalie's power to live her own life. As if that is not challenge enough, Natalie is drawn to a handsome young man......but he is Amish! She is not. The confusion this causes makes the reader wish that one could solve the problems for this beautiful couple.

The plot moves at a quick pace with lots of unexpected twists and turns, keeping the reader glued to the page. The world passed me by as I just had to read to find out what would happen next. Just when everything seems to be calming down, another block is put in the road. The tension built as this tale progressed.

This book has everything that any reader could wish for, adventure, characters that you come to love and surprises when you least expect them.

This is a five star book ! Don't miss it!

This book was supplied by NetGalley. The thoughts and opinions expressed are honest and my own.

This book was truly a journey through a relationship. I love how everything was covered and handled. I saw growth and struggle, triumph and failures as well as how they thrived, survived and moved forward. Not just the couple but their families and everyone around them. This was different from the many Amish books I have read and loved.
This book was carefully written and thoroughly enjoyed. Beth Wiseman is quickly becoming a fave of mine for Amish romance. She delved deeply into the various relationships at play, prejudices, misunderstandings and healings within the story. A great read.

I am so glad to have the honor of reading and reviewing a book that is an example of God’s love. The characters are wonderful and very east to relate to. Natalie is hungry to learn more about God and her best friend Lucas is guiding her through scriptures and his own experiences to help her. There is a little bump in their friendship as Natalie is English and Lucas is Amish.

I loved how the author shows the uneasiness that their family and friends have when the two seem to grow closer. Natalie is heartbroken when everyone steps in to break their relationship up. There is a reason for everything that happens in life. Natalie believes that God put Lucas in her life to help her grow her relationship with God. Now she wonders if that was all or is there more that God has planned for them?

The author also gives us a look into a broken relationship between mother and daughter. Natalie is bitter at times because her mother is taking the divorce from her father so hard. Having to continually give her financial support is causing a strain on her own finances. I loved reading how they each had to let God soften their hearts and understand that bitterness was destroying their relationship.

I have to mention Helen, Lucas’s mother. She is very protective of her family and has a dislike for Natalie and her mother. It was kind of funny to read about her using binoculars to spy on her neighbor. I won’t say why she was but it made me understand how we can push our views onto others and judge them. There were times I just wanted to tell Helen to stop interfering and let God handle the situation. How many times have we judged people? I did like how the author does give us a glimpse of the differences between English and Amish beliefs.

The story is such an emotional journey through compromise, forgiveness and acceptance.It explores what true love is and questions how to tell if you will have the kind of love for another person for a lifetime. It is never easy to know if a love will last. but I have learned that love between two people is a commitment that calls for patience, compromise and including God in the relationship.

One thing I found interesting is that Amish don't believe in divorce so they just stay together and work things out. In society people walk away everyday from a marriage without trying to sit and talk it out. We sometimes don't include God in our marriage and the enemy gladly takes that as an invitation to break up a family.

There is an unexpected twist in the story that causes chaos in several lives. The author took me by surprise and I loved how the twist leads to compassion and forgiveness. I have to say the author has surpassed my expectations in a story that reminds us to listen to God and the meaning of a love that never fails.

I received an arc copy of this book from the author. The review is my own opinion.

Natalie went to her friend’s Mary and levi’s house every friday night. Lucas was levi’s brother and he also came to their dinner. Natalie and Lucas became best friends.The love of books drew Lucas and natalie together. He was also teaching her about God and the bible. But Mary pulled Natalie aside to worm her that maybe she should back off from Lucas since you don’t always pick who you fall in love with, it can just unexpectedly happen. They came from two different worlds. Lucas and his family were from a very conservative community. MAry was Amish but came from community and Bishop had been a lot more lenient. Mary and Levi had to learn to compromise to be happy together. Natalie also told mary they were never alone together. They would not allow their relationship to go any farther. Mary worried one or both of them would be hurt. Natalie cherished their friendship. Lucas didn’t expect to have such a strong reaction from Natalie’s touch, and the strange surge of affection rattled him. Lucas was close to Natalie in a way he’d never been with anyone else. His physical attraction to her had been from the first day, but it seemed to intensify the closer they became. Lucas had reached for Natalie’s hand and held it. She wondered if everyone was right and they were headed into dangerous territory?
This was truly an awesome book to read. Probably one of the best books I have read about the Amish and English people. It showed how truly difficult it was to come from two totally different worlds and try to build a life together. The struggle Natalie and Lucas went through when finding love. . It showed some of the sin that could be in an Amish community. I loved seeing Cecile - Natalie’s mom and helen- Lucas’s mom grow a friendship. I loved the journey Cecile was on and still growing. I loved Natalie and Lucas together and how they interacted. I hated seeing how huert Natalie and Lucas were when apart. I didn’t want to put this book down. I loved the plot and pace. I loved the characters and the ins and outs of this book and I highly recommend it.

A terrific addition to the series and what surprising events! Beth’s books are always inspiring. God’s messages of love, patience and trust in Him are woven throughout the lives of the characters and their stories.

Wow, this book took a twist I NEVER expected. It was already a great book but the twist made it unforgettable.

A great example of forgiveness, humility and overcoming the many obstacles in life.

Levi and Natalie’s story will stay with me for a long time. Two vastly different worlds and they still became friends and so much more.

The Amish Journey’s series is a keeper for book collectors. You will want to revisit again and again.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, Zondervan, through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.

I was really enjoying this story, and being back with old friends, that I had previously been involved in.
Two of the characters Natalie, and Lucas are the main focus of this story, and the author has us torn as to what direction their lives will/should take. Then, don’t get two comfortable, the story seems to explode in more than one direction.
This read will keep your attention, and never saw most of it coming, my mind had been going in a completely different direction.
Don’t miss this one, you won’t be disappointed!

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

Since I was already acquainted with the characters of this book, after reading the first installment of this series, I was drawn quickly into the story. I thought Lucas and Natalie were a great couple. But, in true fashion of this sinful world, things do not come easily. Every time I would think I had this storyline figured out, Beth Wiseman would throw me a curveball and things would go in another direction. It was a treat to read this novel. It isn't your typical Amish book in many ways. I think you'll be happily surprised when you give it a read!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a review.

Listening to Love by Beth Wiseman was PHENOMENAL!

"'Listening to love was the right thing to do.
Because God is love.'" How powerful is that quote? For me it was.

Oh my the two main characters struggled to do the right thing for themselves. Mainwhile, a mom finds herself in trouble, it's who comes to her aid in court and after court that stands out to me.

The big climax was fuel for my determination to keep reading to know what happened next and left me glued to my Kindle. My need and want for a friendly ending with the two main characters, ended up giving me more than I was expecting. A few more unexpected turning points happened. A few I didn't predict happening at all.

I'm sad that I'll have to wait for the third book in the series to be released next year to hopefully find out any updates on previous characters. Curious to know who the main characters will be in the third book?

I received a free copy from NetGalley and publisher in exchange for an honest review. This is my review in my own words.

Such a good story!
When I started reading this book I immediately realized I had already read the first book in this series. This book can totally be read as a stand alone. This continuation of Natalie and Lucas's story, I think it is one of the best I've read in a while. Both Natalie and Lucas have to learn the art of communication, dealing with emotions, and over coming obstacles of change.
I give this story 5 out of 5 stars for the unique and unexpected twists, the overcoming spirits that the characters display, and the great story line.
I love Beth Wiseman's stories and this one did not disappoint, just leaves you wanting more.
I volunteered to read this book from Zondervan Fiction in return for my honest feedback. The thoughts and opinions expressed within are my own.

This is the second book in this series by Beth Wiseman, and it’s just as good as the first book. This story focuses on the characters of Lucas, an Amish young man, and Natalie, an English young woman. Despite the differences in their backgrounds, they become best friends. They are both honorable, caring people and realize that they would bring great distress to both their families if they allowed their friendship to develop into a romantic relationship. I thought the author did a terrific job of making both these characters seem “real” and showed their struggles with the differences in their backgrounds in a compelling way. There’s some surprises in this storyline that kept the story moving along in a way that I did not always see coming.

There’s also a look at the differences between two Amish communities and the way they view each other. That has an impact in this series, as the two different orders have to find common ground and understanding of each other’s practices.

I really liked the honor that both characters gave to their families even when they did not always agree with them. They were always seeking the best for those around them and that made this a refreshing story to read. I’m hoping there’s more to come in this series about this community.

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

Listening to Love is the second book in this series by Beth Wiseman. I have enjoyed many Amish books by this author in the past and her newest Amish Journey novel did not disappoint. It is a sweet story of family, faith, and love, but with a few twist thrown in. I really like this series and anxiously await the next book. Thank you netgalley and Zonderdan publishing for the gift of the arc, in exchange for this honest review

Natalie is an Englischer who has found friends among the Amish, she look forward to Friday nights with Mary and Levi Shetler, and Levi's brother, Lucas. Lucas and Natalie share a love of books and learning, and he explains his faith in a way that she can understand. But as they grow closer, the community becomes concerned that their friendship is on dangerous ground.



But an accident forces Lucas and Natalie to finally confront their feelings for each other, and what a future in each other's lives would mean.



Natalie is studying to be a veterinarian, but she has a fear of blood and there are other aspects of the job that don't appeal to her. She has a passion for animals, and has really grown in her faith by getting to know the Shetlers.



Overall, a sweet, compelling story of family, faith and love. Natalie admires her Amish friends, and her friendship with Lucas is especially dear. Lucas is a strong man of conviction, his faith and family are very important to him. Meanwhile, Natalie's mother is going through a tough divorce and finding her feet again, working for Lucas's parents neighbor. And engaging and easy to read story, with unexpected twists along the way. A story of love, sacrifice, faith and dreams.



I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Beth Wiseman has written another great Amish romance. A really good plot and characters dynamics. I highly recommend this book. Thanks to the publisher for my advance ebook. This is my unbiased review.

The second in the Amish Journey series will not disappoint fans. Natalie's story is a story of searching, growth, and forgiveness. Moses was an unusual twist that shows that neither Amish nor English are above sinning. There are lessons for everyone in this story. I hope to read more about Natalie and Lucas in the next book. Recommended.

I love that we finally get Natalie's story! Ever since the first book I've been wondering how on earth the author would bring Natalie into the Amish world. Honestly, I had no idea how the author would work in Natalie's story line and how different her world is from the Amish life.

This book definitely did not disappoint! It was definitely realistic the way it was written and Natalie's own progression as a person.

My only complaint is that I really wish we had an epilogue showing just how both Natalie and Lucas adjust to their new life. They both would have had a lot of adjusting to do but we didn't get to see that.

I will say the Moses situation caught me totally off guard.

** ARC received from Netgalley **