Amish in Montana, a deep and thoughtful novel

I have enjoyed the first 2 books in this series. This latest, A Long Bridge Home, continues some of the interesting community of Amish in Montana, smaller faith groups, different types of vocations, and seemingly more mixing with non-Amish. In this book, Ms Irvin examines some important issues. I was very taken by her description of the relationship between Christine and her Native friend, Raymond. His faith and deep concern with reconciling the deep wrongs between his people and the Jesuits, as well as his people and the 'whites' gave such a contrast with the Amish and their history of escaping persecution in Europe by coming to North America. Christine's relationship issues with Andy also make one consider the impact of trust and one's past. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to the publisher who lent me a time-constrained e-arc with no obligations. My review reflects my honest opinion. I can't wait to read the next book in this series and see how Ms Irvin wraps up these characters' stories.

When fires ravage their community in Montana, many of the Amish flee to nearby towns. Christine is still waiting for Andy to ask her to marry him, but now her parents want to move back to Kansas. Andy is struggling to accept his brother being married to his old sweetheart, and therefore doesn't trust the relationship he has with Christine. Especially when she starts going places with a local Native American, who obviously has different views. I liked the story overall, but at times felt like I missed seeing the connections the people had to each other, and why they needed to look outside to accept what they had inside. Still though, would highly recommend.

Author Kelly Irvin brings us another great book in the second book of the Big Sky Country series.

She shows how life with the Amish, as well as other cultures, is not always “cut and dry”. The young love between Christine and Andy, and build up to a proposal, is cut short when a ravaging forest fire causes everyone in their town to be evacuated. Andy evacuates back to his parents’ home as there are “secret” issues he must face, along with his father’s illness, before he feels he is free to propose to Christine.

Christine’s family evacuates to their former home in Kansas, but she is allowed to stay in the area with an aunt and uncle. Even though she has taken her vow of joining the Old Order Amish community, she finds that for the first time she is on her own and meeting new people. The influences that she faces bring many questions and challenges. She seeks to learn more about the Native Americans in the area, and finds that there are many “prejudices” from her Amish community in her seeking more knowledge.

I did feel that the descriptions and explanations given for the Native American cultures tended to get somewhat repetitive and drawn out. This approaches a subject not normally seen in Amish writing. The book did leave me with mixed feelings as to prejudices in our society.

I do recommend this book. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Zondervan Fiction through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I loved this book!! Great story!! Can't wait for the next book in the series to release!! Love this author's books!! Received this book from zondervan from netgally!!

Christine Mast and her beau, Andy Lambright are hoping to get married. They live in the West Kootenai region of Montana. But Andy gets called to his parents’ home to help with some things and Christine’s family decides to move back to Kansas near relatives. Christine doesn’t want to leave so talks her father into letting her live with her uncle and aunt in St. Ignatius while she waits for Andy. Christine meets Raymond Old Fox, a native that lives on the reservation near her uncle’s store and she is anxious to learn as much as she can about his culture. There is no romantic relationship but it is very eye raising to the locals and her aunt and uncle get very upset about the arrangement. She almost gets exiled to Kansas before Andy solves his own dilemmas and returns for her.

This was a very interesting exchange of cultural information between an Old Order Amish girl and a Native man. I enjoyed what I learned from it as well as just the love story involved.

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from NetGalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

Kelly Irvin has written another amazing book. While this is book# 2 in the series, the author does an excellent job of making this a standalone. If you haven't read the first book, it is another 5 star book! I loved both books, but I think I actually like this one more. Christine is not your typical Amish girl. After the fire and going to stay with her aunt and uncle in a nearby city, she starts working at their store and meets Raymond Old Fox, a Native who lives on the reservation. They find a kindred spirit in each other in that they both recognize there is a bigger world out there. Andy, the man whom she is in a courtship with, has his own damages. He was burned by the woman he was previously in a courtship with. This woman is now his sister-in-law. I enjoyed learning about the Kootenai tribe right along with Christine. It's hard to fathom getting in trouble for wanting to learn new things, but I guess that's one reason I could never actually become Amish! I highly recommend and I am eagerly waiting for book #3. Thank you to Netgalley and Zondervan for the ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is an excellent author of Amish fiction. I enjoyed this timely book of the ravages of fire in Montana. I say this due to the many wildfires in the US and abroad recently.

The book deals with the evacuation of an Amish village in Montana and the decisions that needed to be made as a result. Christine has decided not to move back to Kansas with her family and finds herself with a native group of people, the Kootenai.

It was a very interesting book. I was glad to read it and be able to learn some new things about this cultural group. Great book.

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

I couldn't put this book down as the story line and characters drew me in from the start. There is so much emotional heartbreak, doubt and regret. It shows us that family, friends, strong faith and love can help us through anything. Enjoyable read and if you love Amish stories, don't miss this one.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book; all opinions expressed are my own.

What a fantastic book by Kelly Irvin. I have read several of her books and she never disappoints. I believe she is one of my favorite Amish fiction writers.

The stories are full of amazing detail and you can tell that she has researched topics before writing the book.

In A Long Bridge Home, we have Christine and Andy who are courting, but they both have issues they need to resolve. Surrounding this is a wildfire that destroys their community and they are forced to live apart.

While Andy is dealing with his past and a hurt that runs deep, Christine is intrigued by the Native American culture and finds herself learning more through an Indian man. This of course, causes more problems.

The book is a beautiful story honoring the Native American culture, as well as the Amish beliefs and is all about Andy and Christine facing their own battles to meet in the middle and find a life together. Beautifully written. Highly recommend.

I received this book from the publisher and Netgalley in return for my review. My opinions are my own.

I truly enjoyed this book! Ms. Irvin put the most wonderful spin on an Amish storyline. I was drawn in immediately with her incredible ability to create a storyline that was not at all what would normally be expected from this genre. To be honest, I've been becoming a bit bored with Amish fiction stories of late, because they are all just so much alike. This story challenged the characters belief systems in a way that few authors have explored, without damaging their faith or families in the process. I loved how Christine and Andy were allowed to explore such deeply emotional challenges which made them truly have to listen and work to understand each other before fully committing to each other in marriage. Many times, I found myself utterly frustrated that Christines family was upset with her for wanting to understand other cultures around her. I know quite a bit about the Amish ways, and do understand much of why they responded the way they did. However, I still struggled with my own emotions as the two cultures collided.

This was a truly beautifully written story. I will absolutely be seeking out more works from this author!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Zondervan Fiction through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A Long Bridge Home, book two from Kelly Irvin's Amish of Big Sky Country series, was a pretty good read. I enjoyed it and am giving it four and a half stars. I recommend it for readers who enjoy a good, clean Amish story.

I have never read a bad Kelly Irvin book and A Long Bridge Home does not disappoint. The characters are well developed and the story is well written. I read every word sand an so glad I did. Its a very good book and I recommend it.

This was a very good romance from page one. I learned a lot from this book via Raymond Old Fox. It was very interesting and atmospheric.
Many thanks to Zondervan Fiction and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I received this copy through netgalley.
I alway's love Kelly's book's.
When I'm in a bad mood.I pick up one of Kelly's book's and I always get in a better mood. A Long Bridge Home, is so A wonderful good story, I'm so happy I got the opportunity to read it! can not wait for the next book's of Kelly's..

The author has delivered another great read. A Long Bridge Home is well written with well developed characters. I received an arc from the publisher and Netgalley and this is my unbiased review.

As always, Kelly Irvin gives her best and it shows in her latest, A Long Bridge Home. The story is the second in her Amish of Big Sky Country series, set in Montana. The first focused on the story of Mercy and Caleb, while this one is about Mercy's friend Christine and her special friend, Andy. Although he hasn't proposed, Christine is sure that Andy will do so soon. However, when fire forces them all out of their home, things seem to go from bad to worse. Not only have they had to evacuate, but her family is moving back to Kansas. Christine's parents allow her to stay with her aunt and uncle and work in their store, where she meets a native Indian named Raymond Old Fox. As they get to know more about each other and their respective cultures, Christine finds that she is drawn to what he teaches her. However, her family doesn't understand this fascination, nor does Andy. Andy, also, has to make peace with his past and personal tragedy before he can propose to her, which confuses her even more. Will the two of them be able to meet in the middle and work things out? I truly enjoyed this story and can't wait for the last one, which is the story of their third friend, Nora. I love Kelly Irvin's books and this one is no exception. You should definitely give her a try! I received a free copy of this story from NetGalley for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

A Long Bridge Home is yet another masterpiece by Kelly Irvin! And in this beautiful novel, Irvin shares a story of an unlikely friendship- Christine Mast, from an old Order Amish family in Montana, and Raymond Old Fox, from a native American tribe in the town where she has evacuated to after a devastating wildfire ruins her home.
Christine is staying with her aunt and uncle and helping in their store, as she wishes to stay close to her boyfriend working a few towns away at his family's. She becomes acquainted with Raymond when he visits the store. Christine's curiosity about Raymond's spiritual beliefs and the Native American ways cause deep concern to her Amish family, who attempt to forbid her to spend time with Raymond. A Long Bridge Home can be best described as a journey of soul searching for Christine, as well as for Raymond, and for Christine's boyfriend Andy- as Andy must reconcile past arguments in his family before he can look to a future with Christine. It is most definitely a multi-faceted story that I highly recommend.

I really enjoy these quick reads. They make my heart happy and restores my faith in society. I enjoy how i can get deep into the story and also learn something new about myself and my thinking or my beliefs. I have recommended Kelly Irvin to many people who need a pick me up about life.

This is a well written book that hooks you on the first page. The author's words brings the book to life, it plays out like a movie in your mind. I personally recommend you read book one Mountains of Grace first so you will have all the background information about the fire. Once you start reading you can't stop, you just have to know what happens next. Thank you Zondervan Fiction via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this wonderful book. All opinions expressed are my own.

The second in the Amish in Big Sky series, I would encourage readers to read Mountains of Grace first. I felt readers needed a little more background of the fire, and the characters before going forward with the start of this story. Christine's friendship with Raymond seemed unrealistic. Learning about the Native American culture was interesting but not what I expected in Amish fiction.