This was a first for me. Reading about the deaf culture within the Amish community. It tackled topics I hadn’t expected including cochlear implants, surgery, treatment and the struggle they have to accept God’s will even in their culture. Additionally, the worries that Gabe had about a future with Esther were very realistic and would be faced by anyone in a similar situation. These topics were handled with much Grace from the author.

I enjoyed the relationship between Esther and her sisters as well as Gabe and his brothers.

This is an Amish Fiction/Clean Romance, and this is the 5th book in the North Country Amish series. This is about a step-mother and her step-daughters went to stay with her family, so maybe her step-daughters would find a husband. Her step-daughters are deaf. I am not sure if the deaf parts are who Deaf Amish people are because I have never meet a totally deaf person or an Amish person. I have to say I will loved this book. The characters where fun and made the book worth reading. The storyline/plot was fun and very well done. The romance both the two main characters was fun and slow moving went I really enjoyed. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Love Inspired) or author (Patricia Davids) via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review about how I feel about this book, and I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

Sorry, I did not get to read this book due to the date clashing with my final weeks of thesis work. Looks interesting so I will keep an eye out for the book.

Who are Gabe and Esther? Where are they? What does each do for a living? How do they know one another? Who is Waneta? Who is she kin to? Who are Zeke, Seth, Asher, and Moses? The relationships between them are interesting. Who are Jonah, Julia, Pamela, and Nancy? WHat do we learn about Esther? Why do she and Waneta not get along? Who is Barnabas? What not nice thing did he do at Christmas and to whom? What does Esther do the next morning after arriving in town? Why does Esther not want to go home after just arriving? The conversation the next morning between Gabe andJonah about Esther was interesting. I found myself really disliking Waneta. At about 80% of the way, instead of smiling and laughing, I was ready to cry. By 90%, I was smiling and laughing again and my opinion of Waneta started to change. Enjoy the story! I did.

What a beautiful story! I loved the character of Esther in this book. She’s struggling with being “different” from others in her Amish community because of her deafness. She has determined that she will only marry an Amish man who is also deaf, because she wants to be loved and accepted for who she is, and not an object of pity. But when she meets Gabe, she begins to hope that she’s found someone who will cherish her and not consider her deafness a major flaw.

The author did a great job of allowing us to see Esther’s struggle from a deaf person’s point of view. She brought out the importance of acknowledging the sovereignty of God in each individual’s life and the need for us to open our hears and minds to His leading. Patricia Davids is a wonderful author, and I always look forward to reading her books.

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

A matchmaking scheme appears doomed from the start for a man who has been burned in the past and wants to focus on his work and a woman from the Deaf community who thinks only a Deaf man can love her. But, love does have a way of things and I was eager to see them win each other over.

Someone to Trust is the fifth in the North Country Amish series, but it is a loose connection and worked fine standalone for me.

Gabe Fischer receives the news that their family is about to welcome his mother's cousin and her stepchildren with reservations. He knows full well that his mother would love to see him and his three brothers married and giving her grandchildren. His brothers might welcome this with his blessing, but Gabe just wants to be left alone to build up his leather business that he hopes will bolster the family buggy and cart making business and keep his brothers from having to take factory jobs. He tried love once and the woman used him to make her real love jealous. But, his resolve doesn't last much further than a life-saving rescue of a pretty, talented woman who happens to be deaf.

Esther Burkholder is on this trip to Maine under silent protest. Wanetta has never liked her and always thought Esther was faking her hardships to hear and lip-read and it is just stubbornness. Wanetta is set on seeing Esther and her three sisters wed, but Esther wants nothing to do with the scheme. She cared deeply for a hearing man once before and he only wanted her when he thought she could be fixed. No, it is best she remain single and work at the Deaf School or find a Deaf man who values a Deaf wife. She is relieved when Gabe is willing to be friends and no more and he wants and prizes her help. He champions her to Wanetta and her own family to value her differences and not shut her out. She is made welcome in the Amish community there and thrills at the wild beauty around the farm and Gabe's shared interest in that. Slowly she opens up to new possibilities, but, in the end, can she trust a man who is not Deaf to love her as she is?

This was a tender, heartwarming story and I thought the detailing of Amish lifestyle and the Deaf community was done amazingly well. The characters of Gabe and Esther were engaging from the start. They had issues of their own to work through and had to cross a divide to understand each other. This was developed nicely in their slowburn romance. I fell in love with the woodsy beauty of the setting and wished I could sketch wildflowers and birds like Esther.

The romance was at the center, but family as well as the need to get Gabe's business up and running were also big elements in the plot. I liked how it was portrayed that Esther and her family had to grow together after letting her Deafness separate them on both sides. Gabe and his family were fun and sweet together including his huge and lovable draft horses that wore his dazzling parade harnesses when they went to town.

All in all, it was tender and gentle with a lovely heartwarming romance at the core. I liked the author's writing style and story/character development so I definitely want to get more and hope to read the earlier stories in this series. Those who enjoy Amish romance or like the idea of a Deaf heroine represented should definitely give this a go.

I don't read a lot of Amish romance or even inspirational fiction these days, but this one really hit the spot - so much so that I'm thinking I need to remedy that lack of the genre in my TBR. Someone to Trust is the fifth book in the North Country Amish series, but it can totally be read as a standalone. That said, there are some wonderful characters, both primary and secondary, that will make you want more of the series. This book gives us Gabe and Esther, and they are just too darned adorable together. Both characters are lovable and the couple is one you can't help but root for. I liked the way Patricia Davids handled Esther being deaf, including Gabe's determination to learn to communicate with her as well as making things easier for her whenever possible. The whole story comes together wonderfully and it's one of those that leaves you with a smile - something that is much needed in this current stressful and chaotic world.

Esther is far from thrilled about her stepmother's grand matchmaking trip, deaf from the age of ten, she believes that a hearing man would be at all interested in her.

A heartwarming story, I loved Esther from the beginning, and I liked the insights that this book brought into the complications of a non-hearing person living among the Amish. I admired how she didn't let the obstacles hold her back.

Gabe is a fantastic hero, he is kind and thoughtful, he takes the time to make sure that Esther feels included. He isn't a fan of his cousins grand matchmaking schemes, but he is clever, he captured my heart with his thoughtfulness.

Overall, this is a well written read with a full cast of characters, humorous moments, and faith. I loved how the author brought the difference dynamics of the family to life, with strong dialogue, and great interaction, but my favorite part was this book's inspiring heroine. Heartwarming story, with great characters, this is Amish fiction at its best!

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

Gabe Fischer is living on his families farm and struggling to help his family stay afloat. The last thing he needs is a meddling relative coming to visit with her stepdaughters trying to play matchmaker with him and his brothers.

Esther Burkholder wants nothing to do with her stepmothers attempts at matchmaking and would have rather stayed home and continued her teaching job at a school for the deaf. Esther has been deaf from a child and has always felt like an outsider in her family.

When Gabe rescues Esther, neither of them are looking for love, but decide to be friends. When Esther starts helping Gabe with his leather business, something sparks between the two of them and maybe love is in their future after all.

I really enjoyed this novel by Patricia Davids. I not only loved learning about the Amish traditions and way of life, but the characters and supporting characters were so beautifully written, I was drawn right into the story of the Amish countryside. Thank you so much to the author Patricia Davids, Harlequin Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced copy of the book to review. It was heartwarming. All opinions expressed for this review are unbiased and entirely my own.

Matchmaking is as old as time. When Esther Burkholder's stepmother brings her and her stepsisters to visit an Amish community in Maine, it is with the very attempt to get the girls married off to the Fischer brothers. There is no doubt in Esther's mind from the very start that Gabe Fischer is a wonderful, kind and handsome man. But, there is one problem, and a major one at that as far as Becca is concerned. She is deaf and Gabe is not. Due to a previously heartbreaking experience, Becca has determined that when she chooses to marry it would have to be to a deaf man.

Becca and Gabe meet when one day he sees her about to get struck by a car. He doesn't realize at that time that she could not possible have heard the car approaching. In saving her, Gabe inures his arm. Since Becca and her family are staying with Gabe's family, she ends up assisting him at his leather goods shop. The two spend a lot of time together and even though feelings begin to grow between them, Becca is determined not to fall for a hearing man.

This sensitive story had my attention from the very start. It was impossible not to fall in love with the characters, but especially Becca. She wore her heart on her sleeve and was a remarkable young woman. Gabe was also pretty wonderful. His kindness showed through and I loved watching this pair find their way towards everlasting love.

Amish fiction is truly one of my favorite genres. I love the easygoing stories, the slow burning romances and the warm feeling that accompanies every book I have read in this genre thus far. This series by Patricia Davids is very sweet, as is everything that I have read by her thus far.

Many thanks to Love Inspired and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

Someone to Trust by Patricia Davids is a cute Amish novel. Wanetta Burkholder has married into a family with four daughters of marriageable age and she knows her cousin in Maine has four bachelor sons. The two women decide that Wanetta and her step-children should visit which gives them the chance to do a little matchmaking. Gabe Fisher is too busy working to have time to court and Esther Burkholder, who is deaf, does not want a hearing husband. The matchmaking venture seems doomed from the start. I enjoyed this engaging Amish novel. It is the 4th book in North Country Amish, but it can be read as a standalone. I thought Someone to Trust was well-written with steady pacing. I liked the characters especially Gabe and Esther. An Amish deaf woman is a unique concept. I like how the author dealt with the topic of deafness. Esther was a strong character who did not let her deafness keep her from enjoying life. She lived a full life with a job she loved, good friends, and special talents (sketching and sewing). Esther is also a smart woman who came up with some great ideas for helping Gabe’s leatherworking business. Faith and God are beautifully incorporated into the story. It is wonderful that the Amish view children with disabilities as gifts from God. There were some sweet, tender moments in the story along with some humorous ones. Jonah, Esther’s younger brother, provided some of the amusing ones. He is an honest little fellow. It was interesting learning about the leatherworking trade. This is my favorite book by Patricia Davids. Someone to Trust is a heartwarming Amish tale with matchmaking mamas, fetching flowers, stunning sketches, wandering walks, a woman satisfied with self, a compassionate man, and surprising romance.

SOMEONE TO TRUST is the fifth book in the NORTH COUNTRY AMISH series, which is set in Maine. It held my interest from the first page to the last and had both Amish and Englisch Deaf characters. The story flows nicely, setting a quick pace with matchmaking at its core. When family travel from Ohio to Maine with their stepmother’s intent to marry off the four girls, Gabe and his brothers aren’t too keen with the idea. (Esther’s family is traveling from Ohio to visit Gabe’s family in Maine.)

There is a depth to Esther, who is deaf but often feels left on the sidelines when her siblings go off on their own at social gatherings. When the van Esther and her family are traveling in breaks down on the side of the road, Esther wanders into the road to see a moose near a body of water. Being deaf, she doesn’t hear a truck barreling down on her, and Gabe saves her life. They form an immediate connection.

Gabe and Esther have a lot in common, and she’s a huge help with his leather business—Esther knows how to sew and is artistic enough to help with design. Esther has a good head on her shoulders, and they work well with each other although communication at times presents a barrier to understanding. Gabe tries his best to be able to speak with her and also gets others to include her. It’s heartwarming to see since he goes above and beyond what others have done for her, including her own family.

I liked the familial connections as well as the friendships and the attention to detail in how both Esther and Gabe feel when they have misunderstandings. The couple spend a lot of time outdoors together doing what they both individually love—bird-watching for him and sketching flowers for her.

Ms. Davids’ scenic descriptions paint a vivid picture of the countryside. The Amish interactions with most of the Englischers is very positive, and I liked how they embraced Esther and her deafness even though she’s Amish. The story has a wonderful romance enhanced by the many Amish references throughout the pages. The love story wraps up nicely, especially with the epilogue.

Ms. Davids is a new-to-me author. I look forward to reading more of her books and have added some to my TBR pile since Amish fiction is one of the genres I enjoy reading.

I rated the book 4.5 stars but rounded to 5 stars here and on other sites.

An uplifting, inspiring, and entertaining tale of acceptance, family, falling in love and finding your partner. This story made me smile with its pure and sweet turns of the tale.
There is something to be said about the Amish entrepenual skills and determination to succeed. The way the whole crew works together for the good of the family is admirable.
I loved the natural and authentic connection between Esther and Gabe. They were like the two parts of one as they worked together, with their interests, and skills. Their desire to better their communication, Gabe's determination to learn sign language, and the research he did to possibly make Esther's life easier were endearing. They talked about the problems they faced, they apologized when needed, they forgave any crossings, and learned from their mistakes.
An inspiring, endearing, and captivating sweet tale of love filled with delightful romance and informing bits of life and challenges a deaf person faces. Life lessons that can be learned from, gaining an understanding that can be extended to also those who do not fluently understand the language spoken around them.
~ Four Spoons with a teaspoon on the side

I loved this book, I couldn't put it down. I enjoyed how the subject of hearing loss was addressed in this book. Not just for the Amish but everyone.

I highly recommend this book you will enjoy a nice clean read.

Thank you netgalley and harlequin for allowing me to read this title for an honest review.

I was excited to read this book and I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked. Someone to Trust by Patricia Davids was a wonderful book. Esther Brukholder was such a cool character. She had been deaf from a young age and she was positive that a hearing man wouldn’t understand. However Gabe Fischer is handsome, hardworking, and brave. And he seems to actually see Esther and not just deaf girl. Could this Amish bachelor be the one who steals her heart?
It was interesting to read a deaf Amish character. I have never quite read a book like this. I liked reading about Esther and Gabe as they fell in love. However there were obstacles standing in their way. Esther believed that a hearing man would never truly understand her and Gabe wasn’t looking for love. Esther was so strong. She did not let her deafness define her, but she was also proud of her deafness. I felt like it was a fine balance. However I am not deaf so I don't really know anything on this subject.
I thought that Gabe was super nice. He loved his family and he was just doing his best to help them. I really enjoyed reading about his interaction with Esther. It was super sweet to read about them together. He cared about her from the beginning and it grew to love. However he would have to learn what it means for Esther to be deaf and how it would affect him.
Someone to Trust was a sweet and easy read. I liked the characters and I was drawn to the story. I would recommend it. Someone to Trust is a sweet, clean, Amish Love Inspired book.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher through Netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion, a positive review was not required.


I posted my review on Goodreads, Bookbub, and Barnes and Nobles on 01/21/21. I will post my review on Amazon on 01/26/21 and on my blog closer to release day

This is the fifth book in this series, and yes I have enjoyed them all, but this definitely can be read alone.

What a treat we are given a relatively new step-mother that is plotting with her cousin and becoming hopefully a matchmaker. Her cousin has marriageable age sons and she has these new daughters that need husbands, they have a solution.

We are there as these young couples meet and go about their everyday life, along with some picnics, and bird watching.

One of the girls is deaf, and it is hereditary, and she is sure not interested in finding a husband, but she is a talented artist and seamstress, and one of the boys sure needs help.

I so enjoyed this story, and loved how it highlighted a disability, but showed an everyday person, and we see how she struggles, but gives her all.

Will there be any matches? You will find out by the end of this read!

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

This is a fun little Amish story with unusual themes that I loved.

Recommend: For fans of Amish fiction, Christian fiction, and books with ASL.

What a sweet Amish romance! Gabe works in the family business but he also wants to help out their finances with his leather working business. He is a very talented harness and key ring maker, but meeting artistic and creative Esther Burkholder changes what he makes and opens his eyes to the possibility of finding love. The one challenge is that Esther is Deaf and does not want to try to use a hearing aid. She wants people to accept her just as she is. Gabe has many obstacles to overcome in order to discover what his heart really wants. I sincerely enjoyed this story, especially learning more about the Deaf in the Amish community. Because my daughter has a really good friend who is Deaf, this book meant a lot to me, to see Esther accepted into the hearing world and able to use her God-given talents usefully. I enjoyed the plot, the conflicts and the characters with all of their flaws and strengths. I felt like each one was in front of me, getting to know each other as I got to know them. The totally clean read was expected since the book is a Love Inspired tale, and this one as particularly enjoyable because of the Amish aspect. I really enjoy finding out more about the Amish lifestyle and how important family is to them. I learned a lot from this book, both about the Amish and about the Deaf. Kudos to the author for a well-researched and enjoyable book!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harlequin via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

I'm giving this book 5 stars because I enjoyed it.
I think that what I liked best about this book was I learned a few things.
The author has pulled off a great story and the characters seem real.
I also like how some of their feelings came out loud and clear to me from the book.
Being deaf I'm sure is frustrating. I know it would be for me. But I think a certain young lady in this story handled it very well.
I will be wondering if you will recognize the story for what it represented like I did. It didn't take me long to notice.
I still enjoyed the book just because I love Amish fiction.
The Amish are a very interesting people. I love the way they are a community and help one another, Their simple lifestyle.
And their cooking is so very gut!
Every time I read an Amish novel I can smell the food! So appetising!
I recommend this book.
The hardest thing in my opinion is Trust. It is a fragile thing. I think you have to at least try anyway.
Not everyone is the same. I'm also pretty sure that all men don't like to be lumped into the same category either.
My thanks to Harlequin for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.