This one is a did not finish for me at this time, I'm sorry. However the description of Maryland, I grew up in Southern Maryland and that description is right on!

The reason I'm not finishing the book is that I am no longer reviewing Amish fiction at this time and Samuel's Return though well written is not told in my favorite writing style.

I received the book from netgalley for my honest review. I love Amish stories. I have never read a book from this author before, but I just love this book. The story of love, forgiveness, and courage. This was an enjoyable book. I will be looking for more books from Susan to read.

Such a sweet story of love, friendship and community. I loved the characters ❤️ Sweet couple and gives the chance at love again. This is full of great themes such as love and forgiveness as well.

I have read a few previous books from Susan Lantz Simpson's The Amish of Southern Maryland series, and was excited to read the newest addition, Samuel's Return. I liked it and am giving four stars.

I loved both of the main characters in this sweet and clean Amish romance. Lena and Samuel’s teenage romance ended in an unexpected way, but both moved on with their lives. Lena is now a widow with three children and a farm to try to mange on her own. Samuel has never married, but has finally returned to his beloved Amish community in Maryland. Samuel’s heart still belongs to Lena, but he realizes that he needs to build Lena’s trust in him again. I enjoyed reading their story and seeing Samuel’s attempts at winning Lena’s heart again. The author did a nice job of allowing us to get to know these characters and that added depth to the book. Susan Lantz Simpson understands the Amish way of life and does a wonderful job of conveying that to the reader.

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

Samuel’s Return by Susan Lantz Simpson is the 6th novel in The Amish of Southern Maryland series. It can be read as a standalone. The book has good writing with relatable characters. The book moved along at a steady pace for the most part. There were a couple of slow sections in the middle. I thought Lena’s girls were delightful. They were such sweethearts. I cannot imagine, though, asking a four-year-old to watch after two younger siblings. I see a lot of responsibility in Mary’s future. I loved that we get to see Becky Zook (from The Reconciliation) get married and have her baby. Becky certainly deserves a happy ending as well as Atlee. Bishop Menno was a great character. He is the kind of bishop a community needs (kind, sympathetic, watchful, clever, good sense of humor). I loved his reaction to Sarah and her pies. There is humor scattered throughout that I enjoyed. I laughed often while reading Samuel’s Return. I did find Lena frustrating at times. The way she refused to listen to Samuel and kept running from him. I thought Lena acted immature considering she is a widow with three children (what type of example is she setting for her eldest who is very observant). I also found the story to be predictable. Samuel trying to woo Lena and Lena avoiding Samuel makes for a long book. Plus, we know everything our characters are thinking and feeling. I felt the book needed something else to give it more depth and substance. Samuel’s Return is a sweet Amish tale. I did feel it could have been shortened. Some of the themes in Samuel’s Return are trust, forgiveness, shame, hope, and faith. Another one is trusting God. My favorite phrase from Samuel’s Return is, “People kumm in all shapes and sizes. The Lord Gott made and loves us all.” Samuel’s Return is a charming Amish tale with children’s clatter and chatter, a frolic with friends, a benevolent bishop, pitiful pies, strong storms, and a lasting love.

This is the sixth book in the Amish of Southern Maryland series. Though I have read all of the books in the series I do believe the story can be read as a stand alone.
The story is sweet but filled with a whole range of emotions.
Young widowed mother Lena had a first love with Samuel when they were teens, he moved away and they lost touch. Oh he said they would keep in touch, would write letters, etc. but it just didn't happen.
Heartbroken she knew it was time to move on and she marries and becomes the mother of three very young children and is now widowed.
When Samuel returns to town her emotions go into a tailspin. She's still interested in him but she's mad at him for not keeping in contact at the same time.
Lena is a wonderful mother and her children always come first in any situation.
Samuel has a secret, a secret he's ashamed of and it's the reason he had to move away from her when he was younger. He's back now and knows he's doing everything he can to make her trust him again but secrets do have a way of coming to the forefront.
Will she be understanding when she hears his explanation?
This is a wonderful and heartwarming series and I have enjoyed every book in it.

Review on my blog here https://veganbookblogger.wordpress.co...
Pub Date 27 Apr 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Here is another novel, in Susan Lantz SImpson's series, "The Amish of Maryland". A favorite author of mine, I thoroughly enjoyed this latest novel, centering around perceived deception and forgiveness. Because this is a series, and although not mandatory, it helps to read the books in order. It gives a better background to the characters, in each novel.

What could have been, was not to be and ten years has passed since Lena Troyer had seen her former beau, Samuel Mast. The years have changed many things and many people. Lena is now a widow, with three small children. Thankful for her friend, Becky who moved in and helped Lena weather her storms but the storm still has it's waves. Becky is soon to get married and Lena will be on her own, with three small children to raise and a farm to run.

Samuel Mast left their Maryland community....not by choice but because he had to obey his parents wishes. Although he wrote to Lena, he never got a reply. Misguided assumptions, on both, sides make the turns in the road ahead sharp and twisted.

Lena does not trust Samuel and Samuel must decide if it is worth the pain of rejection, to keep on trying to win Lena's heart.

Sit back, get a nice drink, a warm blanket and a fragrant candle.....enter the pages of this book and enjoy the trip you are about to take....I did!!

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.

3.5 stars

Another Amish book. It was a good read with good characters, sweet babies, some funny scenes and some drama, second chances and longing.
It had everything to be highly rated except there was a something that was missing... or rather not very much was missing - we always know what all the characters are thinking and feel so there’s not that mystery part that makes a reader just wanting one more chapter. On the other hand, there are some secrets that are hinted at from the beginning but don’t live up to all the hype when revealed.
All in all, it’s an entertaining read that didn’t work that well for me.

Samuel’s Return in the sixth book in Susan Lantz Simpson's “The Amish of Southern Maryland” series. This can be read as a stand alone novel, however, I would recommend reading the entire series if you love this book as much as I did. I would recommend this story to everyone.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

This is my first time reading Susan Lantz Simpson. I found her book to be very entertaining and easy to read. The characters are realistic and endearing. You feel the heartbreak of a young widow left with the small children. The young lady that has been helping her is newly married and just beginning her family. Add a new bachelor in the community, who just happens to have been the widow's first love and you have Samuel's Return. Wonderfully written and easily read sweet amish romance.

My thoughts: This is a sweet Amish romance set in Maryland about two young lovers who lost each other and then found each other again. But is it too late? Lena no longer trusts Samuel, and Samuel is afraid to tell her the truth about why he left. And all the other young single girls have their kapps set for Samuel. I enjoyed reading this book and the other books in the series so far and recommend it for fans of Amish fiction. You won't be disappointed. I was given a copy free and all opinions are my own.

Why would Samuel be surprised that Lena had moved on in the ten years that he had been gone? Did he really expect her to think that he would come back, after all that time? Samuel and Lena were just teenagers the last time they saw each other and made promises for a happily-ever-after. So, when Samuel shows up after ten years Lena is shocked to see him, and not very eager to renew their friendship. He left so abruptly that she no longer trusts him, even if it was his parents who made him move all those years ago.
Lena is now a widower with three small children and is thankful that she has her friend Becky to help her with them. However, when Becky marries and moves out, Lena suddenly realizes how lonely the evenings are. But, that doesn't mean that she is ready to get married or renew things with Samuel.
I enjoyed the story, overall, however, there were a few things that bothered me. Lena's complete disregard of what Samuel had been through, and refusing to allow him to explain, was immature. There are quite a few times that Lena acts younger than her 25 years of age. She expects too much of her children for the age they are, no three-year-old should ever be in charge of watching younger children, which is ridiculous. There were quite a few typos, though slightly distracting, did not detract from the overall story. The story was pretty predictable, but still a cute read. The story flowed smoothly and the dialogue was engaging.
Samuel's Return by Susan Lantz Simpson is the sixth book in The Amish of Maryland series. It can easily be read as a standalone novel. I would recommend Samuel's return to those who love stories about the Amish. I would also recommend it to those who love clean romance novels. Fans of Wanda Brunstetter, Loree Lough, Rachel J. Good, and Kelly Long might also enjoy this book.

Samuel Mast has come back to his Amish community in Southern Maryland after 10 years. He left the young girl he so desperately wanted to share a life with. Being only 16, he was to young to marry and had nothing to offer so he went with his family looking forward to the day he would come back. He felt confident that Lena would wait for him but after discovering that his many letters never reached Lena and that she married quickly after her parents died in a terrible accident. Several years later plus 3 young children, she is has suffered another tragedy when her husband suddenly died.

Samuel knows that it won't be easy to win back Lena after so many years. Their experiences and the misunderstandings have changed them. Meeting up again, Samuel sees the girl that he fell in love again but she is more reserved and cautious. With three young children, Lena can't trust Samuel with her heart again. With Samuel proving his love and Lena learning to trust again, they both learn that God can make things new.

A great lesson to learn how trust makes things new. I loved how the story reflected that and how we can overcome fear in love and in trust. Sometimes it's not trusting another but trusting in God and how we can be more like him.

A special thank you to Kensington Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

SAMUEL'S RETURN by Susan Lantz Simpson

Lena Troyer lives in Maryland and is an Amish widow with three young children under the age of four. She has in the past, welcomed Becky, a young Amish woman with a complicated past, into their lives. Becky is getting married to Atlee Stouffer soon and her helpful, caring ways will be sorely missed by Lena.

Samuel Mast has a definitive history with Lena Troyer, when they were children, they had pledged themselves to each other and had plans to marry as soon as they would be allowed. Unfortunately, Samuel's father was against this, for his own personal reasons and soon moved their family to parts of the nation, far from Samuel's sweetheart.

Lena is shocked when Samuel returned. She had already made peace (she thought) with herself with the love that she lost when Samuel was forced to move away. He had said he'd return for her, but it took him ten years to fulfill that vow. She is forced to be honest with herself and acknowledge that she still loves Samuel and has to decide what to do about that while protecting her three adorable cherubs.

Samuel loves Lena more than ever, he also loves her captivating children, because they are a part of her. He simply needs to be able to survive the heartache of her constantly pushing him away, because of her being hurt by his long absence.

Highly recommend. Genre: Christian, Amish, romance, standalone, and part of a series.

Sincere thanks to #netgalley for the complimentary copy of #samuelsreturn I was under no obligation to post a review.

This is the 6th book in “The Amish of Southern Maryland” series. As with the previous books in the series, I feel that Samuel’s Return can be read as a standalone. Though I do recommend reading all the books as they are so amazingly sweet and heartwarming.
I enjoy Amish stories as they are a refreshing change from my normal reads.
Lena is the main character, a widow with 3 young children. As a teenager she was in love with Samuel who ended up moving away and didn’t keep in contact with her. Samuel has his reasons for the loss of contact but getting Lena to listen to him is not easy.
Can Samuel get Lena to trust him again?
I had so many different emotions reading this story......I cried and I laughed. Full of love, forgiveness and taking the steps toward a second chance in life.
Author Susan Lantz Simpson writes in a way that you are drawn into the story along the with the characters.
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own.

Samuel’s Return in the sixth book “The Amish of Southern Maryland” series. This can be read as a stand alone novel. However, after reading this book, I want to go back and read the entire series. This was a sweet and loving story. Samuel moved away ten years ago. Lena was heartbroken, but got married and had three children. Now Samuel is back and wants to reconnect.
This is an amazing story about love, forgiveness and second chances. I would recommend this story to everyone.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Zebra Books through NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Samuel’s Return is a well written Amish romance. Good plot and character development. I recommend this book.

First, let me say that although this is book six in The Amish of Southern Maryland series, you can read it as a standalone. I haven’t read the other five books and had no trouble following what was happening. I do plan on going back and reading the rest simply because I thoroughly enjoyed this one.

We often think of the Amish communities in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Indiana so I really enjoyed reading about the Amish in Maryland. Author Susan Lantz Simpson did a good job of putting the reader right in the community, describing the countryside and the people.

A story of ups and downs, love lost and found, shame and forgiveness, the thread of hope was woven throughout. Put three adorable children into the story and it becomes extra heartwarming. My only complaint was how it wrapped up; we never learned how the rival reacted. I would have liked that loophole to be closed. But that was a minor detail given that the story itself was very enjoyable and I highly recommend it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.

This is a well written book that hooks you on the first page. It's a sweet second chance romance that will keep you turning the pages to see what happens next. This is a beautiful heartwarming story that you don't want to miss. Thank you Kensington Books--Zebra via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.