A wish for home By: Jo Ann Brown is book 1 in the Secrets of Bliss Valley series. This is also the kick off of the Love Inspired Trade publishing. Love Inspired has now expanded to expanded paperback publishing. These fuller length novels will include romantic suspense, historical fiction, historical romance, Amish Fiction and Contemporary Women's Fiction. This is the first book that I have read by Jo Ann Brown.

In this story, we will meet Lauren Nolt. Lauren has been hurt by the Amish community when they shunned her parents. She has really tried to be successful so that she can give her parents the life she thinks they deserve. Part of her pain came from Adam Hershberger. He used to bully her when she was a child. However, now he is a widow. Adam has struggled with what he has done to Lauren in the past. Running into Lauren at this stage of his life has caused him to do some soul searching. He has had a difficult time also. He is now risking losing his family farm - he realizes that Lauren may be the only one that can help.

Sticking with the original love inspired, this book has a faith filled message woven into it. This story is one of forgiveness, grace and second chances. Adam's daughter will win over your heart.

I received a copy of this book through the Publisher and JustRead Publicity Tours -- all thoughts are my own.

Jo Ann Brown is a new author to me and after reading this book, I am looking forward to the next book by her. In A Wish For Home, Lauren is unwillingly detained in her old hometown when her car is damaged and needs repairs as she is traveling through. This book is about her coming to grips with her anger and bitterness toward the Amish community that shunned her parents and especially toward Adam, an extraordinarily handsome man who had bullied her when she was a teenage girl. I love a good second chances/enemies to lovers story and this book, with its many twists and turns, kept me guessing and turning pages well into the night. I enjoyed it and recommend it! I received a complimentary copy of this book and this voluntary review contains my honest opinions.

A Wish for Home is a beautiful Amish romance that made for a perfect stay at home read for me. Amish romance genre is a favorite of mine.
Wonderful storyline with likeable characters. Throw in a rekindling of a long ago romance and you get a truly feel good read.
If you enjoy contemporary, Amish fiction, you need to read A Wish for Home.
Jo Ann Brown is a new author to me and I hope to read more from her. This is the first book in a new series. I very much look forward to reading more in the Secrets of Bliss Valley series.
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.

The characters in #AWishforHome are so relatable. Their struggles with love, faith, trust, and forgiveness pull the reader in and keep you involved. #NetGalley

Great characters with interesting backstories and realistic dialogue, plus a wonderful plot and romance made this a joy to read.

I loved that the little bit of mystery and suspense wasn't long enough to cause anxiety, but long enough to add anther layer of interest.

Who is Lauren? Where does she find herself on a stormy, spring night? Why? What phone call does she get from her mother that rocks her world? What and where is Bliss Valley? Who is Adam? What happens when he recognizes Lauren? How does he recognize her? Who is Sylvia? What does Lauren do for a living? Who are Mary Beth, Simon, Ephrain, and Dale? What do we learn about Ephrain's health? Who is Naomi? What secrets have been kept form Lauren? What is going on with all the fires? Who or what does Adam suspect is behind them? I was floored when I read what was really happening and why! Read and enjoy!

I actually didn't think I'd have time to read this book, but I'm sure glad I did! Amish novels always seem to refresh my reading palette. There's just something about them that draw me in!

Having never read any books by Jo Ann Brown and not really having read a lot of Amish, I was really impressed by this author. I felt like I was transported to Bliss Valley... in Ringo! I'll tell you what, this should definitely be a Hallmark movie! It had everything you would expect and more. Actually, it would be on the Movies & Mysteries channel.

I was actually surprised at some of the twists and turns in the story. There's definitely a couple of mysteries that need to be solved and it sure doesn't seem like Lauren is up to it once she ends up in the town her family fled from years ago. It was easy to imagine how uncomfortable it would be to immediately run into the person who made your life miserable as a teen. You could've cut the tension with a butter knife. Lauren has a job that she's protecting from another woman who would like to grab the promotion she's hoping for on top of important meeting she has to oversee. Wouldn't you know, those meetings are ones Adam is utterly against!

While I really loved the main characters, I thoroughly enjoyed the secondary characters of Lauren's great-aenti Sylvia and Grossdawdi Ephraim. They were seriously adorable, especially when they were together. We can't forget Adam's daughter Mary Beth. Now that was a little girl with a lot of spunk!

The main aspect of this story, the fact that people can and do change, and are we willing to offer forgiveness really resonated with me. Like the scripture says, "When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me." Of course, a couple of the characters made choices as adults that made it hard to see how forgiveness would come soon or easily.

Now, you might not expect a "fan yourself" moment in an Amish novel, but lemme tell you, there's one in here that will knock your socks off. I was like, "Now this is a kissing scene!" It was just sweet and powerful, but unexpected. hahahaha

Thoroughly enjoyed the story and am looking forward to more. I do have some questions lingering from this book, so I may have to reach out to the author to see if there might be a follow up story! :)

Second chances...New Beginnings...

I love the idea of being able to right a past wrong, bless someone else, and be blessed myself with a change of heart and a new beginning. Sometimes second chances come from a place that you didn't see yourself ending up, yet you blink and you're there, the opportunity hitting you in the face.

That's where we find Lauren, a woman that was taken out of the Amish community by her parents at a young age, and who fights forgiveness when it comes to the Lancaster community shunning her parents, three boys that had been in her Amish class that picked on her mercilessly, and her parents for keeping an enormous secret from her.

Instead of focusing on all the pain that permeates her heart, Lauren throws herself into her work, which is why she ends up stranded in Lancaster and face-t0-face with one of her former tormentors, Adam.

Adam isn't the same boy that Lauren once knew. Now grown, he has had his fair share of heartache, and when he reconnects with Lauren he begins to realize a lot about himself and the pain he caused his old schoolmate. I know that Lauren might not have liked him, but I sure did! It takes a real man to look inside himself and find his faults. Adam is a character with a heart of gold, a man strong in character, and is an incredibly hard worker. Lauren's character was one that I felt sympathy for, but at the same time I had hard time connecting to her, despite really wanting to.

The dynamic between Lauren and Adam is unmistakeable, and of course takes center stage, but what really captivated me were the moments with Adam and his young daughter and his cousins and great-grandfather. The pressure that Adam is under is crushing, but Lauren coming back into his life is a true blessing, and that makes me happy. I also loved Lauren's Mennonite aunt. So charming and witty!

A Wish for Home does have a slower start, but trust me you want to stick with it until the end. I love that the focus isn't all on romance, but rather on relationships, second chances and forgiveness; fresh starts and new beginnings. The author did a great job on adding a hint of mystery, which was enticing, and with satisfying writing, A Wish for Home was quite an enjoyable read, and I hope this sweet series continues!

A Wish for Home by Jo Ann Brown is the first book in Secrets of Bliss Valley series. I have read several of Jo Ann Brown’s books, and I have enjoyed each one of them. I thought A Wish for Home was well-written with relatable characters. A Wish for Home is more than “a girl-and-boy who dislike each other and later realize they are in love” story. Someone is setting fires in Bliss Valley that is causing significant damage as well as costing the Amish a large amount of money to rebuild. Also, Lauren receives some unexpected news from her shunned parents. It turns her world upside down. Sylvia Nolt and Grossdawdi Ephraim are delightful characters as well as Adam’s daughter. They provide humor and sweet moments. I appreciated the epilogue that nicely wrapped up book. My favorite phrase from the story is, “To trust God knows the best path for my life, especially when I don’t have the slightest idea what it is.” I am eager to read the next Secrets of Bliss Valley novel. A Wish for Home is a charming Amish tale with a mischievous moppet, a grumbling grossdawdi, an astute aunt, surprising secrets, a cunning cousin, and baffling fires.

I do love a good Amish story, and A Wish for Home grabbed ahold of me and wouldn’t let go until I reached the last page. Lauren and Adam’s story was one of redemption and second chances, letting go of old hurts and forming new memories.

From the very beginning, I was drawn into Lauren’s story of an Amish upbringing. Lauren’s parents left the Amish lifestyle when she was a young child, but she was never told the reason why. In the years since, she went to college and became a very successful professional who came back to Bliss Valley to help in the discussions of a local casino development. If not for a freak spring snowstorm putting her car in the shop, Lauren wouldn’t have landed back at her great aunt’s inn, nor have been roped into helping her run it. She also wouldn’t have run into Adam Hershberger, her childhood tormentor.

There was more to this story than just an English girl coming back into an Amish settlement, and I really don’t want to spoil all the surprises that were scattered all through this book. Lauren’s parents have kept a few secrets from her in her life, two of which had enormous consequences. She had to learn to forgive them while also forgiving Adam for his cruelty towards her when they were in school together. Adam had a secret of his own, and when I realized what it was, my heart broke for him.

Two characters that stole the show were cute little Mary Beth and Lauren’s great aunt Sylvia. Mary Beth’s personality was just the balm that both Lauren and Adam’s hearts needed to mend their past, and her desire to spend time with Lauren drew Adam like a moth to a fly toward her as well. Great aunt Sylvia was a no-nonsense lady who never failed to say exactly what she thought. I loved her for it.

With A Wish for Home being the first book in the new trade paperback line from Harlequin Love Inspired, it looks like great things are in store based on this novel alone. I enjoyed my first opportunity to read something by this author, and will be eager to see what happens next with the characters in the sweet community of Bliss Valley.

Originally reviewed at https://blissbooksandjewels.com/a-wish-for-home-book-review/

A WISH FOR HOME is the very first book I’ve read by Jo Ann Brown but it definitely won’t be the last. I loved this story from the very first page and I’m sure you will too. It is the first book in the Secrets of Bliss Valley series and I’m so excited to continue with the series.

I found myself thinking about Lauren and Adam long after I finished their story. I was totally invested in their lives and was cheering for them the whole time I was reading. Often, I was yelling at Lauren not to make the choices she was making and sometimes I was laughing out loud at the things she was saying. A WISH FOR HOME is filled with love, forgiveness, letting go, and romance. Once I started reading, I couldn’t stop. Jo Ann Brown’s writing held me captive from the very first page until the last page. I can’t wait to read the next book in the Secrets of Bliss Valley series.

A WISH FOR HOME is about Lauren coming home to a place where she used to be part of an Amish community. Its been many years since she lived there and is there to try and get a casino built close by. As secrets are uncovered I was holding my breath, praying everything would work out in the end for Lauren and Adam. Flashbacks to when they were teenagers give the reader a taste of what they were like back then and what they were going through. Brilliant Jo Ann Brown, just brilliant! She made me sad, then the next moment I was smiling and giggling out loud! I’m so excited to continue with this series. You can never go wrong with a Jo Ann Brown book if you are a fan of the Amish genre. A WISH FOR HOME is a heart tugging story that will hold you hostage until the very last page. Once I started this heartwarming story, it was very hard to put down!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from JustRead Publicity Tours. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.

This was an interesting story of forgiveness and redemption. Despite the conflict that existed between the characters, it wasn’t too difficult to root for them and hope that all would work out for them in the end. I liked the cast of characters and their individual quirks. I also liked that it wasn’t all about the romance. I have to admit that I struggled with some of the realism. I’m not sure I could share too much about this without sharing spoilers, but it’s not necessarily that things came too easy, but rather certain events felt unnatural to how they would have unfolded realistically. So there were some likes and dislikes in this one but overall it was an interesting read.

I was excited to have a chance to read this first book in the new and exciting program Harlequin’s Love Inspired imprint is launching a trade fiction program.
I have read many books by Jo Ann Brown over the years through Love Inspired and was excited to have a chance to read her latest.
We all do things we regret in our formative years. Things we'd rather never think of again, things bringing us shame that we'd rather never seeing the light of day again.
An unfortunate mishap caused by an ice storm brings her back from the Englisher world back to her roots in the Amish world.
Unfortunately being in Bliss Valley brings her back in contact with Adam Hershberger. Time has past and he is now a widower with a daughter.
Very realistic as it shows the tension between Lauren and Adam that is rekindled as they spend time together. It was charming seeing the relationship between Lauren and his daughter develop.
A strong focusing on forgiveness and redemption, though we know it's the right thing to do it's not always easy to forgive others.
Delightful first book in the series. I look forward to returning and visiting these characters again.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.

A Wish for Home was an interesting and enjoyable second chance story. English, Amish, and even a local Mennonite community were included in this tale. Right from the beginning of the book, there was tension between the two main characters, Lauren and Adam. They had a childhood history together and it was not a nice one. This led to a strained beginning, which had to be overcome. I liked the way the author handled this. Lauren showed her kind heart with her willingness to forgive Adam and the way she treated his daughter.

I liked that Adam owned up to the fact that he had made many mistakes and had not been a nice person when he was younger. He definitely had reasons behind his behavior, yet he did not hide behind those things. It was clear that he had changed his ways and was no longer the angry teen he used to be.

Lauren had a lot to deal with in this story. She struggled with doubt, hurt, worry, and feelings of betrayal. She also felt displaced and seemed to wish for a home where she felt she could belong, as the title implied. Returning to work near the Amish community she grew up with reminded her of what had been missing in her life for many years.

I really enjoyed this story by this new-to-me author and now look forward to reading more books by her in the future.

I received a complimentary copy of this book.

Jo Ann Brown is a new-to-me author, and I look forward to reading many more of her books. Amish romances are one of my favorite genres, and she didn’t disappoint. A WISH FOR HOME is the first book in the SECRETS OF BLISS VALLEY series. It’s a lovely Amish romance that will leave you wanting more!

Laurene is no longer plain and goes by the name Lauren now that she’s living in the Englisch world. She returns to Bliss Valley unexpectedly when she gets caught in an ice storm and her car is damaged. She’s in the Lancaster area for her job at a PR firm to land an account with a casino developer who wants to build a casino somewhere in Lancaster. She’s also hoping for a promotion because of her hard work. Little does she know that she’ll find comfort being back home. She reconnects with her great aunt and with others in the community her parents fled when she was a teenager, never really giving her a reason. As she embraces Bliss Valley once again, she finds peace even with Adam, her nemesis from her school days who still lives there. We find her straddling both worlds, trying to find out where she belongs since her current life isn’t fulfilling her anymore.

I liked her friendship with Adam and how she was thoughtful and caring to his family, especially his young, motherless daughter. Laurene and Adam have come a long way and are supportive of each other. Besides work, she has a lot going on in her life when her mother drops a bombshell on her about who she really is. There are twists and turns to the story with multiple storylines going on. The author skillfully weaves the many plot lines together. Along with secrets and developing relationships with the townsfolk and God, a budding romance blooms into a happily ever after. There is wonderful closure and hints of what else is to come in future books. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

Review:

A story of forgiveness and second chances.

Lauren returns to her Amish hometown as a Englisher, and of all the people from her past she could run into it's childhood nemesis Adam Hershberger, now a widower with a young daughter.

This book does a great job in bringing the tension between Lauren and Adam out realistically, and I admired them both for making a real effort to move past it. Adam owns up to his mistakes, and is honest about his past, yet he has also come a long way and is a very different person now. His daughter is really cute, and I liked the friendship between her and Lauren.

There are some really fun characters in this book, I especially liked Lauren's Mennonite Aunt, who is very sharp and made her own brave choices in her life. This book has a lot going on, though it was a little slower to start. I liked that it had more going on than a romance, with a strong focus on forgiving and new beginnings, along with a little mystery, and interesting characters. Great for fans of Amish fiction!

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

This is a lovely, contemporary, Amish romance with an added dash of history and intrigue. It is a story which centres on forgiveness – for others and for yourself.

Lauren Nolt grew up in the Amish community of Lancaster County until her parents took her away without explanation, leaving their Amish roots behind to live and work amongst the Englischers. Lauren even went to school and college. Now she’s passing through on her way to an important business meeting with developers but a shocking phone call, a horrendous snowstorm, a major fire and a pothole have other ideas! With her car damaged, she goes to the local garage where she comes face to face with Adam Hershberger, the bully who made her teen years a nightmare she was happy to escape.

With history, regrets, memories and worries about the future, can Lauren forgive Adam for what happened – and can Adam forgive himself? They’ve both changed since they last met but what secrets are they keeping? With the message given in that phone call, everything could be about to change for Lauren but reconnecting with her Aunt and other locals reminds her of her Amish upbringing. Lauren has so many different things to deal with, including how unsettled she’s feeling. Is she truly an Englischer now? With fires, danger, new relations and mystery, will their growing feelings help reconnect them or will they go their different ways again?

The story actually includes characters from the local English, Amish, and local Mennonite communities and is an engaging read. It was a delight to join this community and to meet the characters living there. I’m so happy this is the first book in a new series and look forward to returning to catch up on the happenings there in future.

Thanks to Harlequin and NetGalley for my copy of this book which I have voluntarily read and honestly reviewed.

I was asked by Harlequin to preview this new title by Jo Ann Brown. I have read other Love Inspired books, but this novel is the first novel in a new, longer-length Love Inspired trade fiction program by Harlequin. This was a nice, weekend read and perfect when you want to relax and de-stress.

From the first chapter, there is an unexpected detour and a shocking secret that throws Lauren for a loop. A successful woman in public relations on her way to Lancaster, Pennsylvania. She has prepared for some important meetings that, if successful, could mean a promotion for her. But instead, there are reunions with family and friends from her Amish past, including Adam, who teased and wronged her when they were teens. However, she soon realizes that God has put her in her old hometown of Bliss Valley for a reason, even if it isn’t clear from the start.

This is not the usual “girl-and-boy-hate-each-other-then-realize-they-are-in-love” romance plot. The two main characters reconnect, and their interactions are relatable but not dull. As Lauren deals with the revelation shared by her shunned parents, she relies on her renewed friendship with Adam.

This book had a couple of other storylines that added mystery and other surprising revelations. Overall, it is a sweet, lovely story of forgiveness that also illustrates how God can redeem things in our lives if we allow Him to.

I enjoyed this story, it is really about forgiveness, and there are a lot of surprises that unfold.
Can you go home again? Well, with circumstances from her job and raging snow and ice storm, and a big pot hole, end up bringing Lauren Holt home! To make matters worse her worst nemesis comes to her rescue.
Adam Hershberger a single father raising a four year old daughter, taking care of his aging Great Grandfather, and helping with his orphaned teenage cousins. He also has a small engine repair, and works part time at an auto repair, along with becoming a fire fighter. Talking of fires, there has been an abnormal amount of them lately.
Come and see the love and surprises that open up here. Including where Lauren ends up staying! How Adams’s daughter winds everyone around her thumb, and how Adam deals with all that is on his shoulders.
I am now looking forward to the next book in this series!

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

The Secrets of Bliss Valley series begins with this book. The story wasn't believable in several areas. Mary Beth's verbal skills did not match with her age. The source of the frequent fires was obvious. The reasoning behind Lauren's parent's decision to leave the Amish was not substantial. The story felt disjointed with too many issues thrown together. Just an okay book in my opinion.