I kind of read this series backwards, but it was still well worth the read! Love's Dwelling is actually the first book in Kelly Irvin's "Amish Blessings" series, but I read The Warmth of Sunshine, and Every Good Gift first.

Cassie Weaver has been working for Job & Dinah Keim as their housekeeper for a short time when two cars pull in the drive, unloading 5 grandchildren they didn't know they had, and a sixth grandson they did know about. Their wayward daughter had died, leaving her Amish parents as guardians for the youngest five of her children. How will they, especially Dinah whose diabetes is swiftly taking her eyesight and much of her health with it, keep up with five children?

Mason Keim has lived all his life believing that his mom and uncle were orphans. He had no idea that his grandparents were living and is stunned to discover that they are Amish. Mason has supported his family for a number of years already, working with an Amish construction crew, so he knows a bit about the Plain people. He just didn't know that - if things had been different - he could have been one!

As Mason is repeatedly drawn to his grandparents to "watch over" his siblings, Cassie's sweet heart for the children, and the gentle way she helps his grandmother daily, opens his eyes to possibilities. Could he change to be part of the world that looks so much better than the one he has inhabited for years?

This is such a beautiful story of love, and sacrifice for that love. I enjoyed Mason & Cassie's story, and because I read the other two books in the series first, I already knew parts of their story. This was a joy to read.

Due to personal reasons I have altered the genres I am reviewing and I will not be finishing this book. I'm sure it is an enjoyable read however it is not for me.

So, this was a *good* story. All about love - love of God, family love and, yes, also romantic love but I really appreciated the fact that it was not primarily focused on that last one. A story about family and difficult situations and all that. And it really "hit the spot" as some of the characters (and a million other people, I imagine) like to say.
Amish literature project or not, I'm glad I read this book and also got to discover another good writer.

Lives this book and the author is one of my favorites.
The characters held my attention and I actually could see myself spending time with them. Cassie is one of my favorite characters and of course the supporting characters are interesting and likable, too.
Ms. Irvin crafts some of the best storylines and memorable characters.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley. Opinions are my own.

Wonderful story of 5 children who return to their Amish grandparents after their mother, who left the community dies. Each child has a different need of love. Job and Diana the grandparents along with Diana caregiver Cassie help bridge the transition. Mason, the oldest at 22 has been playing parent to the kids seeks to find his peace discovers there is more than just an Amish culture.

Enjoyable, contemporary story about an older brother, left to care for his brothers and sisters. Thankfully, his mother’s directives gave guardianship to his estranged grandparents. To help those grandparents with the children and the grandmother’s illness, a local, young Amish woman worked in the greatly-expanded household.
The story was about redemption and figuring out what really matters.

you will have the pleasure of meeting the wonderful family of the Keim’s ( Job, Dinah, Perry, Georgia, and Mason) then Mason has five half siblings ( Bobby, Kevin, Kathy, Donny, and Jennie) and you will also meet Cassie Weaver.
There are several other characters that pop in, however these are the ones that hold the main focus in this storyline in "Love's Dwelling".

Mason has spent most of his life taking care of his younger half siblings and will continue to do so; although he finds that this decision no longer falls on him, but on the Grandparents he never knew he had. He's happy for his half siblings as they will have family again. As Mason is trying to adjust to his new reality or better yet the reality he finds himself drawn to, he also knows that reality is so foreign to him yet something that didn't have to be; he's also at the same time struggling with putting the pieces of his mother's past together.
Can Mason find his biological father?

Then we have Cassie Weaver who has worked for the Keims as their housekeeper for sometime. Cassie loves working with Dinah, who is a diabetic. Like every young Amish women does, Cassie dreams of a husband and lots of children, but will that dream ever come true?

I was so very excited to start this journey with these characters as well as this series. I can tell you this book was excellent from the very first page right to the last. I can honestly say I’m so looking forward to reading what Kelly Irvin has in store for this series.


I received a free copy from NetGalley. No monetary exchange was made for a review. I was not required to provide a positive review, just an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are completely my own.

God offers hope where there seems no hope.

Mason's life seems hopeless. His mother has passed away leaving instructions that the younger children will now live with her Amish parents that she has not seen for 23 years. Mason is 23 and has never met his grandparents. He has been raising his brothers and sisters since his mother's death but the state of Kansas will honor their mother's request. With fears and anxiety, Mason along with their social worker arrives at the Keim farm to set the younger children up. Job and Dinah Keim see this opportunity to make things with their daughter and to find out why she had left the faith. With the help of their young housekeeper Cassie Yoder, they offer the children hope in their Amish community.

Upon meeting Mason and Cassie see each other differently. Mason sees Cassie as different than other girls and Cassie sees Mason with empathy in raising his youngest brothers and sisters. Some of their children embrace the Amish lifestyle while the others reject the authority aspect of the Amish lifestyle. Each of the children including Mason have baggage from their upbringing. There are several fathers and Mason does not know who is father is.

The life lessons in their story is plentiful. Mason being the fixer personality and allowing God and others to help him is always a good lesson and one that bears repeating. We never know how God is working in the life of others and our own. The value of a teachable spirit along with the help of others is always a plus. Another lesson is our personal relationship with God. Mason was developing that and one with Cassie. Our relationship with God is not about feelings but about embracing the truth of who God is and who we are without God and with God. How God reigns in our life. Mason had to understand his relationship with the Lord before he could develop any relationship with Cassie. Cassie was all in with her faith and was wise beyond her years to the fact that she knew if she was going to have a relationship with Mason, he had to understand what faith was. He had to decide what he believed while Cassie had to live what she believed.

The character development was engaging and lovely. The progression of faith was part of their story. Loved it.

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

I thought the first book from Kelly Irvin's Amish Blessings series, Love's Dwelling, was a great start to series. I liked it. Four stars.

A new series by Kelly Irwin and a great one it is going to be!! Love's Dwelling is the first installment, in this new series, Amish Blessings. I thoroughly enjoyed it from the first page, to the last and now can't wait to see where we will go with the second book!!

We never know the roads we will go down, as our life moves on and sometimes it is a good thing! For Job and Dinah Keim, they are struggling in their later years. Dinah is suffering sight issues because of her diabetes and her sight is waning. Job is trying to pick up the slack but can't do it all. Cassie Weaver has become their caregiver/housekeeper and friend. She comes and helps Dinah and Job, cooks meals, cleans and really becomes part of their family.

Dinah and Job have a daughter, Georgia, but she jumped the fence many years ago and they don't know where she living. They don't know anything about her or the life she choose, when she became English.

Well, surprise, surprise.....it seems that Georgia has several children...actually 5 children!!! Georgia has passed and now the children show up at Job and Dinah's because that is the only family they have.

It is a touching story, that is seen all too often, in the English world, but not in the Amish community. It will give you a smile, a few questions, and make you wonder if you could do it, if called upon.

Sit back, grab a warm blanket, a good drink and enjoy where the journey takes you.....you won't be sorry!!
Thank you to Net Galley and Zondervan for the opportunity to read this book. I was not required to provide a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are completely my own.

Love’s Dwelling by Kelly Irvin is Book 1 in the Amish Blessings Series. I must say that this book written about the Amish is very different from most and I enjoyed reading it. Job and Dinah Keim have inherited the care of their grandchildren whom they did not know existed. Their daughter left their home as a teenager and they had not heard from her since that time. Mason the eldest of the children wants to make sure his half siblings will be taken care of as he is as shocked as his grandparents are, for his mother never said a word about being raised Amish. Each in their own way do all they can to fit in with each other, as everything is so different for the children and the grandparents. Most Amish books are the telling of those who left their faith but I’ve never read where the non Amish wants to embrace the Amish faith.
There are many tender moments and you can’t help but love the children as they struggle with the loss of their mother and a new way to live without their games, tv, phones and fast foods. This story is incredibly well written, with strong characters, heartache, love, forgiveness, redemption, and a feeling of coming home. Some moments will surprise you and other moments will bring tears to your eyes….. I received a complimentary copy of this book from Zondervan through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Great story! Great characters!
Cassie is taking care of an elderly couple, Job and Dinah. Dinah's eyesight is failing, among other health issues when Cassie decided to move in with them so she could be there for them more.
Job and Dinah love Cassie as though she were their own. Their own daughter, Georgia, ran away after joining the church, taking her brother, Perry, with her. They never heard from either of them again.
Cassie desires a husband and kinner (children) of her own, but so far, it hasn't happened for her.
Imagine everyone's surprise when a social worker shows up at their door with five children, and one sibling who is grown and tells them the children belonged to their daughter, Georgia, who has died. Mason, the oldest of the siblings, found in his mother's things a note saying if anything ever happened to her that she wanted her children to live with her parents, Job and Dinah. This was news to the kids as they knew nothing about their mother's family, and nothing about their mother once being Amish.
News, also, to Job and Dinah as they had no idea that Georgia had children. Once she ran away, they knew nothing of her or her life.
The way Kelly Irvin told the story just made all the characters come to life! What a difficult, joyous, and sad time for everyone, all rolled into one.
This is truly a 'beauty from ashes' story. Good came from something that was so hard and sad.
You will fall in love with each of the children. Mason, who shouldered being a parent rather than an older brother to his siblings. Kathy, who tried to be a little momma to her siblings. Bobby, who at 16, is very sad and confused.
This book was truly a delight and I thoroughly enjoyed it!
I was given an advanced ecopy by the publisher, Zondervan and Netgalley. I was under no obligation to leave a positive review.

Let me start with my usual disclaimer when it comes to Amish themed books:
I have lots of problems with Amish and Mennonites communities (I encourage you to do some research on hiding rapes and domestic abuse, and how these communities deal [or rather not deal] with it), but in general the Amish culture is fascinating and when you sugarcoat it this book is what you get.

This book is sweet and wholesome and if you need a break from thrilles or any sad/heavy/horrible books then I'd say go for it!
There's a lot of God talk, so be aware of that. Not everyone is ok with it, but honestly it comes with the territory I guess.
The whole plot is more intriguing than in your typical Amish novel and I admit it it made me tear up a bit few times.

It's not the best book you'll ever read but it's a quick and clean read.

What a lovely beginning to a new series by Kelly Irvin. It is a story that encompasses a lot of loss but hope shines through even in the most dire circumstances. I highly recommend.

Cassie Weaver only wants what most Amish young women want: a husband and family of her own. However, being the housekeeper for the Keim's isn't so bad until Child Services show up with their 5 grandchildren. The Keims have prayed for the salvation and return of their two children to the Amish faith. After the death of their daughter, the Keims become the guardians to her 5 children. At 22, Mason feels he should be taking care of his siblings. Will he be able to trust his grandparents he has never known and their too pretty housekeeper to raise the siblings that only he wants to raise? However, when he discovers that the tug to keep returning to their home is not just tied to seeing his brothers and sisters, will he find a happiness he didn't know he was searching for?

The characters here a very relatable and one finds themselves turning pages to see what happens next. It is a sweet story that shows maybe there can be a happy ending to an Amish girl in love with an English boy. I received a copy through Netgalley. A review was not required.

Love's Dwelling by Kelly Irvin is the first of her Amish Blessings Series. In it, six children are orphaned when their mom is killed. When her living will is discovered, they find out that she was raised Amish and she wants them to go to her parents if something happens to her. Her parents, Dinah and Job, are surprised but so grateful to get to know them. All of the children, except the oldest, come to live with them. A young lady in their Amish community, Cassie, moves in to help them with the children and all the work at the house. When sparks fly between the oldest son Mason and Cassie, things get a bit more complicated. I enjoyed this book so much. It may be one of my favorites by Irvin to date. I thought the characters were fleshed out and that I got to know them. I cried with them and laughed out loud with them. I am looking forward to the rest of the series! Thanks #NetGalley for the chance to read this book. #Bookstagram #all_the_pages

Book one in author Kelly Irvin’s new series, Amish Blessings, went in a direction I didn’t expect. But in a good way!

Heartwarming, this book will keep you on your toes as five English children show up with plenty of baggage. Throw in an Amish maedel who is determined to help, and an older English brother who doesn’t know what he wants yet, and there are lots of emotional ups and downs.

There is a lot of loss in this story, along with addictions, and health issues; it’s not a syrupy sweet tale. But Irvin writes it in such a way that hope is always front and center. Hope and love of family. If you enjoy Amish fiction then I highly recommend Love’s Dwelling. I’m looking forward to book 2

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

Love’s Dwelling by Kelly Irvin is a poignant novel. This is a book that I stayed up late reading (you should have seen me trying to read while I made dinner and did the dishes). It is so much more than an Amish romance novel which I loved. I thought Love’s Dwelling was well-written with developed characters. We go to Yoder, Kansas where Cassie Weaver works for Dinah and Job Keim as their housekeeper. They are shocked when a social worker arrives with five young kids along with a man in his 20s. It turns out that their daughter who left twenty-three years ago has passed away and left guardianship of her children to them. Her oldest son, Mason Keim (22) does not want to lose contact with his half siblings. Cassie offers to move in to help with the kids since Dinah has health issues. Cassie quickly falls in love with the kids. Mason finds Cassie easy to talk to and they become friends. Mason wants to learn more about his heritage and how his siblings will be raised. The more Mason learns, the more he finds it appealing. But Mason is unsure if he could transition from his Englisch lifestyle. He finds himself falling for Cassie, but, as Mason has been warned, love is not a reason to become Amish. What path will Mason take? Love’s Dwelling is an emotional novel as the Keim’s grandchildren adjust to their new life. These kids have not had the easiest life and they have just lost their mother. They are being taken away from everything that is familiar. Little Jennie, the Keim’s youngest grandchild, is the show stealer. She is a cutie. Family, forgiveness, acceptance, and faith are the central themes of Love’s Dwelling. Learning to deal with regrets is another issue addressed. I like that the Amish do not force their beliefs on the kids or Mason. They live by example. You also get to see the differences between the Amish and the Englisch (besides the obvious). The ending nicely wrapped up the story. I am eager for the next book in the Amish Blessings series. Love’s Dwelling is a touching Amish tale with grief-stricken grandchildren, a helpful housekeeper, debilitating diabetes, a searching sibling, grateful grandparents, and scrumptious cake.

I am officially now a huge Kelly Irvin fan! This is the first book I've read by Kelly and it's not going to be the last! Immediately after I finished I headed over to our local library website and put a few of her books on hold. I can't wait to read more!

Love's Dwelling was just so good! It drew me right in to a new community and it's people. You just can't help but fall in love with Cassie and Mason and all the "kinner". This is a beautiful story of love, grief, and coming out better than you were before. I'm looking forward to the next in the series and many more happy hours escaping away to someplace new in Kelly Irvin's books.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this story. Cassie does not know what she is getting herself into when she decides to move in with the Keim's and help with their grandchildren. Cassie is a joy and a delight. She radiates energy and possesses a genuine love of her life. She is enthusiastic in all that she does and has many admirable qualities.

"Stay-at-home moms, childcare workers, teachers, and nannies should be paid more than pro basketball players and celebrity actors combined."

Mason is from the school of hard knocks. He does not want to give custody to the grandparents he has never known but doesn't have a say in the matter. He is also a remarkable character. He is strong, faithful, and loves his siblings something fierce. His willingness to learn about the Amish that his siblings are living with also speaks highly of his character.

"Why do people care how Plain folks live? They even read made-up romance stories about us. We're just trying to live our lives in a way that pleases God."

This story has many tender moments, you can't help but love the enthusiasm of the children. This story is incredibly well written, with engaging characters, heartache, love, forgiveness, redemption, and a theme of coming home. Some moments will surprise you and other moments will bring tears to your eyes. I appreciate the originality of this story and its emphasis on families coming in different shapes and sizes. It's not just another predictable Amish story.

I would recommend this story to anyone who loves Amish fiction that will grip you from the beginning and keep you hanging until the concluding sentence...and leave you wanting more. I don't know when the next book in the series will be coming out, but you better believe I will be keeping an eye out!

Thank you to Net Galley and Zondervan for the opportunity to read this book. I was not required to provide a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are completely my own.