The heart knows the way home by Christie Distler

Janna and Luke grew up on opposite sides of the road. Janna the child of an alcoholic/drug addicted mother who spent a lot of her time with Luke’s grandmother when her own mother disappeared, as she was often doing as she didn’t really care for Janna as a mother should. Suddenly 6years later Janna's mother takes them away. As an adult with a child of her own and fallen she returns to the only place she found happiness. Can she find it again?

A nice simple story of someone fallen on hard times who made mistakes can they right their wrongs and get a second chance to be happy.! Nice simple book and meaningful read. 3.5/5

What a beautiful story! This is the first book I’ve read from this author and I look forward to reading more from her. She treated the Amish faith and traditions with great care and respect. I loved the characters and the heart-touching storyline. It was truly a pleasure to take the time to read this wonderful book.

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

I honestly had issues reading this story. It was hard for me to get into and I found it lacking.

I recieved a copy from netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Jana and Luke may have grown up on the opposite side of the road but they became friends. For six years, a little girl found love and a place in the world. When forced to leave, Jana struggled to find a place. Now 14 years later, she returns with her daughter. As a single mother, Jana is looking for some independence as well as a slower pace. When a freak accident and an out of gas car strands her, she is surprised when Luke's family comes to her rescue. As they get reacquainted, their lifestyle differences put them at odds. However, as with everyone, changes are coming. Will they be able to find a common ground? Will their unfettered feelings tear them apart or bring them together? I love how this story shows that even though we may not all live as the other, common paths and changing ways may still bring us together. This was a new to me author and I look forward to reading more books by her. I received a copy through Netgalley. A review was not required.

A sweet, gentle read about two people who have met again after 14 years apart. Each of them has had hardships and difficulties along the way both ending up as single parents to children with health issues. And their journey together forward is not going to be strewn with rose petals either.
The reader gets further insights into the Mennonite community and the various struggles members face whether religious or the troubles of society and the world we live in today.
For a few hours you can forget your world and travel to a place where the home is truly the heart of the family.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me the chance to read this book.

The Heart Knows the Way Home by Christy Distler is a sweet Plain story. I thought it was well-written with developed characters. Janna Carpenter and Luke Martin are both strong characters. I liked seeing them work through their issues and grow as individuals. Kayla and Joah were sweeties. I like how their friendship mirrored that of Janna and Luke as children. I enjoyed the setting of the Martin farm. It sounded beautiful and peaceful. It was interesting learning about the differences between Amish and Mennonite. I was not aware of the different levels of Mennonite (Old Order, Progressive, Wenger are the ones mentioned in the book). There is much discussion regarding head coverings for women. I like the scripture that was quoted and how it is the woman’s personal choice after much thought and prayer. I like how the romance developed between Janna and Luke. It was not something that was rushed into. There are obstacles that must be overcome before they can think about a romantic relationship. It was interesting to learn about the diseases that affect the Amish and Mennonite people. The author incorporated the Clinic for Special Children (CSC) into the book. This is a wonderful nonprofit medical facility in Strasburg, Pennsylvania. I enjoyed reading this charming story. I hope Christy Distler continues to write Plain fiction. My favorite phrase from The Heart Knows the Way Home is, “The wings do the flying, but the heart knows the way home.” The Heart Knows the Way Home is a special Plain tale about friends, family, and faith.

What a sweet and clean story! I enjoyed reading this story of Janna and Luke, two people that have been friends since childhood, that reconnect after fourteen years. They have a lot of differences at first, and a few disagreements, but they have a strong friendship, and an even stronger attraction to each other. Their children have a bond as well, becoming best friends in only a few weeks. Lovely story I enjoyed reading very much!

Jenna grew up with a dysfunctional mother and consequently spent a lot of time with the Old Order family over the road, until her mother moved them away and they lost contact. Now she's back in the area with a child - and a damaged house, and a broken-down car. When her old friend rescues her from the side of the road and offers her a place to stay, she can't really refuse - and maybe doesn't even want to. But while being back with the family she almost grew up in feels like coming home in some ways, the differences between them are more marked than ever - and more problematic. Can she, and does she even want to, bridge the gap between them and find her way home?

This is the second book I've read by the author, and this time contemporary rather than historical, but the same skill in drawing characters and evoking emotions is evident. Jenna has quite a journey to find the way home, and not always an easy one, but one I enjoyed taking with her. I particularly appreciated the approach to Bible study, including accepting the need to change and following through with it, if that's the conclusion one reaches (not that I always agreed with the conclusions - but that's a different matter). All in all, it's a well-written, enjoyable, thought-provoking and inspiring story. I hope to read more by the author in future!

Note that I received a complimentary copy of the book from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and this is my considered opinion of the book.

2.5 stars

I read a lot of books of this genre, and I found this one a bit over the top with some of the plot points (for instance, regarding headcovers). The viewpoints weren't as balanced as I'm used to reading in Amish and Mennonite fiction.
Some parts were quite enjoyable, but I'm not sure the the research and representation was as accurate as it could've been.

The Heart Knows the Way Home is a Christian romance novel written by Christy Distler.

Summary: Janna Carpenter and Luke Martin were the best of friends as children. Until the day Janna’s mom abruptly moved them away.

Now as adults, they have been reunited, but so much has changed. Janna is used to living in the world, and Luke still clings to the Old Order Mennonite ways.

Can they get back to the friendship they once had? Or has too much water passed under the bridge for Janna to truly make her way back to the only loving home she ever knew?

My Thoughts: I liked this book. I don’t typically read books in this genre, but the plot kind of grabbed me, and I was glad I read it.

Both of the main characters have had rough lives, and while the story doesn’t sugar-coat their problems, and they have many clashes with each other, there is also a sweet homecoming storyline too that I really did enjoy.

The book is well-written, has great character development, and has an interesting plot as well.

I wouldn’t re-read this book, but it was definitely good. If you enjoy the Amish/Mennonite genre of books, this would probably be up your alley, and I would recommend it.

I would like to thank BooksGoSocial for providing me with a complimentary digital copy of this book in exchange for my review. Thank you.

This is such a sweet story and I was rooting for Luke and Janna from the beginning. It's also about friendship between adults and children and what makes them so valuable

This book is amazing. I love how the author donates to the Clinic for Special Children with each copy. This story is a sweet look at family and friendly bonds and how they are unbreakable through time. I enjoyed reading this story, knowing Christy Distler’s background growing up Mennonite. I love how the story provides the differences between Amish and Mennonite, without being awkward. I hope Christy Distler follows some of the other story lines that were introduced into this story, and writes more books like this.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC to facilitate my unbiased review.

This is my first book by author Christy Distler, and I found it very interesting how she intertwined the lives of Old Order Amish and Mennonite. While they may not agree on many things, they did show their love and respect for each other. Distler spends some time on head coverings, and while I don’t agree they’re necessary I can respect the decision. One reviewer felt that head coverings were pushed as necessary to a Christian woman, but I disagree with that completely. It was written in such a way that it was the character’s personal choice after much prayer.

Both Janna and Luke were strong characters with challenges to work through, as we all do. We see them grow and become honest with each other, of course leading to a sweet romance. Throw in two of the cutest kids ever and you have a great story!

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

I read this to review for Net Galley. This is a hard one for me to review as I usually am not interested in reading books about the Amish community because I have been told by an Amish that some of the information could be incorrect. However, this is a fiction novel. The picture and title of the book caught my attention. So I thought I would give it a shot.

In this story we follow a woman named Janna and her daughter Kayla. They were on their way to live in their new home when a tree had fallen down on their house causing them to find somewhere else to live. She ran into an old friend named Luke that is part of the Mennonite community. He asks her to live with him. She isn't really living in the same home but in the house that is next to his. However the situation is close enough to living with someone in some people's eyes in the Amish community.

During this time Luke and Janna get to know one another again. Janna coming from an abusive relationship and Luke having been in a relationship with someone who is hard to trust. Janna also lives a little bit of a different lifestyle than Luke, finds her getting into trouble by Luke regarding an incident that involved his children. To Janna it wasn't a big deal however, she was not the parent to make that decision. Than Janna's home is ready for her and Kayla to move back in again. Kayla begs her mom to stay at Luke's. What will Janna decide to do? Can Luke and Janna overcome obstacles so that they can be together?

This is a very cute heart warming story. It just wasn't my style of reading. I do highly recommend as it is a very easy good clean read.

Janna Carpenter and her daughter, Kayla, are moving back to Lancaster County. Janna has found memories from her childhood there. The Martin family had taken her under their wing and filled the gaps left by her alcoholic mother. She wonders if things will be good for her there again, or if her bridges were burnt when her mother moved them away without warning.

This is a very sweet and heartwarming story surrounding a Mennonite community. The characters are believable and most are very likable. The story is a romance, but focus a lot on the two divisions of the Mennonite religion. I found it very interesting.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good clean romance.

THE HEART KNOWS THE WAY HOME by Christy Distler

Janna and Luke grew up together, they loved each other, as only children can do, unconditionally, even though Janna was an Englischer and Luke was an Old Order Mennonite. Janna's mother was an alcoholic and drug addict. She didn't take care of Janna and left her at Luke's grandparent's house, until one day, they simply disappeared.

Years later, Janna and her young daughter Kayla have a run of hard luck and get taken in by Luke's family once again. Luke and his young son Joah readily accept the rekindled friendship of Janna and a new friend in Kayla.

Luke hires Janna to help him with his grandmother and to take Joah to his medical appointments. All the while his friends are telling him to stay away from her because she's probably a bad influence. But, Luke can't turn away because of the love they once shared.

Many thanks to #netgalley and #avodah for the complimentary copy of #theheartknowsthewayhome I was under no obligation to post a review.

1 star
The Heart Knows the Way Home
By Christy Distler

I truly wish I good give this book negative stars. I saw the way it was going yet I finished it and I am SORRY I did.
This story could have been so good and had so much potential. However, it seemed Janna was just expected to conform.
Luke even started to realize all the rules added nothing to his Christian life yet the end is just Janna deciding all the “rules” were necessary for her life.
You can be a good Christian and not follow all these rules or dress in this manner. Just because Mennonites and some others believe head coverings are necessary, does not make it so. This book is extreme.
I read and enjoy many types of Christian fiction including Mennonite and Amish which usually explain their reasoning for their various rules but this book is different. Distler wrote in such a way that unless a woman headcovers they are wrong. I am so annoyed and angered by this book.
A new Christian woman may read it and believe this is necessary to be "a good Christian" when it so is not. I truly hope no woman stumbles in her faith after reading this book.
I so cannot recommend this book and I am even upset that I read it. 
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley.

Loved loved this quote from Malinda to Janna
"Grace is for those who deserve it not? As sinners, we don't deserve God's grace but He gives it. And if we don't forgive others, he won't forgive us. That's not a chance I wasn't to take".
Jesus is the truth, the way and the life. My favorite Love love thisone also.
I really loved this awe inspiring story of love, forgiveness, redemption and many other things related to family and friends.
Janna is my favorite character but I can also understand her being a little reluctant and nervousness around other people. But I really love her take charge attitude when it's needed especially for little Joah.
He is a kid that will steal your heart in no time along with little Kayla.
This novel will make you want to cry along the way as well as rejoice and sometimes they make you so mad that I wanted to scream at them!
I didn't want this sweet book to end. I wanted it to keep going.
Five stars and highly recommend.
My thanks for a copy of this book
I was NOT required to write a positive review and all opinions are my own.

This was a new to me author and I thoroughly enjoyed the book. The characters grabbed my interest from the first page and I had a hard time putting the book down. I have read a lot of books with an Amish story line, but very few that mentions Mennonites. Having a Mennonite prospective made the book refreshing and I can’t wait to read more books by Christy Distler.