Member Review

The Story of Love by Beth Wiseman was a delight to read. It is the second book in The Amish Bookstore Novels. It can be read as a standalone, but you will get the bigger picture if you read The Bookseller’s Promise first. I thought The Story of Love was well-written with relatable characters. I enjoyed getting to know Yvonne and Abraham. I am glad the author gave Yvonne her own story. We met her in the first book, but we really get to know her in this one. Abraham grew up Amish, but he decided to not become baptized. He joined the police force which is a very un-Amish profession. I loved that we get to catch up with Eva and Jake from The Bookseller’s Promise. Eva is such a lively character. The Story of Love has mystery, suspense, and romance. I especially enjoyed the mystery (I love solving a whodunit). There are some touching moments especially with Yvonne and the dog who decided her porch was his new home. I like that Christmas is shown in a different light. We get to see Yvonne experience her first Christmas as a Christian. She gets to experience the true meaning of the season. I also liked that the gifts given were useful and homemade. The author’s word imagery had me feeling the cold of Indiana. I could just imagine Yvonne shivering inside the farmhouse. I loved Yvonne’s delight with the falling snow (wait until her first blizzard). The story is told from three points-of-view: Yvonne, Abraham, and Brianna. Brianna is the woman Abraham is dating when Yvonne moves to Montgomery, Indiana. We get to see how jealousy can affect a person. Sometimes the green-eyed monster can make an individual do things they would not normally do. I like how the various storylines all worked together in this book (so much going on). There is some repetition of details (how Yvonne lost her fiancé, failed to write Abraham back, Abraham is dating Yvonne). I loved the ending which left me smiling. The Story of Love is a book that I stayed up very late to finish. I am eager to read Hopefully Ever After. The Story of Love is a captivating Amish tale with wintry weather, a dirty dog, a pair’s rough relationship, crafting presents, telling traces, and a cheerful Christmas.