Book 3 in Beth Wiseman's Amish Bookstore series, brings Eden Hale from her guardian's home to the home of an Amish cousin she's never met. She had no idea her mother started life as an Amish girl, so spending her summer in an Amish home in Montgomery, IN is a revelation. Who knew she wouldn't miss modern conveniences or that she would enjoy working in a garden? Could it be that the comfort she feels in this Amish home means she is finally finding out who she is meant to become?

Samuel Byler likes Eden from the first time they meet. Her unique outlook on life help him to see that his parents' strictness isn't all bad. His parents, however, aren't crazy about their son spending so much time with an outsider, especially one whose mother is imprisoned for drug related charges. What if she turns their son from his Amish upbringing?

Eden wants nothing more than to belong somewhere. She's been the outsider for years because of her mother's choices. Can she make everyone see that her cousin's home is the home she's always longed for, even if it is worlds away from where she was raised?

I liked Eden a lot in this story. She had to grow up and take care of herself AND her mother at a very young age. Her maturity is part of what draws Samuel to her, but her kindness and beauty keep him there. Both of these young people show great maturity in the way they deal with their relationship. It's the adults around them that get in a tizzy.

Readers who like Amish romance will definitely enjoy this story. It was a wonderful conclusion to the Amish Bookstore series.

Hopefully Ever After

by Beth Wiseman

This novel has a lot going for it:
1. So many important themes including: forgiveness, faith, love, security, family, abuse, goals, healing, independence, maturity, drugs, love of books, respect.
2. Interplay of Amish and Englisch characters with several experiencing one culture and considering or actually changing to the other.
3. Temptations for both Amish and Englisch characters.
4. Contrast of Amish lifestyles with Englisch lifestyles.
5. View of how technology, especially cell phones, has affected the Amish.
6.A great plot centered around a 16 year old girl, Eden, with a difficult upbringing who stays for a month with her Amish cousin and her husband. She discovers what a real family could be like.
7. Lots of characters with their own difficulties—Samuel, a 17 year old with overly strict parents; Yvonne and Abraham who take in Eden for a month; Emma, a much older cousin who is Eden’s guardian; and Eden’s mom, a currently imprisoned drug addict.
8. Emotional tale as Eden and Samuel struggle with their attraction to each other. Eden, who is determined to not be like her mother, has a past to overcome. Samuel is unsure of God’s will and is anxious to see the world outside his home community as it must be so exciting.
9. The setting is described so well. Without air conditioning, beautiful Indiana farmland can be very hot in July. It was easy to imagine the characters with sweat pouring off them, trying to rehydrate and get a little cooling from battery operated fans.
10. There are lots of twists along the way, and as the book moves toward its conclusion, a happily ever after seems out of reach. Thanks to some surprises, although problems are not magically solved, the ending is quite satisfying.

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

Rating: 5/5

Category: Christian, Romance, Religion, Fiction

Notes: #3 in the Amish Bookstore Novels, but the author fills in background quite well so it could be read as a standalone.

Publication: April 18, 2023—Zondervan

Memorable Lines:

Eden didn’t even try to make friends at school these days. What was the point? They’d eventually find out her mother was in prison—a fact that seemed to define Eden, whether it was fair or not.

She could either choose to be a victim—life surely hadn’t treated her fairly—or let go of the past and commit to being the best person she could be. Eden chose the latter, but it wasn’t without a struggle.

“I know that everything changed for me once I found a relationship with God. At first it was like having a new friend, someone I could talk to about anything. And the more I talked, the more I knew God was listening.” She didn’t verbalize the last thought in her mind, probably the biggest change in her life since she had found God: she was no longer alone.

Hopefully Ever After is the 3rd book in The Amish Bookstore series and although I enjoyed it, I didn't like it quite as much as the previous two books in the series. Sixteen year old Eden Hale is temporarily staying with her older cousin Yvonne in Indiana Amish country. Although not Amish, Eden has a strong faith. She was known as a troubled teen, but she loves the peace she’s found in Montgomery, Indiana. She develops a friendship with Yvonne’s nephew-in-law, Samuel. Samuel is struggling with his faith, and is considering leaving the Amish Community. His family blames Eden for his doubts. Although they have lived very different lives, can they bridge the gaps and the issues they have to live hopefully ever after.

This book is part of a series, but it can definitely be read as a standalone book. This is almost a YA addition to the stories and both Eden and Samuel are teenagers. It is a bit of a coming of age story, with a clean sweet romance that has some roadblocks. Eden has been raised by absent parents so it was wonderful to see how she was accepted and loved by Yvonne and Abraham. I enjoyed her character and watching her grow and come into her own. She was not Amish, but had a strong faith that sustained her. Samuel is a typical teenager, who didn't know what he wanted and questioned his beliefs and how he was raised. They supported each other and were good together. Themes include teenager independence, family relationships, community, deciding on your faith and religion, parental expectations, new beginnings, and love. This was a sweet Amish Romance that I recommend.

This is an interesting story about a young girl, Eden, who is sent to stay with her cousin and her family, since she could not live with either of her parents. Her cousin married an Amish man and is now Amish herself. I really liked Eden and her Amish cousins. Eden is only 16 years old and has had to deal with many hard situations in her young life. She has plans for going to college once she is old enough.

Samuel is a young Amish man who lives not far away from where Eden is staying. He is close to entering his rumspringa period when he gets to leave many Amish restrictions behind. Afterwards, he will be able to decide to be baptized or leave the faith. His overly strict parents are not happy with that, or with his friendship with Eden.

I enjoyed this book a lot, for the characters, and because it kept surprising me. I also really felt for Eden and Samuel as both experienced hard times and had difficult decisions to make, for such young teenagers.

This is the third book in the series, but it works well as a standalone book. I received an e-ARC of this book from the publisher Vondervan Fiction via NetGalley, and voluntarily read and reviewed it.

Eden Hale is sixteen years old whose mother is in prison. She is living with a relative who is going on vacation, so she sends her to stay with a cousin who just happens to be Amish. Eden is a believer, but had never experienced the Amish lifestyle before.
Eden meets a local Amish boy, Samuel. Samuel is being raised by strict parents, especially his mother. Samuel should be having his 'running around time' that Amish teens are allowed as a way for them to explore a bit of the 'English' world and make the choice whether to join the Amish church or leave for the English world. Samuel's mother fears what Samuel would do and keeps a tight rein on him.
While Eden is sure of her faith, Samuel is not. He isn't sure he wants to join the Amish church. While Eden is drawn to the Amish way of life, Samuel does not appreciate it.
The two begin to spend more and more time together. Samuel's mother fears Eden may lead him away from them.
This was such a delightful story with great characters!
I was given a complimentary ecopy by the publisher, Zondervan through Netgalley. I was under no obligation to leave a positive review.

Hopefully Ever After by Beth Wiseman
This is the third book in the Amish Bookstore Series & I devoured it.
Eden visits Montgomery, Indiana, to stay with an Amish cousin she hasn’t met. Feeling as though this is her chance to be who she wants to be, Eden flourishes without the judgment of her past haunting her. As you can guess, she meets & becomes friends with a young Amish man, Samuel. Samuel has strict parents who are not too thrilled that he’s spending time with an outsider who isn’t Amish.
If you’ve read the first two books, you’ll love the third and the character development. I read this book pretty quickly. I could not get enough. I love it when I can be pulled into a story and feel like the characters are friends.

Third in the Amish Bookstore series, it can be read as a stand alone. But I enjoyed visiting the bookstore each time and we see some of the same characters woven throughout.

Eden has had such a hard childhood and we follow her through her later teen years. While I’m over reading about 16 year olds all the time, author Beth Wiseman does a good job of “growing her up” as she and Samuel learn more about their faith together. Forgiveness and grace is a thread through the story for both main characters. And the ending tied things up nicely.

Although this one didn’t hold my interest as well as the first two, if you enjoy Amish fiction give this one a try. I think you’ll be glad you did.

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

Hopefully Ever After The Amish Bookstore #3 By Beth Wiseman

Eden's life is turned upside down by a sick Mother in jail and staying with her Aunt who is on a trip abroad. Eden is sent to stay with Yvonne (Bk.#2) who runs the bookstore in town with her husband Abraham. Eden's first wish is to ride a horse. Samuel, a nephew of Abraham, teaches her to ride. Samuel has strict Amish parents who are not happy with their son seeing an Englisher! What will happen to the young couple as the days go by and they grow closer to each other?

This lovely novel reminds me of my first and only love. I turned 16 mid-summer and he was just home from Vietnam. The rest is my history.

Beth WIseman is a good author with many good books to
her acclaim. I enjoyed this book so much. #NetGalley

I really enjoyed this book. I actually had a hard time putting it down. I really liked Eden she went through so much and was so wise beyond her years. She had the biggest heart, you really watch her grow up so much from the beginning to the end of this book. I felt like Samuel was quite immature but he was always willing to listen to those he respected and cared for. I loved Yvonne and Abraham now I did not read there story but they were the cutest couple and they were so patient and loving with Eden while she dealt with some big blows. Overall I would say this book will have you laughing and crying in the same chapter but its well worth it. This is a clean read and well worth it.

An unlikely friendship forms between Samuel Byler and Eden Hale when she comes to stay with her cousin Yvonne for a few months in the summer.

A charming romance that brings back familiar faces and new friends as well. My heart went out to Eden, who has had a rough upbringing. She surprises her hosts, but many in the community judge her to be a bad influence. I liked how she encourages Samuel to be thankful for his family.

A charming read by one of my favorite Amish fiction authors. I loved the friendship and familiar faces. I especially liked how it continued to follow Yvonne and Abraham.

Overall, this was a well written and engaging read with great character development, and filled with heart.

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

An enjoyable finale to a series I really liked. Amish isn't one of my go genres, but this series centered around a bookstore was a fun read for me. Eden was a likable character, and I liked the natural way her relationship with Samuel developed. Samuel's struggles to figure out what he wants in life and Eden's struggles to find where she belongs really complimented each other and made for a delightful read.

I received a copy of this on NetGalley and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

This is the third book in the Amish Bookstore series by veteran writer Beth Wiseman, set in Montgomery, Indiana. Eden arrives in Montgomery to live with her cousin for a month. Although she has had a rough life, Eden demonstrates a strong faith in God. She meets Samuel, an Amish teen who has been raised in a strict home setting and is questioning his life in the Amish community and his faith. There is a definite attraction between the two young adults, but difficulties loom on the horizon due to their very different lifestyles.

This is a book about faith in God and overcoming difficulties and hardships. It is a clean and sweet novel without descriptions of adult intimacy or violence, and without swear words. While it is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone novel. Characters from previous books make appearances in this one, so those readers familiar with the series will enjoy reconnecting with familiar characters.

I received this book from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

It is the final book in a series, but can be read as a stand alone novel.The book is touching and emotional. All of the characters are totally believable and interactions engaging. Highly recommend. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

It was so good to be back in the book store with Yvonne and Abraham. Their relationship is so precious and I loved how well they worked together. Eden was a delightful character and as a reader I wanted her to succeed!



Thanks so much to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.

Reading a romance between two teenagers is unusual for me. Reading an Amish romance was just too sweet when it came to this book, Hopefully Ever After. In fact, I am pleased to say that I read all three books in this series by Beth Wiseman one after another. Although this book could be read as a stand-alone, I highly recommend the delightful first two books, The Bookseller's Promise and The Story of Love. What an impressive series!

In this touching story, sixteen-year-old Eden Hale comes from a troubled past to stay temporarily with her Amish cousin in Indiana. Not sure that she wants to change for anyone, meeting a young Amish man named Samuel Byler changes Eden’s life in unexpected ways. Samuel has very strict parents and they are not happy with him spending so much time with Eden. He is at the age of Rumspringa, but knows that his parents don’t fully support that custom.

I found this to be an exceptional coming-of-age story. Both Eden and Samuel really had to examine their lives, and what their futures just might bring. Since this is the third book in a series, there were some recurring characters that we met in the previous books. This gives this book and the entire series a very nice family and community vibe.

These are the first books I have read from Beth Wiseman, and have put several of her other books and series in my TBR. She writes characters with strong faith and determination along with forgiveness and love, making the stories very compelling reads.

Many thanks to Zondervan and to NetGalley for this ARC for review. This is my honest opinion.

I really like this series. This story is a little different as it is about Eden, a teenager who comes to stay with her cousin, Yvonne and her new husband Abraham. Their romance was featured in the previous book by Beth Wiseman. Eden is a sweet character who has had a hard life. She loves being in the Amish community. This is a refreshing change from stories that tell of rebellion when a young person gets 'stuck' staying with Amish relatives.
Samuel is an Amish teen who is a bit resentful of his strict upbringing by parents who won't let him have rumspringa. His mild rebellion is wrongly blamed by his parents on his new acquaintance, Eden.
This is an entertaining story that has a mild romantic bent and a nice ending.
I received my advanced reader's copy from the publisher via NetGalley. I look forward to more in the series. This is my own unsolicited opinion about this stand-alone book.

When Eden arrives in the Amish town Samuel lives in, the instant attraction is apparent. But with Eden being Englisch (non-Amish) and Samuel coming from a strict Amish family, it seems the pair aren’t equally yoked.
And with Eden’s complicated past and Samuel’s desire to leave town, the writing seems to be on the wall. But Beth Wiseman takes on an adventure that pulls your heartstrings as we walk with characters struggling to forgive, learning to let go, and loving others.
Thank you so much to Netgalley for the ARC. All views reflected are my own.

This was an emotional and complex story about two teens from very different backgrounds who meet and discover they have much in common. Sixteen-year-old Eden has come to stay with her Amish cousin, Yvonne, for a month while her guardian, Emma, is away. Eden has had a turbulent life so far. Her mother is a drug addict and is serving a term in prison, she never knew her father, and there isn't much of a connection between herself and Emma. In trying to find her place in the world, Eden made a few mistakes before vowing she would not follow in her mother's footsteps. She hopes this time in Indiana will give her the fresh start she craves. On her first day with Yvonne, she's introduced to Samuel, Yvonne's husband's nephew, who offers to teach her to ride.

Samuel is the sixteen-year-old son of very strict Amish parents. Though he is of the age for his rumspringa or running around, Anna and Leroy keep him under tight control. Samuel is curious about life outside the Amish community and feels trapped without the ability to experience any of it. Complicating matters, those same feelings cause him to question his faith and whether to stay in the community.

There is an immediate connection between Eden and Samuel. They find it easy to talk to each other as Samuel asks questions about her life as an Englischer, and Eden rhapsodizes about how beautiful and peaceful Montgomery is. But Samuel's parents aren't happy with the amount of time he's spending with Eden, worried that she will influence him in the wrong way. They come down quite hard on him, and Samuel reacts by using deception to do as he wants. Eden is initially unaware of his actions and is angry with him when she finds out.

Eden loves her time in Montgomery and getting to know Samuel. It is a relief to know that he likes her for who she is and doesn't judge her for her past mistakes. But Samuel's lies have put her and her cousin in an awkward position. She doesn't understand Samuel's fascination with the outside world when he has such a wonderful family and home life.

I could feel the tension build as Eden and Samuel grew closer. I could see the trouble looming on the horizon and knew it wouldn't be pretty when Anna and Leroy discovered the truth. I hurt for everyone when the confrontation came. Leroy and Anna are angry and hurt at Samuel's deceptions and double down on their need to control his actions. Yvonne and Abraham are caught in the middle and want the best for both teens. Eden is hurt by how his parents blame her when she's done her best to show him that the outside world isn't as great as he thinks. And Samuel wants a chance to experience the same things others do. I liked that Abraham was the voice of reason in the storm and devised a solution to prevent Samuel from running away while giving him the freedom he craved. It was an eye-opening experience for Samuel, and I loved seeing him learn from it. I also liked that his parents also learned a few things.

Eden has some hard lessons to learn, also. Her mother is in prison, and Eden has difficulty forgiving her for what she has been through. When she gets word that her mother is ill, she hardens her heart against her. Samuel sees Eden's conflict and does his best to encourage Eden to speak to her mother before it is too late. In a heartwrenching scene, Eden finally lets go of her hatred and finds the peace she needs.

By the time this is all over, it is time for Eden to return to Texas and her guardian. When Eden receives unexpected news, it opens a realm of possibilities for her future. Will this change her relationship with Samuel? I loved watching Eden figure out what she wanted from her life and go after it. The ending was fantastic, as Eden and Samuel found what they sought.

Running through all three books in the series was the mystery of the trove of gold coins supposedly hidden inside the Amish bookstore that Yvonne runs for her friends Jake and Eva. One coin has turned up, but no one has had any luck finding others. After further research, Jake makes a decision about the shop that has unexpected results. There is a saying about counting one's chickens, but everything works out.

Hopefully Ever After by Beth Wiseman is the third story in the Bookseller's Promise series. In it, Eden is a young woman with a troubled history who comes to stay with her Aunt Yvonne and Uncle Abraham. Her mother is in prison and her aunt, who has custody, is leaving the country for the month. Determined to be seen for who she is and not the mistakes of her mother or her past, she steps into life with Yvonne and Abraham hopeful for a new future. Samuel is an old-order Amish youth who wants to explore the world, but has little freedom to do so. The two hit it off and become fast friends, and seem to be heading towards more. However, their past and their present will make it difficult. Full of hope, this story will make you laugh and cry as you hope for the best for Eden and Samuel. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review. All opinions are my own.

Amish romance with serious overtones

I think that Suzanne Woods Fisher is my favourite author of the Amish genre. I have read many of her books, including the first two books in this series. I found Hopefully Ever After to be one of her best; very interesting, complex characters and worthwhile messages for us all. How many times have YOU jumped to conclusions about someone because their background was less than perfect??? How many times have YOU felt like alienating someone with a different background? How many days have you felt discouraged because someone disrespects you because of your heritage, your parents' actions, your own foibles? This book is so much deeper than a mere "Amish romance". It's gonna make you think, and hopefully, become the better person. I highly recommend it!!

Thank you to the publisher who lent me a time-constrained e-arc via Netgalley. This review is optional and my own opinion.