A Daughter's Choice - (The Heart of the Amish) by Kelly Irvin (Paperback)

This is an original Amish story as it delves into the inner struggles of the characters and what is expected of them to remain part of the Amish community. Hen is a strong willed Amish maedel who is only interested in her goats and making items to sell but with her father being the bishop she is expected to become an obedient daughter who does household chores, cooks, and bakes. This is a story of enemies to friends, to sweet romance and discovering what is most important following your dreams or faith and family.i really enjoyed the approach the author took to make this story shine through difficulties and differences of of opinions and how love, faith, and family binds us together. This is the first book in The Heart of the Amish series and I look forward to more as it was a very enjoyable read. I received a complimentary copy from CelebrateLit/Barbour Publishing. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.

First, I’ll say that yes, this is book 10 in the series but each is a stand alone so just jump in. Henrietta Miller, known as Hen, is not the typical Amish woman which makes life a challenge. Nicholas isn’t sure about his religious life. Both are such likeable characters and well written. I love characters that are outside the norm, and then watching them grow. We do that in A Daughter’s Choice. Lots of animals, especially goats, add to the fun. Throw in some matchmakers and wedding preparations and life is fun and busy. It’s really sweet to watch Nicholas, his sister, and even the community take care of the grandfather that is dealing with dementia. Really, this book has a bit of everything. If you enjoy Amish fiction with well developed characters and a challenging plot, then you’ll want to read this one. I highly recommend it. I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review. All thoughts are my own.

A Daughter’s Choice by Kelly Irvin has two unique main characters for an Amish story. Henrietta “Hen” Miller prefers spending time with her goats than keeping house. Her father, the bishop, would rather she spend her time doing household chores like the other women in the district. Nicholas Byler along with his sister, Lenora, have come to town to take care of their grandfather who has dementia. Nicholas obtained the job with the local vet that Hen had applied for, but her father nixed it. I felt for Hen. She has a wonderful spirit, and she is a natural with animals. Her father did everything he could to discourage her. I found him to be very harsh, and I did not like that he was punishing a twenty-two-year-old woman like she was two. I also understood Nicholas’ desire to study to become a veterinarian. The story is well-written with steady pacing. I like that the story is told from Hen and Nicholas’ point of view because it allows readers to see each of their perspectives on the various issues. The themes in A Daughter’s Choice are God’s will, faith, family, and community. A Daughter’s Choice is the tenth book in The Heart of the Amish series. It can be read as a standalone for those new to the series. I enjoyed the humor sprinkled throughout the story and the heartfelt ending. A Daughter’s Choice is a poignant tale with energetic goats, an animated animal lover, a job robber, a cute canine, strained ankle trouble, matchmaker mess, and rampant rumors.