My Thoughts
The Amish Marriage Bargain by author Marie E. Bast is a Christian Amish Romance novel that will capture your attention and heart. The story is original with twists, a mystery, drama, and romance. Faith and inspiration is woven throughout this lovely book and tie everything together perfectly.
Author Bast has a pleasant writing style. She knows how to shape characters so that they are believable. The storyline was interesting and written well. The pace was even and content drew me in. Her description of the people and community took me there on an imaginary trip where I found new friends.
Since her sister died, May has taken over the care of her little niece. Thad, her brother-in-law, was May’s former intended. If you think that adds up to complications, don’t forget Thad’s mother who believes May can do nothing right. The Bishop now wants May to marry Thad because of appearances.
There are so many levels to this novel. It is entertaining, teaches lessons on faith, trust, grudges, forgiveness, gossip, love, and secrets. The lessons are all timely and relevant to life today.
I wish this had cook with discussion questions for reading groups. This has so many life lessons built into it that it would make a great selection. My other wish is that it included a recipe or two. I am spoiled by other Amish books including them.
I highly recommend this book. It was thoroughly enjoyable and gave food for thought. My rating is 5 out of 5 stars. A copy was provided by Celebrate Lit but these are my honest words.
About the Book
Book: The Amish Marriage Bargain
Author: Marie E. Bast
Genre: Amish
Release Date: December 17, 2019
Will a baby girl bring them together at last?
She’ll do anything for her niece…Even marry the man who broke her heart.
Nothing can keep May Bender in her Amish hometown—except caring for her baby niece. But the bishop insists that May also marry her widowed brother-in-law, Thad Hochstedler—the beau who jilted her to wed her sister. Can May risk her heart long enough to learn the real reason for Thad’s first marriage…and possibly rediscover their love?
Click here to get your copy!
About the Author
Marie E. Bast is a Publishers Weekly bestselling author. Her stories whisper words of hope and healing through complex characters and twisting plots. She enjoys writing Amish, contemporary and historical stories. Married for twenty-eight years, Marie and her husband have two grown sons and one daughter. When she’s not writing, she’s walking, golfing, gardening or spending time with her family. Visit her website at MarieBastAuthor.com or follower her on social media.
More from Marie
Did you know that until as late as the twentieth century, marriage was never based on love?
In fact, the institution of marriage predates recorded history. But in ancient biblical times, the reasons for marriage are numerous. The kings, nobility, wealthy, and aristocratic families used arranged marriages to ensure loyalty between kingdoms, which forced a united bound and ensured the integrity of their inheritance and the family wealth.
Arranged marriages, marriages of convenience, and marriage bargains were practical to keep property and kingdoms intact and in the family line. But these marriage contracts also spilled over into the commoners’ lives. In times of poverty, a daughter was only another mouth to feed and therefore a burden on the family. That fueled the arranged marriages where the groom gave the family money, animals, or some other commodity in exchange for the marriage.
Also, arranged marriages were instrumental for women over the age of 30 who were unwed. Even in the nineteenth century, many women would find that a marriage of convenience was the way to go. Often, a widower needed a mother and housekeeper for his family, and sometimes a woman without means to support herself would readily accept a marriage of convenience. Even today, some cultures still use arranged marriages.
But one of the most unique marriage of convenience is the marriage bargain, and that is the central theme to my newest book, The Amish Marriage Bargain, which releases in book form December 17, 2019, and eBook January 1, 2020. The marriage bargain is the specific negotiation of the terms of the agreement regarding a particular situation and often included land.
After her sister dies, May Bender will do anything for her niece…Even marry the man who broke her heart. But like the days of old, the bargain goes deeper than that.
Blog Stops
The Power of Words, January 2
For Him and My Family, January 2
The Avid Reader, January 3
Stephanie’s Life of Determination, January 3
Texas Book-aholic, January 4
Vicky Sluiter, January 4
Mary Hake, January 4
Adventures of a Travelers Wife, January 5
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 5
Among the Reads, January 6
Betti Mace, January 6
Older & Smarter?, January 7
Locks, Hooks and Books, January 7
Batya’s Bits, January 7
janicesbookreviews, January 8
Hallie Reads, January 8
For The Love Of Literature, January 9
Britt Reads Fiction, January 9
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, January 10
Bigreadersite, January 10
mypreciousbitsandmusings, January 10
She Lives to Read, January 11
Through the Fire Blogs, January 11
Quiet Quilter, January 12
Pause for Tales, January 12
Inklings and notions, January 13
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, January 13
Tell Tale Book Reviews, January 13
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 14
EmpowerMoms, January 14
Blossoms and Blessings, January 15
Splashes of Joy , January 15
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Marie is giving away to four winners each a $25 Amazon card will also receive a copy of the book!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/f426/the-amish-marriage-bargain-celebration-tour-giveaway
Things at the Petersheim house are getting too crowded for eight-year-old twins Alfie and Benji. As if things weren’t bad enough with three older brothers hogging all the bacon at breakfast and using more than their fair share of toilet paper, Mammi and Dawdi Petersheim have to move in because of Dawdi’s stroke. If Alfie and Benji have any hope of getting their own bedrooms, they have to get rid of their annoying brothers, and the only way to convince their brothers to move out is to make each of them fall in love. What could be so hard about that?
Jennifer Beckstrand is the two-time RITA-nominated, #1 Amazon bestselling Amish romance author of The Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hill series, The Honeybee Sisters series, and The Petersheim Brothers series for Kensington Books. Huckleberry Summer and Home on Huckleberry Hill were both nominated for the coveted RITA® Award from Romance Writers of America. Jennifer has written twenty-one Amish romances, a historical Western, and the nonfiction book, Big Ideas. She and her husband have been married for thirty-five years, and she has six children and eight adorable grandchildren, whom she spoils rotten.
From bestselling authors in the Amish genre come four delicious novellas perfect for celebrating love, joy, and the holiday season.
Everyone in America has fallen in love with Delilah, leading lady in a bestselling Amish novel. When media giants discover that Delilah is a real person, the pursuit is on. Dave joins the search not realizing that by finding her, he would fall into the story and become Samson.
Thomas Nye writes novels about horses and Amish life, with a touch of romance, and a foundation of faith in Christ. He and his wife, Shari, live on her family farm where they raised five children. Their six grandchildren love to visit Karma and Karla, a team of draft horses which Thomas purchased from an Amish friend. Walking a mail route for the U.S. Postal Service keeps Thomas close to nature and affords him many quiet hours which he uses to dream up novels. Over three decades of friendships with Amish neighbors has revealed a simple wisdom that he weaves into his writing.
