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?
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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
Learn how to write characters readers will love.
Carol Alwood has an unending passion for fiction, and she can’t think of a better way to spend her life than writing books for young adults and teaching about techniques she has learned along the way. With a Master of Education, experience as a content editor, and over a decade of establishing and working with critique groups, she is an excellent resource. An award-winning author, Carol finds joy in helping writers find the right tools to plan, draft and revise their novels so they can achieve excellence in storytelling.
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.
Can the invisible walls that separate people ever come down?
Camille writes poignant, inspirational love stories some call “more than a romance.” She lives in Oregon with her husband and is a mom, grandma, office admin, lead foot, cinnamon roll baker, and a bass guitarist. She’s a fan of muscle cars, tender romance, and Peanut M&Ms.
December covers quaint Heart’s Bend, Tennessee with a blanket of white and the glitter of Christmas lights.
Rachel Hauck is an award winning, New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author.
Whether you’re in the honeymoon stage or celebrating your fiftieth anniversary, you have never before been in this season of your marriage. Your family dynamics, finances, health, emotional state, location, ministry, employment status—all the factors of your life—are in a perpetual state of transition. As a married woman, you are continually wife-changing. The Scriptures never change, but they can always be freshly applied to every season of marriage.
Nancy Kaser is a passionate pastor’s wife and veteran missionary. For over twenty-five years, she has taught women’s Bible studies, provided biblical counseling, and been a dynamic women’s conference speaker. Based in Southern California, Nancy teaches literature and history classes at The Writtenburg Door. She and her visionary husband also lead short-term mission trips with the Calvary Chapel movement and run a child-sponsorship organization.
Darling Hedgehog learns about the animal nature of things in high humor and carefree, cute, and winning episodes. This childhood story reads a bit like Aesop’s Fables or a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood, for children 4-8 or preschool and kindergarten, as a read-to-me picture book, and first grade and second grade as a chapter book.
Auralee Arkinsly writes in good humor about serious subjects because kids of all ages can learn a lot from laughing. She is a strong believer in right and wrong but knows that getting onto the right path can mean falling down a slippery slope. She reckons if she can save some from the bumps and bruises, then she has done her job
From bestselling authors in the Amish genre come four delicious novellas perfect for celebrating love, joy, and the holiday season.
The final book in the series, Breath of Joy, Winter Whispers speaks of the deep quiet earth movements that echo human proving grounds and transitions during rest. Photo Art and Prose. Three everyday celebrations on every page spread are not commercially Christmas but rather interrelational and spiritually poised. This is simply, because in Winter when the earth’s axis is the farthest away from the sun, people warm themselves and grow in the wonder of darkness, where God still sees us, breathing life.
Kathy Joy enjoyed being a popular Christian radio D.J. in Colorado for many years. When her husband wanted to move to Pennsylvania to take over the family farm, Kathy Joy accompanied him with their two young daughters. Four years later, Kathy Joy found herself a widow raising two teenagers. To stave off despair, she began writing three every day celebrations in a journal. Friends on Facebook began prompting her to write a book, and so the beginning of the Breath of Joy series began. Kathy Joy now works in human services, speaking wonder on the weekends to grief therapy groups, motivational corporate meetings, and women’s retreats. Some of her topics include Vision Board workshops, Being a Harbor Pilot, Mirroring the Savior, The Fifth Season, and A Christmas Tea.
Abba's Prayer Warrior Princess 