An Unbroken Heart

Kathleen Fuller

Mar 2016 · HarperChristian + ORM

About this ebook

An argument. A crash. In an instant, Joanna’s world is changed forever.

One minute, Joanna Schrock was arguing with her parents, and the next, her parents’ lives were claimed in a hit-and-run buggy accident. Her body is broken, but her heart is in even deeper pain— after all, how do you cope with your parents’ deaths when your last words were spoken in anger?

After an extended stint in a physical rehabilitation center, Joanna re-enters her Amish life. But nothing is the same—not even her feelings for Andrew Beiler.

Joanna has loved Andrew since the age of twelve, and her feelings have not changed throughout the years. She is thrilled when Andrew wants to get married, but she wonders whether it’s love he’s feeling, or pity. As the couple’s wedding date approaches, Joanna isn’t overcome with the deep joy she was hoping to feel; instead, she’s wracked with anxiety and guilt.

Joanna hears God whispering to her, Be strong and courageous, but she’s afraid that courage looks a lot like walking away from her dreams and into the plan of her Heavenly Father.

If Joanna takes the first step toward healing, will it cost her everything she’s ever wanted? Or could God be changing the desires of her heart?

Ratings and reviews

An Unbroken Heart by Kathleen Fuller is the second book in An Amish of Birch Creek series. Joanna Schrock was in a buggy accident with her parents. Her parents did not make it and Joanna has a long recovery ahead of her. Joanna is especially upset because she was arguing with her parents at the time of the accident (about wanting to marry Andrew Beiler). Joanna broke her pelvis and has a severe laceration on her cheek. It will be a long recovery. Andrew was so upset when he heard about the accident. When he visits Joanna in the rehabilitation center, he proposes. Andrew could not imagine his life without Joanna. Joanna accepts and it is full speed ahead to the wedding. Joanna has doubts, but she does not voice them aloud to anyone. Then when she starts to walk down the aisle, Joanna collapses. She tells Andrew that she cannot marry him. Joanna realizes that she was not ready and this helps her recovery. However, Joanna still loves Andrew. Will she be able to convince him of her love and get his forgiveness? What lessons will Joanna learn on her journey? An Unbroken Heart was not as good as the first book in An Amish of Birch Creek. I was not fond of Joanna (her attitude got on my nerves after a short time). I found her to be extremely immature, full of self-doubts, and she had trouble communicating her thoughts and feelings (which leads to confusion and conflict). An Unbroken Heart can be read as a stand-alone novel (but the first novel is really good). An Unbroken Heart is an easy to read book (the author has a nice writing style) that can be finished in just a few hours (it contains 299 pages). An Unbroken Heart is a Christian novel, but it is not over-the-top (or in your face). The book does contain a good message about forgiveness. I give An Unbroken Heart 3.5 out of 5 stars. It was a middling novel (satisfactory or okay). I am, though, looking forward to the next book in An Amish of Birch Creek series which will tell Abigail’s story (the last sister). I received a complimentary copy of An Unbroken Heart from NetGalley and BookLook Bloggers in exchange for an honest review.

About the author

With over two million copies sold, Kathleen Fuller is the USA TODAY bestselling author of several bestselling novels, including the Hearts of Middlefield novels, the Middlefield Family novels, the Amish of Birch Creek series, and the Amish Letters series as well as a middle-grade Amish series, the Mysteries of Middlefield. Visit her online at KathleenFuller.com; Instagram: @kf_booksandhooks; Facebook: @WriterKathleenFuller; Twitter: @TheKatJam.