Strength in the Storm by Laurel Blount

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Emma and Samuel’s moving, uplifting, emotional story in Strength in the Storm, book two of Laurel Blount’s Johns Mill Amish Romance series, tugs at your heart, holding you hostage until the very last page. This was a story I could not put down, reading it in one day.

 

Emma Hochstedler is still grieving the senseless murder of both of her parents when she returns to her home after caring for her Uncle in Ohio. She struggles with guilt over the situation which that caused her parent’s death. Emma tries to help her brother and his pregnant wife as well as her sister Miriam, who suffers emotionally, after witnessing her parent’s death. Naomi, her sister-in-law, believes that Miriam might do better if Emma left her brother’s home. After her former boyfriend, Samuel Christner helps her out of a scary situation. Emma gets the idea that to help Sam’s Aunt Ruth while she recovers from a hip injury. Ruth is not an easy person to get along with, but then neither was Emma’s Uncle in Ohio and Emma believes she has the inner strength to deal with her. Now that they are thrown together again, Emma and Samuel discover they still have feelings for one another. When a terrible tragedy strikes, Sam and his niece are injured in a buggy accident, blinding Sam and possibly threatening his chances of happiness and a future with Emma possibly threatening his chances of happiness and a future with Emma. Until he learns lessons similar to those of Emma, forgiving themselves for actions not totally under their control.

 

Ms. Blount wrote a wonderfully sweet and moving story that had me feeling all the emotions; smiling, tearing up, crying of heartbreak, and frustrated with some of the characters. The message of love, faith, and forgiveness stood strong; making this sweet and inspiration read one I could not put down, draw me in, making me forget it was fiction. I highly recommend Strength in the Storm to other readers.