It’s Friday so that means I need to have a review up! 🙂 The Mending by Susan Lantz Simpson is the second book in this series. The first book is The Promise here. and I reviewed it back in January. We met Malinda Stauffer in The Promise. Here’s the back cover copy:
With autumn’s golden glow, marriage season comes to Southern Maryland’s Amish country. But is such joy meant for all? . . .
Malinda Stauffer is happy that her gut frienden Phoebe Yoder may soon be married. Of course, Malinda can’t help wondering about her own future. She hopes someday to find the same contentment as a wife and mother that she has helping her own mamm care for Malinda’s father and five brothers. But a challenging health issue has her convinced no man wants the burden of a fraa who needs rest when there are farms to tend and businesses to run. Adding to her stress is the unwanted attention of an aggressive big city doctor smitten by her—an unsettling distraction she has kept to herself.
Timothy Brenneman works alongside Malinda’s brother, Sam, handcrafting the finest Amish furniture in St. Mary’s County. He can’t recall when Sam’s little schweschder blossomed into a beautiful young woman—but he would do anything to hold Malinda close and soothe the sad yearning in her eyes. Sensing her unease at the mention of her doctor only confirms his desire to protect her. Healing, however, is in Gott’s hands, and a hard lesson in the true meaning of love may soon bless them both in ways they never imagined . .
I really enjoyed this well-written and well-plotted story. It has everything I like about Amish fiction–the simpler lifestyle with a cast of characters big on family.
When Malinda goes to help her aunt after surgery, she suffers a flare-up with her Chron’s disease and has to be hospitalized. The doctor who treats her becomes smitten with her, causing her all sorts of problems, then when she returns home, the man she thought she would marry has a new girlfriend. Now Malina believes no man will want her because of her illness. Except for Timothy who had loved her for years. She rebuffs him because she doesn’t think it’s fair to saddle him with an ill wife. Malinda had a lot of spunk and a very strong sense of right and wrong.
Susan Lantz Simpson did a great job of showing how Malinda, and then Timothy learned to depend on God instead of fearing the future. It’s a heartwarming story that will leave you feeling good about the world. And we certainly need that.
Leave a comment and I’ll enter you in a drawing for a book from my library! Malinda believed because of her illness, she was damaged goods and even turned down the man she loved because she didn’t want to saddle him with a sick wife. How do you feel about that?
And the winner of September Reader Friday Drawing is Kim Edgar!
Comments 26
The Mending sounds like a good read. I know a real-life Malinda (except it was a man) who turned down dating/marriage because he had a “terminal illness.” He lived to his 80s, and he was such a great guy! So I figure as long as both people are open and aware of the possibilities, it’s okay to move forward with romance, and God will figure out the rest.
Author
I know someone like that, too, Priscilla. Sometimes I think they are afraid of commitment…thanks for stopping by!
I wish it were that easy to move forward after being diagnosed with a terminal illness, but it is very hard for a lot of people. Being diagnosed with terminal cancer at 37, I stepped away from romance because I didn’t think it was fair to put that on someone else. I still don’t and I celebrated my 60th birthday yesterday.
Author
I understand in a way, Debra, and I guess not everyone is destined to be married or even remarried, me included. But we are in good company…thinking about Paul. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by.
It is probably a good story but I live near Amish in Pennsylvania, have read too many Amish stories, and am really bored with the stories. The best I’ve read were written by an Amish woman under a pen name. (Carrie Bender)
Author
I understand, Christine. I usually read Amish when it seems everything is in chaos around me. It’s rather calming. Thanks for stopping by.
If you love someone, a medical issue should not matter. My husband is considered 100% disabled, but he doesn’t let it get him down & there’s not too much that he can’t do! He will be 80 next spring!
Author
So agree, Mary! So glad for your husband’s attitude! Thanks for stopping by.
I guess the decision is for each person to make as to what is right for their happiness. I thank God that I have never been in that position. I do enjoy Amish fiction periodically. Thanks for the review, Pat.
Author
Thanks Gloria. I don’t read it often, but lately, it’s appealed to me. 🙂 So glad you stopped by and commented.
This sounds like an interesting story. The most intriguing part to me is how many people shy away from a relationship because of some medical diagnosis they’ve been saddled with but never stop to think about all the people without that kind of “baggage” who have married and then later experience life-threatening illnesses. After more than 50 years of marriage, it’s hard to imagine what my life would have been like without my wife. She was the picture of health when we dated and got married. Since then, she has suffered a massive stroke, a couple of heart attacks, and knee replacement surgeries. She has been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, Crohn’s disease, COPD, and who knows what else. A few months after the diagnosis of Crohn’s, the doctors decided she didn’t have it. My point is that we never know what life will bring our way, so we take a day at a time trusting God to get us through. With Him, we can face tomorrow, whether we already have a bad diagnosis or whether it’s something coming in the future.
Author
Amen and amen, Edward! Thanks for stopping by and weighing in.
Sounds like a great book! It seems in these days, so many just don’t know the meaning of commitment! They should read Edward’s (above) story.
Author
I agree, Jackie! Edward’s comment was very good. Thanks for stopping by.
Hmm. Very interesting. We all have some insecurities about ourselves but how we deal with them depends on us.
Author
So true, Mindy, so true. Thanks for dropping by!
When you marry someone you vow to be with them in sickness and in health. So when the sickness part happens that is when you see the real character of the person you married.
Author
Absolutely correct, Janet. Great comment! Thanks for dropping by.
I understand why she wouldn’t want to burden him, but if he loved her and knew everything and still wanted to commit then she needed to trust God to work it out for a His glory.
Author
So agree, Lucy. I’m not married now because the guy I’ve been dating for 20 years had a medical problem and he feared he’d have a stroke, leaving me to take care of him. Like I wouldn’t anyway. But since God never changed his mind, I’m thinking the life I have is His will for me and I’m happy. Thanks for stopping by.
I understand why a person would not want to saddle someone else with their illness, but I think it is up to the other person to decide if they want to take that step. Not everyone will want to deal with illness or disability. Many others, however, would. And, as Edward said, you can both be healthy when you marry, but things happen. I’d rather have the love and relationship for a short time than not at all.
Author
So agree, Diane! My friend has helped nurse me through more than one operation! He’s a good nurse. 🙂 I really think it’s more than a health issue. Maybe a commitment issue? Or maybe even fear of some sort. What do you think? Thanks for stopping by.
I don’t think my comment went through, rats! 🙁 I’ll try to recreate it.
You read a book in one of my other favorite genres, Amsih fiction! Susan is a new-to-me author and I must see if I can get a copy of “The Mending” because I want to find out what happens!
To answer your question, I think that if you truly love someone, it’s not going to matter what that person suffers from, such as Malinda’s disease. Through God’s help and a lot of love, they can overcome anything! Now, that doesn’t mean there won’t ever be hard times, but I think having someone special by your side to help, would ease your burden. And also, why not give that person a choice in the matter in the first place? Someone who chooses to marry you in spite of anything physically challenging, is worth spending your life with! I do understand feeling like you would be a burden, maybe the other person doesn’t view it that way at all and just wants to be with you no matter what. I’ve read so many stories of people suffering from cancer where there is no cure, and the other person marries them anyway. They said something along the lines like this: “I’d rather have them in my life x-number of days, than none at all”. Now if that doesn’t make you shed a tear or two, i don’t know wha would! 🙂
Author
Great insight, Trixi! And I agree with all you said. This is a series, but you don’t have to read them in order, but I would suggest reading the first one. Thanks for stopping by!
I wouldn’t want to tie anyone down if I had a terminal illness.
Author
I probably wouldn’t either, Caryl. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment!