The Bookseller’s Promise

Yvonne Wilson is a book broker, and she is trying to get Jake Lantz to sell her a rare volume. Jake made a promise to his grandfather that he would never sell the book. Yvonne travels to Montgomery, Indiana to convince Jake to sell her the book. Yvonne does not know how anyone can resist $100,000. Yvonne is engaged to marry Trevor in a few months, but she finds herself attracted to the handsome Amish bookseller. She can tell, though, that his employee, Eva is in love with him. Yvonne’s visit along with the rare book is about to change all of their lives. The Bookseller’s Promise by Beth Wiseman is a heartwarming Amish tale. It is the beginning of The Amish Bookstore Novels. This novel is well-written with realistic, developed characters. The story is told from three points-of-view: Eva, Jake, and Yvonne (the Englischer). I like that we get to see things from each of their perspectives, but it does lead to some repetition. I liked this unique Amish novel. It is not your standard Amish romance. Family and faith play a big role in the story. It is important to pray and rely on God. He is there for us in the tough times and the good. Yvonne was raised by her aunt and uncle who are unbelievers. Yvonne does not believe in heaven which surprises Jake and Eva. I liked following Yvonne as she spent time in Montgomery and got to know people. Yvonne is in for a surprising journey. The romance was sweet and amusing at times. It is a clean story with the only PDA being a few kisses. It was interesting learning about the special book that Yvonne’s client desires. I enjoyed the epilogue which paves the way for The Story of Love. I cannot wait to read the next chapter in these characters lives. The Bookseller’s Promise is a touching story with a treasured tome, wedding worries, an unexpected trip, a clamorous client, a bouncy buggy ride, an astounding accident, an extraordinary revelation, and a gracious God.

An unrequited romance and a rare book . . . That phrase is a perfectly fitting description of The Bookseller's Promise. But if you think that description sums up the whole story, I'm here to tell you that it's not even close. Yvonne Wilson is on a mission to acquire an extremely rare book, and she finds out that an Amish bookstore actually has the book. However, when Yvonne contacts Jake Lantz, the bookstore owner, she is shocked when he informs her that the book is not for sale. Because Yvonne is not one to give up, especially where a large payout is involved, she decides to travel to Indiana so that she can speak directly to Jake and get him to change his mind. Jake owns the bookstore that had been his grandfather's, and Eva Graber has worked with him ever since she was fifteen years old. While Eva would like Jake to see her as more than just his employee, he seems a tad bit slow in the romance department and doesn't quite get the message. And that is where a story about an unrequited romance and a rare book begins. It's also the beginning of how Yvonne, Jake and Eva's paths cross and merge together, which create a beautiful story. While I loved Jake and Eva right from the start, I struggled with feeling the same way about Yvonne. However, as I got to know the three of them better, I completely changed my mind about Yvonne. Then when a curve ball was thrown into the story, the three characters took over my heart completely. The Bookseller's Promise is a true gem of a story. Once I started reading it, I couldn't stop. I wanted Jake and Eva to find each other, but I really wanted to know what was in that special book. Author Beth Wiseman flawlessly blended the themes of romance, intrigue, and faith throughout the story, and she did so in a way where the themes perfectly complement each other and do not overshadowed one another. It was a perfect combination as is, but it became even more perfect with some unexpected events that added so much more depth to the story and made me say, "Wow! I did not see that coming!" I highly recommend you read it for yourself and when you do, you'll understand why. ****I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.