Love's Dwelling

Love’s Dwelling by Kelly Irvin is a poignant novel. This is a book that I stayed up late reading (you should have seen me trying to read while I made dinner and did the dishes). It is so much more than an Amish romance novel which I loved. I thought Love’s Dwelling was well-written with developed characters. We go to Yoder, Kansas where Cassie Weaver works for Dinah and Job Keim as their housekeeper. They are shocked when a social worker arrives with five young kids along with a man in his 20s. It turns out that their daughter who left twenty-three years ago has passed away and left guardianship of her children to them. Her oldest son, Mason Keim (22) does not want to lose contact with his half siblings. Cassie offers to move in to help with the kids since Dinah has health issues. Cassie quickly falls in love with the kids. Mason finds Cassie easy to talk to and they become friends. Mason wants to learn more about his heritage and how his siblings will be raised. The more Mason learns, the more he finds it appealing. But Mason is unsure if he could transition from his Englisch lifestyle. He finds himself falling for Cassie, but, as Mason has been warned, love is not a reason to become Amish. What path will Mason take? Love’s Dwelling is an emotional novel as the Keim’s grandchildren adjust to their new life. These kids have not had the easiest life and they have just lost their mother. They are being taken away from everything that is familiar. Little Jennie, the Keim’s youngest grandchild, is the show stealer. She is a cutie. Family, forgiveness, acceptance, and faith are the central themes of Love’s Dwelling. Learning to deal with regrets is another issue addressed. I like that the Amish do not force their beliefs on the kids or Mason. They live by example. You also get to see the differences between the Amish and the Englisch (besides the obvious). The ending nicely wrapped up the story. I am eager for the next book in the Amish Blessings series. Love’s Dwelling is a touching Amish tale with grief-stricken grandchildren, a helpful housekeeper, debilitating diabetes, a searching sibling, grateful grandparents, and scrumptious cake.

Thanks go to the publisher and Net-Galley for the complimentary digital copy of Love’s Dwelling by Kelly Irwin. I voluntarily agreed to read and review this novel prior to publication. My opinions are my own, and nothing has influenced my rating. Love’s Dwelling is a well written Amish novel with endearing characters and an emotionally charged plot. The pacing pulled me in from the first page and kept me enmeshed until the very last page. Cassie Weaver is the heroine, and her character has all the traits I look for in an Amish female protagonist. While she wants a family and a husband, she’s happy helping Dinah and Job as their housekeeper since Dinah is losing her sight. When they become the guardians to their five grandchildren, she’s more than happy to help her employers. Her immediate acceptance and love for the children in her care touched my heart. Mason is the hero, and he is shocked when he learns his mother wants her parents to raise his half brothers and sisters. He didn’t even know his mother’s parents, or that his late mother was raised Amish. His reaction is what one would expect when facing such unusual circumstances. This has him questioning everything about his life. Because he wants to be in his sibling’s life, he finds employment and moves to be near them. As he gets to know his grandparents and the young woman helping them, his feelings for Cassie grow. I enjoyed the sweet romance between Mason and Cassie. It grows from their friendship and their mutual love for his adorable siblings. I truly wanted this couple to find their happy ending, but there are many things that must fall into place for it to happen. If you enjoy Amish fiction with plenty of heart that has a lovely message of faith, and a plot that will bring tears to your eyes on more than one occasion, then you will love Love’s Dwelling as much as I did. This is the first book in Ms. Irwin’s newest series, and I can’t wait to read the next one. Happy reading!