Ella's Wish by Jerry Eicher ~ review

Product Description from Amazon.com:

Ella Yoder has moved into her dream house. In the stillness of the great house, Ella ponders her options. How is she to survive on her own? How will she ever forget Aden? What is to become of her?
Two would-be suitors soon make their intentions known, but Ella is unsure of her own feelings. As she agrees to take care of Preacher Stutzman’s three motherless girls, Ella’s heart is touched by their love for her. Could their affection be the answer to Ella’s quest? Can God speak through the love of a child?
Readers of Amish fiction will fall in love themselves with Ella Yoder and hope with her that she finds the love and happiness she seeks.

My take on this book:
Ella Yoder lost her true love Aden, but he had set aside money for their home so his parents went ahead with the building of the house, and in this story Ella has moved into her new home. She needs a way to support herself and decides to rent part of the house out to an Amish couple who is getting married. She is also approached by Preacher Stutzman to take care of his three young daughters and she quickly agrees. She also decides to turn her basement into a quilt shop, and soon has plenty of business, enough that she should be able to support herself. She feels as if she will never be able to love again, but there are a few suitors who are interested. The bishop starts coming to call, he is convinced that she is the one for him, and Ella's parents think he would be perfect for her, but Ella isn't so sure. The one thing she knows is that she wont do anything while the Stutzman girls need her.

Preacher Stutzman is struggling with what to do about a mother for his girls. Everyone is pushing him toward a local widow, but his heart is leading him in a different direction. Will Ella ever be ready for another relationship?

I love this series! Ella is such an easy character to like. It is easy to see that her heart hasn't healed from the loss of her beloved Aden, but still she is a strong independent young lady that does what she needs to do, and that is what makes her story so different, it is the independence that she has. It was interesting to get a glimpse of Preacher Stutzman, while he is preaching a sermon, where he is tough, but then to see another side of him tending to his children. The secondary story between Eli and the Englisher Pam is still unresolved and I am totally wondering how it will work out.

While this is the second book in the Little Valley Series it can easily be read as a stand alone work, although its such a great series that you really should read both. Their is never a down time in this story, the author held my attention until the final page, actually long after the final page because I became so involved in Ella's story that I so wanted to know how it would work out for her, but because its a series I will have to wait until September when the final book titled "Ella Finds Love Again" is released.

"A Wedding Quilt For Ella", and "Ella's Wish" are two amish fiction reads that I would highly recommend. I for one will be anxiously awaiting the final book in this fantastic series!

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.