About the Book

In this powerful Amish romance, an isolated woman and a compassionate man learn that love can build a bridge between their two worlds.

Since witnessing the murder of her beloved parents, Miriam Hochstedler suffers from paralyzing anxiety and a deep-seated fear of the Englisch. Unwilling to venture beyond her family’s Tennessee farm, she forms a close bond with a badly injured gelding. Like Miriam herself, the traumatized animal seems unlikely to recover—until skilled horse whisperer Reuben Brenneman arrives.
 
A survivor of an abusive childhood, Reuben understands fear better than most. He’ll do whatever it takes to help a terrified animal, but his compassion doesn’t extend to the church that turned a blind eye to his family’s suffering. Once he finishes this job, he’ll return to the Englisch world, putting his Amish heritage behind him forever.

As Miriam works alongside Reuben, battling the horse’s fear—and her own—an unexpected friendship blooms and deepens into romance. But the Amish faith that sustains her inspires only distrust in Reuben, and the Englisch world he’s chosen has already broken her heart once.
 
Falling in love was easy. But staying together will take all the courage they have.

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Other Books in the Series

In My Opinion

After reading the first two books in the Johns Mills series, I knew Courage in the Storm would be an emotional read. And wow, Laurel Blount hit me in all the feels.

Mariam’s anxiety and fear is obvious from the beginning of the book, and I felt the panic right along with her. When Reuben enters the picture, his gentle way with the horse Mariam cares for gave me a clue to the kind of man he was—just the kind of guy Mariam needs. He’s kind and caring but understands trauma and the need to push past it. The two characters had such a deep understanding of each other that just made their romance more endearing.

This Amish story is so well researched and paced, while being deeply moving and heart wrenching, that the ending came way too soon for me. There are very difficult things in this book—from the death of Mariam’s parents and the grief that goes with that to the abuse Reuben suffered—but it offers the hope of healing and overcoming our past in an honest and real way. The road isn’t an easy one, but the journey is always worth taking.

Please read this book.

Disclosure statement: I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.