{Blog Tour/Review} Rosemary Opens Her Heart by Naomi King

ISBN #: 978-0451237972

Page Count: 304

Copyright: November 6, 2012

Publisher: NAL Trade

Book Summary:

(Taken from Amazon)

Zanna Lambright is finally marrying Jonny Ropp, and friends and family have come from far and wide to celebrate. Among them is young widow Rosemary Yutzy, mother of toddler Katie, whose husband was tragically killed last fall. With a willing heart Rosemary has taken over care of her in-law's family and continued to run a baked goods business from home, but privately she still mourns her lost Joe ... and is unprepared for the changes that are coming ...

Rosemary's father-in-law wants to merge his lamb-raising business with Matt Lambright's - a move that will require the Yutzys to relocate from their nearby town to Cedar Creek. Moreover, it will bring Rosemary into constant contact with Matt, who is making no secret of his romantic interest in her. The challenges of contemplating a future unlike any she expected are overwhelming for Rosemary. And although Matt is strong and kind, his courtship is so persistent, she often wants to run the other way. As Rosemary struggles to see beyond her immediate joys and sorrows, will she embrace the outpouring of welcome and support from the people of Cedar Creek ... and accept this new chance to open her heart to a more abundant life?

Mandy's Review:

Cover/Title

The cover is pretty and shows the simple beauty of the Amish life. Rosemary didn't wear colored dresses until close to the end, but I suppose if she was shown wearing black on the cover it wouldn't have represented how she opened her heart, ain't so?

Plot/Main Characters

I get the impression that Rosemary does not handle change very well. Instead of dealing with the situation, she tends to either run away or get busy doing something so her mind's occupied. With her husband dead, she's focused all her time on everyone else's needs and has no idea what she wants for herself. So when Matt begins showing her some special attention, she's flustered and scared. Katie, though, helps her mom see the man Matt really is by trusting in him so much and listening to him as if he were her own dat.

Not only does the story focus on Rosemary and Matt's situation, but it also progresses Abby and James' situation as well. We first met Abby and James in Ms. King's novel Abby Finds Her Calling. James was supposed to have married Zanna, but Zanna had gotten pregnant by Jonny Ropp during her rumspringa. They had a little boy, Harley, and decided to get married. James forgave Zanna for her betrayal and the two are still friends. In this book, James realizes that Abby was better suited for him all along. They grow closer together, but are taking their time.

Overall

I grow very nostalgic whenever I read an Amish story. I think if there were such a thing as reincarnation, I would want to come back Amish. Their simple life is so refreshing that I yearn for it every time I pick up a Naomi King or Charlotte Hubbard novel. Granted, a novel does not always reflect real life, but I would still be interested in giving it a go.

This is another excellent, engrossing novel by Naomi that is pure and sweet and wonderful gut ... and, yes, I've used some Amish throughout.

Author Info:

I've called Missouri home for most of my life, and most folks don't realize that several Old Order Amish and Mennonite communities make their home here, as well. The rolling pastureland, woods, and small towns along county highways make a wonderful setting for Plain populations - and for stories about them, too! While Jamesport, Missouri is the largest Old Order Amish settlement west of the Mississippi River, other communities have also found the affordable farm land ideal for raising crops, livestock, and running the small family-owned businesses that support their families.

Like Abby Lambright, heroine of my new Home at Cedar Creek series, I consider it a personal mission to be a listener and a peacemaker - to heal broken hearts and wounded souls. Faith and family, farming and frugality matter to me: like Abby, I sew and enjoy fabric arts - I made my wedding dress and the one Mom wore, too, when I married into an Iowa farm family more than thirty-five years ago!

When I'm not writing, I crochet and sew, and I love to travel. I recently moved to Minnesota when my husband got a wonderful new job, so now he and I and our border collie, Ramona, are exploring our new state and making new friends.

To find out more about Naomi, please visit her at http://www.naomikingauthor.com/. Visit her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/NaomiC.King or on Goodreads at http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5163868.Naomi_King.


*An ARC of this novel was provided by the author for the purposes of this tour and in exchange for an honest review.