Traditional Amish families tend to have more children than in city communities. With five strong sons in his father's family, woodworker Samuel Bowman has to use all his skills to supplement the farm income and provide not just money but useful occupation for the lads. Trouble has already been caused by idle hands. In AN AMISH HARVEST, Samuel regrets leaving routine work to his brothers and counts on buying a new generator - sometime.

Rebecca Miller hears that an accident overtook hardworking Samuel and may have robbed him of his sight. The family asks this young widow if she will help them by caring for the injured man during the harvest. This would be a Christian act, thinks Rebecca, and it would stop her mother from setting up meetings with men looking to wed. Samuel is devastated by his injuries and doesn't even want to get out of bed. Rebecca's not having that; she has nursed people through pneumonia and worse. Samuel resents her interference in his life; it's not as though they know each other well, but Rebecca is determined to show the strong man that he is far from helpless.

I find Rebecca is a wonderfully practical woman. When her patient is awkward she goes right along doing what she knows is best. She makes lavender scented soaps and cooks nutritious, tasty foods. Samuel is fearful that he will never work again, with eyes and hands damaged, and he wonders if the Lord has stopped watching over him. The contrasting attitudes make for an entertaining and informative story. Not only in nursing are women useful; a new plan is to train Amish women to work at a school for children with special needs. Anyone caring for a patient with mobility or vision issues will learn some helpful tips from this detailed story. Even just a positive attitude and reminder to keep striving for improvement can be refreshing in an ongoing situation. Isolation can also be detrimental to recovery, but among the Amish we see that the community is involved in everything.

This inspirational romance is a good fit with Patricia Davids' earlier books such as THE AMISH NANNY and THE SHEPHERD'S BRIDE. Understanding people is at the fore. Reading AN AMISH HARVEST is a wonderful way to take time out of a busy life and remember to be grateful for what we have and whom we love.

Book Summary

Nursing His Heart

When Amish carpenter Samuel Bowman is injured in an accident, he fears he'll never see again. He's always provided for his family—and now that it's harvest season, the Bowmans are needed in the fields, not at his bedside. So when a young Amish widow becomes his nurse, Samuel expects Rebecca Miller to make his life easier. But his caregiver is bossy, outspoken and challenges him to move on with his life. Though Samuel's sight is in question, he can plainly see the woman he's come to care for won't let herself love again. Now it's Samuel's turn to heal her heart.