Thursday's Bride

Patricia Johns

Mar 2020 · Zebra Books

About this ebook

For a proper young Amish widow struggling to begin again, encountering her reckless first love will test her forgiveness, resolve—and heart . . .

Overwhelmed by grief and tending twin baby daughters, Rosmanda Lapp is without options. She still blames her brother-in-law, Levi, for her husband’s accidental death—but she and her aging in-laws need him to keep their farm going. Yet as Levi takes on his responsibilities with a new determination and steadiness, she can’t help but regret that she chose his serious-minded brother over him. For Levi is still very much the passionate man she loved—and Rosmanda now has even more reasons to keep him at arm's length . . .

Levi can’t blame Rosmanda for staying clear of him. He has mistakes to make up for and must finally do right by his parents. Still, he never got over his brother stealing Rosmanda away. And he can’t deny the feelings that even now tempt them back to each other. And when a mistake from her past threatens her reputation, Levi will do whatever it takes to help her—and trust that faith and courage will at last help them claim a future together . . .

Ratings and reviews

Thursday’s Bride by Patricia Johns is a sweet, heartwarming Amish novel. Rosmanda Lapp moved to Abundance, Pennsylvania from her hometown after a scandal ruined her chances at marriage. She was attracted to the charming and rebellious Levi Lapp, but he was not the proper Amish man she came to marry. When Levi’s older brother, Wayne proposes to Rosmanda, she accepts because he is a respectable Amish man (aka boring but kind). Rosmanda is a now a widow with twin daughters who lives with her in laws. Levi is needed to help with the farm work, so he returns home knowing that Rosmanda blames him for Wayne’s death. Disagreements begin immediately, but they need to find a way to be friends for the sake of the family and their community. There is a definite attraction between Levi and Rosmanda. The sparks fly between them especially when they are disagreeing. I thought Thursday’s Bride was well-written with developed characters. The story is told from Levi and Rosmanda’s point-of-views. It switches between them which allows readers to see things from each of their perspectives. I always find that intriguing because men and women see things differently. I liked the characters in this story. They were fleshed out and brought to life which made them feel real to me. We get to see what it is like for a widow to live with her in laws and the importance of community. Rosmanda felt like she was a burden to the Lapps. She wants to earn money, but it is not easy with twin girls to raise. I enjoyed the description of Rosmanda’s beautiful mourning quilt. After the death of a loved one, you want life to stop so you can grieve. Unfortunately, the world continues moving. Chores must be done, children taken care of, food prepared, and so much more. You continue to grieve while trying to move through each day as we see with Rosmanda. The Amish world is very different from our own. They cannot just think about themselves when making a decision. They must think how it will affect their community. A reputation can easily be tarnished at a young age. Levi and Rosmanda struggle to overcome the past and move forward with their lives. Their interactions were electric at times. I enjoyed following their journey in Thursday’s Bride. The ending was special and left me smiling. There is a preview of Patricia John’s next novel, Jeb’s Wife at the end. Thursday’s Bride focuses on forgiveness, faith and second chances. Patricia Johns provided an appealing Amish story that will keep you engaged from beginning to end. Thursday’s Bride is a heartening Amish novel with toddling twins, a headstrong horse, a cute calf, secret sins, rapid rumors, and finding forgiveness.

About the author

Patricia Johns is the author of more than twenty sweet romance, including the Infamous Amish Trilogy, Jeb's Wife, The Bishop's Daughter, and Thursday's Bride. She lives with her husband and son in Alberta, Canada. Visit her online at PatriciaJohnsRomance.com.