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Thanksgiving Blessing
by
Marta Perry
inspirational romance in an eARC edition that was published by Berkley on October 24, 2023 and has 272 pages.
Explore it on Goodreads or Amazon
Sixth in The Promise Glen (and third in An Amish Holiday series) inspirational romance series and revolving around the people of Promise Glen. The couple focus is on Becca King and Nathan Mueller.
This ARC was sent to me by NetGalley and Berkley for an honest review.
My Take
There are some interesting conflicts in Thanksgiving Blessing with Nathan’s worries about avoiding his uncle’s bad reputation — Onkel Joseph had been Banned, raising his rebellious younger brother, and his guilt over his family’s deaths. Well, the condition of the farm is another issue but seems rather minor in the story. Becca has her own issues — coping with her husband’s unexpected death, the doubts she has over her family’s support for her as well as her ability to do well with her orphaned children and the orchard.
All these troubles are explored through Perry’s use of third person dual protagonist point-of-view from Becca’s and Nathan’s perspectives.
I do understand why Nathan feels so bad, but Becca has a point as well.
There are other character arcs in Thanksgiving Blessing, including the evolution of the shy Deborah, the “evils” of getting older, Peter’s anger issues, Miriam’s dreams, and Abel’s own troubles. Each has its own growth (or not) arc.
I guess you could say the babies, Joanna and James, have an arc, lol, they are a crack-up, and so real to life, lol.
Perry uses a bit of dialect to bring an Amish flavor to the story. It was a bit distracting only because her spelling is different from other Amish spellings I’ve encountered in print.
It’s a beautiful story of family. Sure there are trials, and yet there is such an underpinning of support and love. A support that Nathan dreams of. I love how Becca’s dad takes Nathan about, introducing him to those he needs to know.
It’s all about grief, love, and the support of family and friends, a truly beautiful story that’ll make my Thanksgiving even better.
There is action in Thanksgiving Blessing yet most of the story involves Nathan’s and Becca’s thoughts about their own pasts, their current troubles, their expectations of the future, and their disbelief in any future happiness.
It gets a bit annoying with Nathan running away every other minute and Becca running in the opposite minute (and direction), as they moan their thoughts and grievances. Yet it is redeemed by their individual protective reactions, by Nathan’s observations about Becca’s reactions with her family.
Hmm, we never do learn why Onkel Joseph had such problems. Maybe in a future story?
Yeah, actions do speak so much louder than words. Although, some words, ahem, Abby, create “loud” reactions.
You never know what life will bring.
The Story
Poor Nathan, he’s started off on the wrong foot with Becca King and only makes it worse with his coolness. Yet he can’t withstand Becca’s helpfulness and her family’s friendliness.
When the vandalism that has been striking throughout Promise Glen threatens Becca, Becca and Nathan will have to rely on each other more than they’d like.
The Characters
Becca King has been a widow for a year. Thomas had been her beloved husband. They had/have eighteen-month-old twins: James and Joanna. Grossmammi, Ada Stoltz, lives with Becca.
Becca’s grandfather left her the orchard. Becca’s siblings include Deborah Stoltz and her twin Della, the twin boys David and Daniel, and Matthew who married Miriam last year. The cheerful, bossy Abby is Miriam’s sister.
Abram and Mammi Stoltz are their parents and they run a dairy farm. Alice had been one of Mammi’s sisters who died young. Leah Stoltz, a cousin, is now a Burkhalter, married to Josiah, who runs a carpentry business with his dad.
Jed and Esther King are Thomas’ amazing parents; Jed runs what he calls his bargain store *grin*. Abel is Thomas’ too-comforting brother with some old-fashioned ideas. The disapproving Hilda King is an aunt-in-law.
Nathan Mueller, the irascible Joseph Mueller’s nephew, has inherited his dilapidated farm, which is next door to Becca’s orchards. Peter is his brother, abandoned by their mother, unwanted by his married siblings. Molly had been Nathan’s pregnant wife.
In Promise Glen
Jack Reynolds is a policeman. Becca’s customers include Mrs Larkin whose granddaughter, Amy, has just turned three. The Millers’ shed had been knocked over. A fire was started at the Benningers. Eli Miller has fence and winter wheat issues. The Ungers are hosting the service. Henry Abbot raises miniature horses. Dennis Warren is one of several retired men who will drive others around. Margo is Dennis’ wife and a constant customer at the orchard. Dr Ellison is an obstetrician. Emma Schmidt loves a bargain. Eli Fisher has a hydroponic operation.
The Cover and Title
The cover is cheery in its autumnal colors with a light blue, cloud-strewn sky with a yellow and orange background of trees behind a golden field. In the forefront are Joanna and James playing in the grass with pumpkins, as their mother looks over at them. Wearing her white kapp, a dark calf-length dress, white apron, and red sweater, Becca is carrying a small basket of apples, as she steps away from the house. At the very top is an info blurb in a pale red as is the author’s name below that. Below that, centered over a dip in the treeline is some series info in a deep blue. The title is a golden yellow below Becca’s knees.
The title is true enough, for it is a Thanksgiving Blessing this year.
