A Most Noble Heir

Publisher's Notes

When stable hand Nolan Price learns from his dying mother that he is actually the son of the Earl of Stainsby, his plans for a future with kitchen maid Hannah Burnham are shattered. Once he is officially acknowledged as the earl's heir, Nolan will be forbidden to marry beneath his station.

Unwilling to give up the girl he loves, he devises a plan to elope--believing that once their marriage is sanctioned by God, Lord Stainsby will be forced to accept their union. However, as Nolan struggles to learn the ways of the aristocracy, he finds himself caught between pleasing Hannah and living up to his father's demanding expectations.

At every turn, forces work to keep the couple apart, and a solution to remain together seems further and further away. With Nolan's new life pulling him irrevocably away from the woman he loves, it seems only a miracle will bring them back together.
my thoughts....

This is not the first book I have read by Susan Anne Mason so I wasn't surprised to find myself easily getting into the story.  Her style is engaging and her characters are well developed.

I found Nolan interesting because even as a stable hand he wasn't unhappy in his circumstances. He worked hard and had solid plans to forge a wonderful life with the woman he loved. He was an easy character to like because he thought of others and how he could improve their lot in life. 

The determination of Hannah was also inspiring because she was adamant that she would be Nolan's wife only if she were truly the wife of his heart. She would not be his wife solely as an obligation fulfilled as a result  Nolan's youth, later to be regretted in his new life.  

Just when the author has masterfully gotten us hooked and believing there is no resolution to new found wealth and love with the kitchen maid, the story, just as in life, takes a turn where a little faith is applied.  All is not lost when a crumpled up note from Hannah's mother becomes an ace in the hole and a knock on a door produces a wonderful lifeline. Alas, one cannot give everything away but here is where the story becomes all the richer and those breaths of faith are rewarded.  The outcome proves that one person, or perhaps a couple can impact the lives of many. 

Well written with inspiring characters, I heartily recommend A Most Noble Heir for the reader who enjoys uplifting Christian Fiction. 

A Culture Clash: My Amish Boyfriend

Shannon does not have it all but she does have goals for summer vacation that won't see her sitting idly by. Not bad goals for a girl of sixteen!  Life does take a turn in this story though and sometimes reality is harder to believe than fiction.  No matter how you plan  it seems that life often takes those unexpected turns.  Summer vacation has just begun and Shannon learns that her mother's parents are alive. Not only alive but they are Amish!  Shannon and her chronically ill mother are to take the bus to Ohio the very next morning so that her mother can get well again.  Hard to absorb this piece of news, it is harder yet when Shannon gets off the bus and waits for her uncle to pick them up in a horse and buggy.

As Shannon is adapting to living a plain life she is captivated by a young Amish man named Ezra who has all the looks and charms to sweep her off her feet. His smooth talking ways are sincere to Shannon, who has just met her first love. Is he truly in love with her?  Would he love her more if she converted to the Amish faith?  Would her mother's family accept her more too if she became one of them?

Her mother, Anna, is not improving and Shannon is faced with serious decisions to make that are not supported by her Amish family.  She must take responsibility and come into her own identity.  This is a coming of age story unlike many you have read. Melody Carlson tells a story of love and being true to self. I love how she weaves so many ideas through the story. A simple life is not as simple as it looks.  Anyone who lives past their teen years knows from experience they are difficult in and of themselves.

I am impressed with the well written plot and character development of My Amish Boyfriend. My granddaughter saw my copy on my desk and is waiting to borrow it. It will be a fun book to discuss with her and I am sure we will talk at length of the characters.  I wonder how she will react when she sees the plot twist and turn; I wonder what she will say about Ezra and his loyalty to his faith and family.  This is the first time I have read one of Melody Carlson's books and I understand her appeal to young readers. The characters are easy to identify with and the story keeps the reader's interest.