An Amish Schoolroom

Title: An Amish Schoolroom

Authors: Amy Clipston, Kathleen Fuller, Shelley Shepard Gray

Publisher: Zondervan

Genre: Amish, Romance

Source: Net Galley

My Review:

A Class for Laurel by Amy Clipston 

Laurel is excited when she gets to Colorado. It was her first train ride and she was thrilled with all the new sights she had seen as she traveled from Pennsylvania. She is looking forward to being a teacher and the opportunity to teach in a new community.

Glen is taken with the new school teacher immediately. He is captivated by her zeal for life and the way she tells stories. The two become quick friends, but Laurel is homesick and misses her family. 

This was a cute story. I loved Laurel's personality and the way she brought the story to life. While her relationship with Glen moved quickly, it felt natural with all the time they were able to spend together. There is a lot of sweetness in this story and nothing that I did not like.

★★★★★/5

A Lesson on Love by Kathleen Fuller

Priscilla left her dream of being a singer behind, fully recommitting herself to her Amish faith, and resurecting her old dream of being a teacher as she moves to Marigold, Ohio. She meets Micah when she stops in his shop to buy a used buggy from him. He promises to get it fixed up and can't stop thinking about Priscilla after she leaves his shop.

Priscilla is also smitten with Micah, but being ten years older than him, she tries to resist the attraction. They continue to spend time together and Micah continues to care for Priscilla more. Can he convince her that age is just a number? Or will she continue to push him away?

This is also a very cute, fast-paced story. There are a few things that unexpectedly come up, creating some drama and tension. Again, there was nothing I disliked about this story either.

★★★★★/5

Wendy's Twenty Reasons by Shelley Shephard Gray

Wendy is excited to be teaching her first real classroom, even if it is only for the last 3 months of school. However, she never realized how difficult it would be. Not just the job of teaching, but of dealing with parents, and everything else that goes on in the classroom.

Lewis has noticed the new tenant but feels that he should not get involved with her. However, she continues to impress him each night at dinner with the light and conversation that she brings to the dinner table shared with the other boarders.

When a co-worker of Lewis' expresses his feelings for Wendy, Lewis must come to a decision about how he feels about Wendy. Will he let his jealousy get the best of him? Or will he finally find the nerve to tell her how he feels?

This is another great story. The theme of teaching runs strongly through each story and each teacher has her share of difficulties, and opportunities for love. Wendy has a lot of work to do to prove herself and you can't help but root for her. This story has a heart-wrenching part, but also several tender parts. I enjoyed this story and the whole collection.

★★★★★/5

I would recommend the entire novella collection to anyone who enjoys Amish stories, especially those with a teachers heart. I happily give the entire collection 5/5 stars. I can't remember the last time I read an entire book in an afternoon.

Thank you to Net Galley and Zondervan for the opportunity to devour this book. I was not required to provide a positive review but am happy to do so. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

Three charming stories of new school years and new romance. 

A Class for Laurel  by Amy Clipston 

Adventurous Laurel Weaver leaves Pennsylvania to answer a newspaper ad for a teaching position in Colorado. She stays with handsome Glen Troyer’s family, and they become close. However, she never intended to stay in Colorado, and his family worries Glen may choose to follow her back to Pennsylvania or be left with a broken heart. Now she can’t bear to think of leaving Glen and her beloved students, but she’s beginning to feel like she’s out of options. Will Laurel and Glen push through the obstacles and fight for love? 

A Lesson on Love  by Kathleen Fuller 

Priscilla Helmuth left her Amish community twelve years ago to pursue her dream of being a country singer, but she’s missed her faith and her family. Now, she’s moving to Birch Creek to be a schoolteacher. Micah Wagler recently moved there as well to put the past behind him. As the community comes together to build a new schoolhouse, Priscilla and Micah are thrown together. They bond over their love of music, but soon it appears that Priscilla’s dreams of fame just might be coming true. She has to give up something, and Micah worries that it will be their faith . . . and his heart. 

Wendy’s Twenty Reasons  by Shelley Shepard Gray 

Wendy Schwartz is used to people underestimating her, but she’s sure she can be a great teacher. Unfortunately, it’s a disaster not long after she starts, and soon her job is in jeopardy. To make matters more complicated, she worries that she’s falling for the son of the older couple she’s boarding with. Lewis Weaver knows he shouldn’t have a romantic relationship with a tenant, but he can’t help but be drawn to Wendy. When a dangerous ice storm traps Wendy in the schoolroom with her students, uncomfortable truths will have to be faced by the town that just might change the future for everyone. 


Sweet Amish novellas with happily-ever-afters
Book length: 75,000 words
Includes discussion questions for book clubs