Sarah's Garden

Written by Kelly Long

Narrated by Christine Williams

Sarah King is in love, and it could cost her everything. 

Tucked into the majesty of Pennsylvania's Allegheny Mountains is a garden Sarah King has been nurturing for years. She never feels more alive than when she is alone with her thoughts and her Creator among the delicate rows of plants. But then duty calls her away from her beloved garden and into a world she knows little about.

Grant Williams, a handsome young veterinarian, has left the city to open a rural practice among the Amish. Within minutes of meeting shy but feisty Sarah King, he is captivated by her.

As their feelings grow for one another, Sarah insists they can never be together. Marrying Grant would mean being uprooted from her home, her family, and her community. Throughout the cold Pennsylvania winter, with her garden tucked away until spring, Sarah begins crafting a quilt that illustrates her pain. Can anything lasting blossom from a love that's forbidden? 

"Kelly Long has hit out of the park, Sarah's Garden is rich with Amish detail and an endearing romance. I highly recommend!" --Beth Wiseman, author of the Amish Journey series 

• Sweet and thoughtful contemporary Amish romance
• Part of the Patch of Heaven novels—Book 1: Sarah’s Garden; Book 2: Lilly’s Wedding Quilt; Book 3: Threads of Grace
• Book length: 85,000 words
• Includes discussion questions for book clubs

• Language: English
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson
• Release date: Jan 26, 2021
• ISBN: 9780785255567

Kelly Long

Kelly Long is a nationally bestselling author of Amish Fiction who enjoys studying the Appalachian Amish in particular. Kelly was raised in North Central Pennsylvania, and her dad's friendship with the Amish helped shape Kelly's earliest memories of the culture. Today, she lives in Hershey, Pennsylvania, with her three children and is a great proponent of autism spectrum and mental health needs. Visit Kelly on Facebook: Fans-of-Kelly-Long and Twitter: @KellyLongAmish.  

Reviews for Sarah's Garden

[skstiles612 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.This is a great romance. Sarah was a shy young Amish girl content to work in her garden. God had definitely given her a gift with it. When her sister gets pregnant it becomes Sarah’s responsibility to run their produce stand. This is not easy considering she is very shy. It became even more difficult she met the new community veterinarian. He was not an Amish vet. The Amish community welcomed Grant and he worked for them taking care of their animals as a service to them just like his father had taken care of the people in their community. It isn’t long before Grant and Sarah start to fall in love. This is not a good thing because it means Sarah will be shunned if she continues. Her parents try to persuade her to move on to a relationship with Jacob, a young Amish man who has had feelings Sarah for years. Sarah tries to tell Grant that things will not work between them. Grant mysteriously leaves the area. Will he return? Is there hope for them as a couple? You must read this book to find out.

[olegalca · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A new author to challenge the Amish-supremacy of Christian fiction held by Beverly Lewis and Wanda Brunstetter... typical plot and typical characters but the prose is nice. Advertised as the first part of a larger series so I'll be interested to see if the rest get published.

[drebbles · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Sarah King loves nothing better than to work in her beloved garden, but duty to her family calls and she has to run the family's roadside stand. On her very first day there her world turns upside down when she meets handsome veterinarian Grant Williams. Sparks fly immediately between the two and they are falling in love. But there is a major obstacle in their way: Sarah is Amish and Grant is Englisch and their love is forbidden."Sarah's Garden", the first book in the new "Patch of Heaven" series set in the Amish community, is a very sweet romance. By Amish romance novel standards this romance sizzles - meaning Sarah and Grant exchange a few forbidden kisses. The romantic tension between them is obvious from the beginning and it is fun, although at times a bit sad, to watch them fall in love, a love that seems meant to be but against all odds. Both are nicely done characters. Sarah is from a large, loving family, sure of her faith in God, a bit shy yet sure of herself at times. Grant is another strong character - orphaned at an early age, wanting to give to the Amish community, yet a little bewildered by them at times. Mixed in with the romantic elements is a great deal of humor, mostly involving the Bustles' and Grant's attempts to renovate his new house (I actually wish there was more of this in the book as there are some laugh out loud moments early in the book). One of the reasons I like Amish romances so much is the Amish setting and author Kelly Long does an excellent job of capturing it and the Amish lifestyle in this book. She shows that while many think the Amish life is simpler, the Amish work hard. Their devotion to their family is extraordinary and Long does a good job of showing not only the closeness Sarah has with her family, particularly her brother Luke, but also shows that even Amish families have problems and even they can suffer from domestic abuse. The Amish ability to make beautiful quilts is legendary and I wish this book came with pictures or illustrations so I could see some of the quilts mentioned in this book (one of my favorite scenes in the book is the quilting one)."Sarah's Garden" is a nicely done romance set in the Amish community and I look forward to reading more books in the series.

[mrsjason · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Yes, another Amish book to add to the multitude. I approached this book with apprehension. Would it fall in the same line as other Amish books that are predictable and preachy or would it give a new spin to the already over-saturated genre? Well this book managed to fit both of those expectations.Sarah is a 20-something Amish woman who finds solace working in her garden than working with other people. When her sister becomes pregnant, she finds herself having to run the family business and therefore is forced to meet with Englischers. Sarah's interest in her garden put a wonderful spin on the book. There was a lot of detail about the different vegetables and other items growing in the garden and she really seemed to enjoy showing others about her green thumb. Sarah is not like most other Amish heroines as she doesn't have too much interest in the outside world but neither is she a prude either.I really liked her family as well. Her parents are very loving and encourage her while also giving her good advice. They don't forbid her to do things and trust her. Also interestingly, the Amish sect that they are in does believe in having a personal relationship with Jesus as opposed to other books where it is strictly forbidden to believe in anything but the Ordung.While I enjoyed how this book was different than other Amish reads, I was still disappointed with the ending.*Spoiler*I am very tired of reading about how people are converting to the Amish for love. After reading countless times from actual Amish people that this almost never happens in real life, it seems so unrealistic for authors to continue to portray this false lifestyle. Would it still be romantic or acceptable to Christian readers if someone converted to Islam or Buddhism? It just keeps making me feel like I'm being preached at to turn to the Amish lifestyle in order to have a better life. The true life of the Amish is not at all ideal as these books make them out to be. Grant also seems a bit too good to be true. He seems to come from a rich background as he has servants and referred to his deceased parents as "Mother" and "Father". He just came across as WAY too sensitive for a guy, too romantic and a bit over emotional. I just don't know any average guy that is like that. He seemed more like a character from a romance novel than an average 20 something male. I mean, even Darcy came off more realistic than Grant did.Overall, for the most part I did enjoy the book. The gardening aspect was very interesting and I really learned a lot from it. Sarah was a good main character and I felt welcomed in their Amish community while reading. I would read more of Long's books as I think she has put a unique perspective on the genre.

[weatherlover1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Sarah is a young Amish woman who has not found herself yet. She is shy and loves to spend hours in her garden growing her vegetables. Now that her older sister is married she is taking over running the road side stand which puts her out of her element. On her first day at the stand she meets Grant the new Englisch vet. There is an immediate connection but such a relationship is forbidden. Will Sarah give up all she knows for true love or will Grant find himself by becoming Amish? You will have to read this book to find out!!I really liked this book. I admit I love a romance book where there is a bit of a block in the road for the couple. I found myself holding my breath wondering how it was going to turn out. I read this book with an online book club and some of the other members questioned the relationship between the two. I guess I found it so fun to read because I liked how true love was crossing a line. Over all a great book and I can’t wait for the next one in the series.

[sheriefx · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This is the first book in the Patch of Heaven Series. Sarah's Garden is about a young amish woman (Sarah King)and her journey through life. She has a way with gardening and feels most at peace when tending to her plants. When she meets an Englisher and falls in love things begin to get complicated. This is a forbidden love and Sarah struggles with what this could mean and how everything can work out. Sarah insists they can never be together and she and Grant go their separate ways. In dealing with her pain and heartache Sarah begins to make a beautiful quilt. It is through this quilt that Sarah begins to heal. Will Sarah and Grant ever be together? Will someone new come along? A must read for any Amish fiction lover! I am looking forward to the next book in this series!

[jennisis · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Having grown up in Amish country in Indiana, I enjoy reading books about my neighbors' unassuming way of life. I chose "Sarah's garden" because I love to garden, myself.While I enjoyed this light read about a shy young Amish woman and her heirloom tomatoes, I found the Romeo and Juliet storyline to be very predictable. I felt that I was never really drawn into the world of either Sarah or Grant, the new Englisher veterinarian. I wish there had been a bit more of a glimpse into Sarah's gardening and Grant's veterinary practice. Perhaps, because this is the first book in a series, the author is saving character development for future books. There were a few entertaining vignettes that helped develop characters and place, and the story never lost its lighthearted whimsy.I did enjoy the book and plan to pass it on for other members of my family to enjoy, however this is probably not a book I will keep coming back to re-read.

[ednat_49 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Kelley Long is a new writer to me and I really enjoy the Amish books, even though there are so many coming out now with this theme. Kelley put a whole new twist on the Amish story. This book started out with a bang and ended with one. When I started reading it I thought it would be the same as the others I have read and enjoyed but this one was so different.Sarah was the only daughter at home with older brothers and she loved to garden, that was her top priority, she didn't care for quilting or sewing as most of the Amish women tend to do. But she could make a mean garden and knew about all the plants.When a new vet moved into the Amish community everything started to change. He was loved by all and did his work great but he was not Amish. This did not seem to brother the people as other books led us to believe in the past. They took him on as one of them.Sarah was a loner as she didn't like to meet a lot of people, (I understand her because that is the way I am) but she was made to run the stand that the Amish make a lot of their money from in the summer, and she hated it. She didn't know what she was going to do when the "Englishers" came. She decided to start a quilt top for her sister's baby that would soon make his appearance, so this is the way she got by sitting all day at the stand.As the story unfolds the Amish man that is in love with her "but she not him" keeps trying to get her to go out with him and he is a nice man but she grew up with him as a friend and that is all he will ever be.She does get by and with her new nephew she begin to see things more in the light of an Amish woman and even starts her own quilt and has a quilting party. This is a must read for all that enjoy Amish books, it is a good clean Christian book with a new twist.This book was sent to me for review by BookSneezeSynopsis: Deep in the heart of Pennsylvania's Allegheny Mountains, shy Sarah King is happiest when working in her vibrant Amish kitchen garden, but new family responsibilities lead her into the confusing world of the Englisch.Sarah finds her life turned around when she encounters the community's new Englisch veterinarian, Grant Williams. His blue-gold eyes and his obvious concern for her people attract her immediately. Sarah seeks solace and direction from the Lord as she creates a quilt pattern which details her struggle between two worlds.The Lord is guiding Sarah to follow His will, but will she listen?

[bookaholicmom · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoy read Christian fiction books about the Amish once in awhile. These books are like home to me. Some would say they are predictable but sometimes predictable can be comforting. I found this book to be light and comforting which is the type of book I was needing at the moment.Sarah is a young Amish girl who would rather hide in her garden. After the marriage of her older sister, Sarah is put to work in the family's roadside stand. While working there she finds herself drawn to Grant, the Englischer neighbor who is also the new veterinarian for the area. They develop feelings for each other which Sarah knows can go nowhere as it is forbidden by the Amish. At the same time Sarah's family seems to be the target of someone who has it in for them. Sarah turns to the Lord for guidance and learns she must put her trust in Him. I enjoyed the simple life of Sarah and her family. I was very interested in the quilt Sarah makes to represent her struggle with her feelings. This was a very nice book and it was a quick read. If you enjoy Christian fiction and stories about the Amish you will enjoy this book.