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REVIEWS
TITLE: Jacob's Return
(Amish Historical, formerly published as "Thee, I Love")
Set in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The year is 1885. Jacob
Sauder had left his home, his Amish life, behind four years ago,
never intending to return. While away, he had committed several
sins. One was fortification. Jacob's twin children, Emma and Aaron,
had been two-years-old when he discovered they existed. Their mother
had died during child birth. For the sakes of his children, Jacob
returned to his Amish home.
Rachel Zook and Jacob Sauder had grown up together and they had
loved each other almost as long. Simon, Jacob's brother, knew this,
yet wanted Rachel for his own. To get Rachel, Simon had deceived
Jacob at a time that his grief over their mother's illness clouded
his judgement. Simon convinced Jacob that Rachel loved him more and
had agreed to become his wife. Once Jacob had left the community,
Simon coerced Rachel into marrying him by stating that Levi (his
father) would grieve Jacob's departure less if he had grandchildren
to love.
From the date Rachel wed, she had suffered all forms of abuse at her
husband's hands. Jacob's return made the volatile situation even
worse. Simon's hate for both Jacob and Rachel ran deep. Simon blamed
them both for his own lies, deceptions, and manipulations. The fact
that Rachel had not as yet given birth to children incited Simon's
rage more than anything else. Even more so than Rachel's
determination to print and circulate an Amish newspaper for their
people. Once ordained a Deacon, Simon's sermons became vengeful and
often shamed Rachel before the entire church district for being
barren. Simon blamed Jacob for several imagined faults as well. Yet
through it all, Rachel had persevered.
Though Rachel had married Simon, the love between Rachel and Jacob
could still be easily seen. Emma and Aaron became Rachel's world. It
did not take Jacob more than a day or two to notice Rachel's abuse.
Levi had unknowingly turned a blind eye to Rachel's various injuries
and Rachel never let her father, the Bishop, know of her hardships.
Thus Jacob took matters into his own hands. Once the Bishop learned
of his daughter's abuse, he stepped forward and threatened to reveal
to the community how cruel Simon, a Deacon, was to his own wife. The
Bishop would only remain silent should Simon immediately change his
sinful ways. But did the Bishop really open Simon's eyes? Though
Simon instantly changed, was his humility false? Could Rachel
forgive Simon and try to have a decent, if not loving, marriage with
him? And could Rachel and Jacob dwell on the same farm, him working
alongside Rachel's husband and her caring for Jacob's children,
every day without giving in to their love?
FIVE STARS! Annette Blair has crafted a story that will long
linger in the minds of her readers. You need not be Amish, or a fan
of history and/or cultures, to thoroughly enjoy this romantic tale.
Every page seems to overflow with some form of strong emotion. Love,
hate, sympathy, kindness, pity, vengeance, heartbreak, sorrow,
despair, apathy, regret, graciousness, hope, serenity, and so much
more. I find it impossible to articulate my true feelings about this
story. After reading the last page of a book, I usually sit quietly
awhile and try to think of key words to describe how it left me
feeling. However, the way this story leaves me feeling is almost
impossible. My emotions are in a state of turmoil. Yes, the ending
is happy, joyous. But I read this entire story in one sitting and I
currently feel as though the author grabbed each emotion from within
me and wrung it dry. I laughed. I cried. My heart ached. I despaired
that a happy ending could ever come to be. I bit my nails (something
I do have not done since I was a child) down to nubs. Right this
second, I can say that I am extremely happy and emotionally
exhausted. So exactly how else can I describe this story, other than
to say that it is indescribable? I am totally flummoxed.
It has now been one hour since I finished reading this story. Here
is what I have come up with. Annette Blair has a phenomenal writing
talent. Readers will find themselves instantly transported to
another time and place, where they will meet and come to know the
most amazing people. The author shows the pros and the cons of
living an Amish life, as well as the need for faith in their Maker.
Be prepared for a wide variety of emotions to collide within
yourself as you read this ambivalent, yet inspiring, story.
Brilliant!
Detra Fitch,
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Genre Go Round
The Best Reviews
In
1881 Jacob Sauder left his Lancaster County Amish community
following the funeral of his mother when his brother Simon informed
him that the former's fiancée Rachel wanted out of their engagement.
Despondent Jacob moved away and Rachel married Simon.
After four years away he returns home a widower accompanied by his
two years old twins Emma and Aaron whose mother died giving birth to
them. He prays his family will welcome and love them though he
sinned. Also Jacob knows it will be hard to see Rachel with Simon.
His brother greets him with scorn telling him to leave as Simon is
to be ordained a deacon. Soon after the return, Jacob and Rachel
learn how devious Simon tricked both of them, but she must adhere to
her vows even though her husband abuses her. Unable to remain idly
on the sidelines while Simon's abuse intensifies, Jacob confronts
his sibling.
This reprint of a 1999 historical romance is an entertaining tale of
redemption as the Amish society provides a strong backdrop to the
tale of two rival brothers and the good woman between them. The
story line is character driven with each key player having faults
and flaws that make them seem real. Readers will enjoy this late
nineteenth century Amish family drama as shunning the sinners
competes with redeeming the sinners for the souls of Bishop Zook's
community. Harriet Klausner
Order:
Lachesis e-book
Smashwords e-formats
Kindle
ROMANCE COMMUNICATIONS 1999
JACOB'S RETURN (formerly Thee, I Love) pulled me
into another world, making me a part of the
community, making me love and care about its
members, making me rejoice and making me cry.
It's a moving, powerful story.
Jacob Sauder returns to his Amish home,
bringing his motherless twins to be raised in a
safe and decent place. He had left in despair
after his mother's funeral when his brother,
Simon, told him Jacob's beloved Rachel wished to
be released from their engagement. Jacob finds
welcome; his family and community give his
children all the love he could wish. Even when
he and Rachel, now Simon's wife, realize they
were the victim's of Simon's lies, they put the
past behind them in respect for Rachel's
marriage vows. But Simon's actions make that
difficult. He becomes increasingly abusive,
berating Rachel for her barrenness. When Jacob
finds Rachel hurt in the barn one night, he
means only to give her comfort, but his comfort
goes too far.
The Amish community Annette Blair describes
is a wonderful place with a strong spirit and
sense of family, one where children are
surrounded by love. She peoples the pages of her
book with realistic portrayals of good people
with faults, but with real faith. The dialogue
and interactions of her characters make the
reader a part of it all. There is a wealth of
color and detail in her delineation of the
culture and daily life of the community.
The plot is an absorbing one of family love
and betrayal, of faith and transgression. Above
all, it's a tale of love between a man and a
woman and their need for forgiveness. The
transgression committed by Jacob and Rachel
brings anguish to all involved, and yet they are
entirely sympathetic characters. Even Simon, who
began the trouble with his jealousy and lies, is
understandable.
JACOB'S RETURN was Annette Blair's third
book. She showed promise in her first two, but
this book displays a major new talent. I
recommend it wholeheartedly.
Reviewed by Lily Martin for Romance
Communications
Jacob's Return
Author: Annette Blair
Release Date: March 27, 2012
Blue Ribbon Rating: 5.0
Format: AUDIOBOOK
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After losing
his mother
and
discovering
that Rachel,
the woman he
loved, was
marrying his
brother
Simon, Jacob
Sauder left
the Amish
home where
he had been
raised.
Going out
into the
world, which
was becoming
English as
far as his
people were
concerned,
he met
Miriam. But
he left her
as he
traveled
from job to
job. When he
returned
much later,
he
discovered
that Miriam
had been
pregnant and
died
bringing his
twins into
the world.
His children
had been
left with
her friend,
who turned
the twins
over to him
with a note
from Miriam.
Wanting to
make a good
home for his
children, he
decided to
return to
his Amish
roots.
However, on
the day that
he returned,
his brother
Simon was
being
ordained
Deacon.
Simon was
furious and
ordered
Jacob to
leave. But,
for his
children’s
sakes, he
was
determined
to stay.
Seeing
Rachel again
tore him
apart but he
knew he
would have
to get over
it. What was
supposed to
be Simon’s
day turned
out to be
Jacob’s when
the Bishop
welcomed him
back into
the fold,
much to
Simon’s
dismay.
It was not
until
Jacob’s
return that
Rachel
discovered
how she and
Jacob had
been
tricked. She
had always
thought that
she and
Jacob would
marry and
spend the
rest of
their lives
together.
But Jacob
had left,
after Simon
told him
that she was
marrying
him. That
had been a
lie. She and
Simon had
not had a
relationship
at all at
that time.
It was over
a year later
before she
had
consented to
marry Simon
out of
loneliness.
Unfortunately,
she and
Simon did
not have any
children and
he blamed
her. Where
Jacob is
tender,
Simon is
violent, but
keeps his
behavior
secret,
delighting
in his
absolute
control over
his wife.
When she was
three, she
had offered
five-year-old
Jacob a
mudpie.
Afterwards,
that had
been his
nickname for
her. Still
calling her
Mudpie, his
children had
picked it
up,
shortening
it to Pie.
With no
children of
her own to
tend, Rachel
has been
teaching
school.
Simon has
been trying
to get her
to quit and
he is also
demanding
that she
give up the
newspaper
that she has
found joy in
printing.
But he
doesn’t know
that she not
only plans
to keep
putting out
the paper,
she also
plans to buy
the local
printing
press. Early
in their
marriage,
she had had
hopes that
they would
come to love
each other.
But she no
longer
harbors such
hope for the
disaster
that is her
marriage,
even though
she knows
she is bound
to him for
the rest of
her life.
Living in
the same
house with
his father,
Simon and
Rachel was
not easy and
Jacob knew
he might
have to buy
a home for
himself and
the twins,
but not too
far from his
father and
Rachel, who
loved his
children
almost as
much as he
did. In
order to
help out on
the farm,
Jacob knows
he must find
a woman to
care for his
children.
But the
children
want no one
but Rachel.
They
struggle
with their
love for
each other
and the life
they have
been dealt
due to their
own past
decisions,
but these
same
decisions
soon bring
about events
from which
there may be
no escape.
A profound
tale,
JACOB’S
RETURN is a
contemporary
romance that
takes hold
of your
heart and
doesn’t let
go.
Award-winning
author
Annette
Blair
displays the
characters
realistically,
complete
with all of
their flaws
and foibles,
allowing
readers to
empathize
with them.
The love
between
Jacob and
Rachel is
palpable,
leaping out
at you from
the printed
page.
Whether you
are a fan of
Amish
romances or
not, this
story will
be one you
won’t soon
forget. In
this novel,
Ms. Blair’s
Amish
community
depicts a
strong sense
of family
spirit. A
beautifully
written,
poignant
story, which
will leave
you almost
feeling like
you are a
part of that
close
community…or
wishing you
were. In
this story,
which was
formerly
released as
THEE, I
LOVE, the
everyday
Amish
lifestyle
serves as a
backdrop for
two very
different
brothers and
their
contention
over one
woman. Now
available as
an audiobook,
this story
is told in a
clear,
concise
manner and
with
feeling,
bringing it
to life as
you listen.
Brimming
with humor,
sexual
tension,
believable
characters,
domestic
abuse,
forgiveness,
God and pure
love, this
emotion-packed
story will
stay in your
memory. A
definite
keeper; you
will want to
listen to
this one
more than
once. I
highly
recommend
JACOB’S
RETURN. It
is one of my
all-time
favorites.
Do not miss
it!
By
Romance
Junkies
Reviewer:
Dottie
Romance
Junkies
Content
Editor:
Wendy
Romance
Junkies
Publishing
Editor:
Chrissy
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JACOB'S RETURN