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New Beginnings #1
Living in Harmony
Living in Harmony is the first book in bestselling author Mary Ellis’s New Beginnings series. It’s about fresh starts and love…and how faith in God and His perfect plan for our lives provides us with the peace and joy we desire.
Amy King—young, engaged, and Amish—faces difficult challenges in her life when she suddenly loses both of her parents in a house fire. Her fiancé, John Detweiler, persuades her and her sister Nora to leave Lancaster County and make a new beginning with him in Harmony, Maine, where he has relatives who can help the women in their time of need.
John’s brother Thomas and sister-in-law Sally readily open their home to the three newcomers. Wise beyond his years, Thomas, a minister in the district, refuses to marry Amy and John upon their arrival, suggesting instead a period of adjustment and counseling. During this time Amy discovers an aunt who was shunned. She wishes to reconnect with her, but this puts a strain on her relationship with John.
Can John and Amy find a way to live in happily in Harmony before making a lifetime commitment to one another?
Amy King—young, engaged, and Amish—faces difficult challenges in her life when she suddenly loses both of her parents in a house fire. Her fiancé, John Detweiler, persuades her and her sister Nora to leave Lancaster County and make a new beginning with him in Harmony, Maine, where he has relatives who can help the women in their time of need.
John’s brother Thomas and sister-in-law Sally readily open their home to the three newcomers. Wise beyond his years, Thomas, a minister in the district, refuses to marry Amy and John upon their arrival, suggesting instead a period of adjustment and counseling. During this time Amy discovers an aunt who was shunned. She wishes to reconnect with her, but this puts a strain on her relationship with John.
Can John and Amy find a way to live in happily in Harmony before making a lifetime commitment to one another?
352 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2012
About the author
Mary Ellis
42 books271 followersMary Ellis is a former schoolteacher turned USA Today bestselling author who’s written twenty-six novels including Amish fiction, historical romance, and suspense. Her first mystery, Midnight on the Mississippi, was a finalist for the RT Magazine’s Reviewer’s Choice Award and a finalist for the Daphne du Maurier Award. Her latest book is One for the Road from the Bourbon Tour Mysteries from Severn House. One Hundred Proof Murder releases August 31, 2021. Her latest Amish novella is Missing at Amazon Kindle. She enjoys gardening and bicycling and lives in Ohio with her husband and dog. www.maryellis.net or www.facebook.com/Mary.Ellis.Author
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
January 2, 2020
I loved this book! I hate how right from the start tragedy hits and the kids lose their mother and father. I love how Amy and Nora go with John to Maine to stay with his brother while they wait to be married and find a home of their own. I don't care for Elam and all the trouble he brings to the family. I feel bad for Nora because she's so young but that she is expected to make meals and watch kids instead of having her time to have fun. I hate that Elam manipulates her and how she begins to do what he is doing. I hate how John gets into trouble while trying to protect Amy and how she breaks their engagement. I love how Aunt Prudence come back and talks some sense into Amy. I loved the story line of this book. 5/5 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 4, 2019
The King sisters faced separation after the tragedy loss of their parents. Amy and her sister moved with John Detweiler to Harmony, Maine to reside with his brother and sister-in-law, Thomas and Sally. There were plenty of tense moments in the home with the vast differences in the Ordnung between their Amish community in Lancaster, PA and the young settlement found in Harmony. Add in the John and Thomas younger rebellious brother, Elam and Nora’s behavior there’s never a dull moment. Will the marriage of John and Amy ever come to fruition or will hurts and deceitfulness separate them?
This was a book I found in a used store, thus a review was not required. I simply expressed my own thoughts.
This was a book I found in a used store, thus a review was not required. I simply expressed my own thoughts.
September 11, 2012
I recently had the privilege of reading Living in Harmony, by Mary Ellis. What a great book. I highly recommend it to people who love a great women’s fiction read. It is an Amish book, but the elements of Amish living are secondary compared to the Biblical truths that Mary so lovingly and sweet weaves throughout the entire story. It is one of those books that leaves you thinking not just about the characters, but also the main message that the author is trying to convey, the life lessons that can be learned from fiction.
It didn’t take long for me to fall in love with the heroine, Amy, in this story. However, I have to say that I equally loved the secondary characters as well. I was rooting for the entire family from the time I was introduced to them. The only person I had a hard time connecting with was Amy’s fiancee and I definitely was not as quick to forgive him as she was, which says more to me about my character than it does about John.
As I was reading the book, I kept thinking about John’s brother and his wife, Thomas and Sally. I couldn’t believe that Thomas could have that much patience not only for his wayward brother, Elam, but for his wife, their children Jeremiah and Aden, John and Amy, as well as Amy’s sister, Nora. Usually in Amish books, a minister in the district is seen as rigid, strict, and overbearing and Thomas was none of those characteristics. He was loving, kind, gentle, and oh-so patient with others as they found their way in life. He didn’t push his beliefs on others and even though it was his duty to lead them toward the right way, God’s way according to the Bible, he did so while earning their respect and love.
As I was reading it, I thought to myself, “Wow - How realistic is this character and why am I drawn to him so much?” Then I realized that my husband displays the exact same kind of gentle strength that Thomas showed with as much, or more patience for me and our children. I think that is why I fell in love with him. And, I realized that even though unfortunately there aren’t as many men in life that fit that description as I would like, I’m blessed to be married to one of them.
Not only did Mary Ellis do such a great job of demonstrating what a strong, but gentle leader of a godly household should look like according to Biblical standards, the other main theme that she talked about was forgiveness. It definitely takes maturity and a growth in our spiritual life to be able to forgive others who have wronged us. Mary Ellis did a great job interweaving that truth throughout the story, leaving the reader with a sense of hope that true forgiveness is possible in all circumstances.
I’m so glad that this book is the first in a series. I can’t wait to read more about Thomas and Sally, John, Amy, Nora, and Elam, and am excited that we are introduced to even more members of the community and extended family in her next book, Love Comes to Paradise. Mary Ellis is kind enough to provide the first chapter of her next book at the back of Living in Harmony and so I eagerly read it. It definitely whet my appetite for the next stage in this wonderful family’s lives.
Thank you, Mary, for delivering not only such a great Biblical message but for creating characters that I couldn’t help but fall in love with. I can’t wait to read more.
It didn’t take long for me to fall in love with the heroine, Amy, in this story. However, I have to say that I equally loved the secondary characters as well. I was rooting for the entire family from the time I was introduced to them. The only person I had a hard time connecting with was Amy’s fiancee and I definitely was not as quick to forgive him as she was, which says more to me about my character than it does about John.
As I was reading the book, I kept thinking about John’s brother and his wife, Thomas and Sally. I couldn’t believe that Thomas could have that much patience not only for his wayward brother, Elam, but for his wife, their children Jeremiah and Aden, John and Amy, as well as Amy’s sister, Nora. Usually in Amish books, a minister in the district is seen as rigid, strict, and overbearing and Thomas was none of those characteristics. He was loving, kind, gentle, and oh-so patient with others as they found their way in life. He didn’t push his beliefs on others and even though it was his duty to lead them toward the right way, God’s way according to the Bible, he did so while earning their respect and love.
As I was reading it, I thought to myself, “Wow - How realistic is this character and why am I drawn to him so much?” Then I realized that my husband displays the exact same kind of gentle strength that Thomas showed with as much, or more patience for me and our children. I think that is why I fell in love with him. And, I realized that even though unfortunately there aren’t as many men in life that fit that description as I would like, I’m blessed to be married to one of them.
Not only did Mary Ellis do such a great job of demonstrating what a strong, but gentle leader of a godly household should look like according to Biblical standards, the other main theme that she talked about was forgiveness. It definitely takes maturity and a growth in our spiritual life to be able to forgive others who have wronged us. Mary Ellis did a great job interweaving that truth throughout the story, leaving the reader with a sense of hope that true forgiveness is possible in all circumstances.
I’m so glad that this book is the first in a series. I can’t wait to read more about Thomas and Sally, John, Amy, Nora, and Elam, and am excited that we are introduced to even more members of the community and extended family in her next book, Love Comes to Paradise. Mary Ellis is kind enough to provide the first chapter of her next book at the back of Living in Harmony and so I eagerly read it. It definitely whet my appetite for the next stage in this wonderful family’s lives.
Thank you, Mary, for delivering not only such a great Biblical message but for creating characters that I couldn’t help but fall in love with. I can’t wait to read more.
August 27, 2012
Harmony, Maine. As wonderful as the name sounds, it hasn't been the ideal picture of a perfect life since moving here from Lancaster, Pennsylvania for Amy and Nora King. Since a tragic fire that claimed the lives of their parents, Amy and Nora have decided to head north with John Detweiler, Amy's fiance in search of a new opportunities and a future with another Amish community just being established.
However when they arrive, Amy and John soon learn that their plans to marry may have to wait until their Bishop in Maine declares that they have met all the requirements of this new more strict Amish Order. Since they have both been baptized since moving to Maine it makes it a little easier, but not much. In addition, Amy was hoping to get a job to help them save enough money to purchase land and a home but soon finds out that is forbidden. So they will need to stay with John's brother, Thomas and his wife, Sally a little bit longer. They also learn that there is no opportunities for singings, social outings or rides in a courting buggy because that, too is forbidden.
The hardest challenge is for Nora, who is twenty and was in the midst of her rumspringa in Lancaster, soon finds out there rumspringa is forbidden in the new community of Harmony. Not only that but she has to make all new clothes to wear because the bright colors of her dresses are forbidden. So she must now wear black, brown or a dark navy blue instead. She also learns that since there isn't any social gatherings her prospects of finding a husband in this new community are going to be pretty limited. She wonders if perhaps she shouldn't reconsider about moving back home to Lancaster to stay with her grandparents like her other two sisters. Is there a way to find true harmony in Harmony?
I received Living in Harmony be Mary Ellis compliments of Harvest House Publishers and Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review and found this to be a surprising twist to most Amish stories. Normally it's difficult for an English reader to understand the harsh restrictions placed on Amish people based on their religious beliefs but in this novel, it is the Amish from one community that soon realize how difficult it is sometimes to make changes and live by more strict requirements. I found this novel refreshing in that it offered that unique perspective and as the character of Amy King grows in her awareness of just what this move has meant to not only her sister, but to her as well, will she realize that perhaps John may not be the man she believed he was before leaving Lancaster. I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars. For those of you that love Amish romantic fiction, you'll want to pick this one up.
However when they arrive, Amy and John soon learn that their plans to marry may have to wait until their Bishop in Maine declares that they have met all the requirements of this new more strict Amish Order. Since they have both been baptized since moving to Maine it makes it a little easier, but not much. In addition, Amy was hoping to get a job to help them save enough money to purchase land and a home but soon finds out that is forbidden. So they will need to stay with John's brother, Thomas and his wife, Sally a little bit longer. They also learn that there is no opportunities for singings, social outings or rides in a courting buggy because that, too is forbidden.
The hardest challenge is for Nora, who is twenty and was in the midst of her rumspringa in Lancaster, soon finds out there rumspringa is forbidden in the new community of Harmony. Not only that but she has to make all new clothes to wear because the bright colors of her dresses are forbidden. So she must now wear black, brown or a dark navy blue instead. She also learns that since there isn't any social gatherings her prospects of finding a husband in this new community are going to be pretty limited. She wonders if perhaps she shouldn't reconsider about moving back home to Lancaster to stay with her grandparents like her other two sisters. Is there a way to find true harmony in Harmony?
I received Living in Harmony be Mary Ellis compliments of Harvest House Publishers and Christian Fiction Blog Alliance for my honest review and found this to be a surprising twist to most Amish stories. Normally it's difficult for an English reader to understand the harsh restrictions placed on Amish people based on their religious beliefs but in this novel, it is the Amish from one community that soon realize how difficult it is sometimes to make changes and live by more strict requirements. I found this novel refreshing in that it offered that unique perspective and as the character of Amy King grows in her awareness of just what this move has meant to not only her sister, but to her as well, will she realize that perhaps John may not be the man she believed he was before leaving Lancaster. I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars. For those of you that love Amish romantic fiction, you'll want to pick this one up.
August 1, 2012
In the bestselling author Mary Ellis’s New Beginnings series Living in Harmony is the first book. Mary Ellis has written another great book. Living in Harmony is about fresh starts and love and how faith in God and His perfect plan for our lives provides us with the peace and joy we desire.
Amy King plans to marry her fiancé, John Detweiler in November, when she is faced with difficult challenges in her life. She suddenly loses both of her parents in a house fire. John Detweiler has relatives who lives in Harmony, Maine. He persuades Amy and her sister Nora to leave Lancaster County and make a new beginning with him in Harmony.
John’s brother Thomas and sister-in-law Sally readily open their home to the three newcomers. Thomas, a minister in the district, refuses to marry Amy and John upon their arrival. He is suggesting instead a period of adjustment and counseling. During this time, Amy discovers an aunt who was shunned. She wishes to reconnect with her, but this puts a strain on her relationship with John.
Can John and Amy find a way to live in happily in Harmony before making a lifetime commitment to one another?
I really LOVED the story and I cant wait to read "Love Comes to Paradise" in January 2013. 5 stars out of 5 is the rating for the book. It was an honor to read the book sent to me by Mary Ellis from Harvest House Publishers. Thank you, Harvest House Publishers for the size font used in printing the book.
**I received this book from Harvest House Publishers by request of Mary Ellis. I am not required to give a positive review, just an honest one. This review will be posted to Barnes & Noble, Goodreads, and my personal run FB page. The opinions expressed are mine alone.**
Amy King plans to marry her fiancé, John Detweiler in November, when she is faced with difficult challenges in her life. She suddenly loses both of her parents in a house fire. John Detweiler has relatives who lives in Harmony, Maine. He persuades Amy and her sister Nora to leave Lancaster County and make a new beginning with him in Harmony.
John’s brother Thomas and sister-in-law Sally readily open their home to the three newcomers. Thomas, a minister in the district, refuses to marry Amy and John upon their arrival. He is suggesting instead a period of adjustment and counseling. During this time, Amy discovers an aunt who was shunned. She wishes to reconnect with her, but this puts a strain on her relationship with John.
Can John and Amy find a way to live in happily in Harmony before making a lifetime commitment to one another?
I really LOVED the story and I cant wait to read "Love Comes to Paradise" in January 2013. 5 stars out of 5 is the rating for the book. It was an honor to read the book sent to me by Mary Ellis from Harvest House Publishers. Thank you, Harvest House Publishers for the size font used in printing the book.
**I received this book from Harvest House Publishers by request of Mary Ellis. I am not required to give a positive review, just an honest one. This review will be posted to Barnes & Noble, Goodreads, and my personal run FB page. The opinions expressed are mine alone.**
August 3, 2012
Amy suddenly loses both parents and must decide how to take care of herself and her sister. Her fiancé, John convinces her to move from their family home to his relatives’ home in Maine. There John’s brother and sister-in-law welcome them. This is where the story really picks up speed. Watching the two main characters relate to each other, learn about themselves and grow up a bit made this story a quick read.
I liked how the brother steps in and begins to counsel Amy and John. I thought their interactions were very well written and believable. The story of these two characters could almost take place in any setting. The authors’ decision to have this set in Amish country does add to the meat of the story though. Anyone who enjoys stories about the Amish will like this story and really any other book written by this author that centers on the Amish.
This story has just enough complications to make it interesting. The characters are well developed; you get an understanding of who they are pretty quickly. The relationship of the sisters is sweet. The relationship to those around them is engaging. I gave this book 5/5 stars because I liked the story itself and fell in love with the characters.
I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of this book I enjoyed reading. I gave an honest review based on my opinion of what I read.
I liked how the brother steps in and begins to counsel Amy and John. I thought their interactions were very well written and believable. The story of these two characters could almost take place in any setting. The authors’ decision to have this set in Amish country does add to the meat of the story though. Anyone who enjoys stories about the Amish will like this story and really any other book written by this author that centers on the Amish.
This story has just enough complications to make it interesting. The characters are well developed; you get an understanding of who they are pretty quickly. The relationship of the sisters is sweet. The relationship to those around them is engaging. I gave this book 5/5 stars because I liked the story itself and fell in love with the characters.
I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the copy of this book I enjoyed reading. I gave an honest review based on my opinion of what I read.
March 5, 2014
This was the best book yet that I have read by Mary Ellis.
It is the story of an unexprecited tragedy that splits
a family up. When two sisters decide to move to
Harmony to start over. Amy is engaged to John.
Will there love endure everything that unfolds in
their lives. Then you have the headstrong and
rebelious sister Nora. Who is trying to flea from
her past and start a new life. What will life hold for
her?
You must read to find out for yourself.
This was a very addicting book for me.
It is the story of an unexprecited tragedy that splits
a family up. When two sisters decide to move to
Harmony to start over. Amy is engaged to John.
Will there love endure everything that unfolds in
their lives. Then you have the headstrong and
rebelious sister Nora. Who is trying to flea from
her past and start a new life. What will life hold for
her?
You must read to find out for yourself.
This was a very addicting book for me.
January 28, 2016
The Just For Fun Challenge ended last year but we were encouraged to read reading one book that has been on the TBR shelf for a long time without doing a review. I still rated this book though and I loved it.
August 14, 2012
GENRE: AMISH
PUBLISHER: HARVEST HOUSE
PUBLICATION DATE: AUGUST 01, 2012
RATING: 5 OUT OF 5 – NEAR PERFECT
PROS: Explores what happens after the “happily ever after”; original storyline; realistically flawed protagonists; new setting and community; fleshed out secondary characters
CONS: None!
When Amy King’s parents die in a tragic house fire, she and her fiancé decide to make a fresh start in the new Amish community of Harmony, Maine. John Detweiler’s brother and sister-in-law settled there a few years ago, and a smaller, more conservative community appeals to John after experiencing the ways that tourism can interfere with the Amish way of life in Pennsylvania. Amy’s younger sister, Nora, decides to join them in Maine, in the hope that she might meet some eligible young men in Harmony. But when they arrive, the King sisters are shocked at how small Harmony truly is, and they’re baffled by some of the community’s rules. There are limitations on the sizes of bonnets and the colours of dresses, courting buggies don’t exist and singings are chaperoned by the rest of the community. Amy is committed to making life work for her and John in Harmony, but Nora isn’t so convinced, and her behaviour quickly becomes the cause of disputes between the couple. But Nora isn’t the only cause of friction between John and Amy. John wishes to marry as soon as possible, but his minister brother isn’t keen to rush into things and believes that the couple needs a period of adjustment considering the recent death of Amy’s parents and their move to a new community. As time drags on and Amy, John and Nora continue to live with Thomas and Sally and learn the rules of Harmony, Amy and John’s relationship experiences more problems. John is keen for them to prove to the community that they’re ready to settle and marry in Harmony, but when Amy reaches out to a shunned family member, John is worried about the repercussions. He sees it as his duty to protect Amy from potentially damaging relationships. But is this the way Amy will perceive his actions? Do both of them have something to learn about love and commitment?
Just when you think nothing new and original can come out of the Amish genre, a book like this comes along and proves that you’re completely wrong. While I wasn’t exactly sold by the cover of Living in Harmony, the setting of Maine appealed to me, and I had hoped that at least the change of scenery would make this book stand out. Well, it looks like I severely underestimated Mary Ellis. After thoroughly enjoying both Sarah’s Christmas Miracle and Abigail’s New Hope, I knew that Mary was a great story-teller, and Living in Harmony proves this one again. This is by no means your average Amish romance, and it breaks new ground for Amish fiction by telling the story of a couple who have already fallen in love but still have plenty of obstacles to overcome before they marry. So many romances finish with the declaration of love and fail to mention the trials that are yet to come. The engagement period can be the most difficult in any relationship, as Amy and John soon discover. Don’t let the fact that this isn’t a standard romance put you off; Amy and John still have plenty of interesting twists and turns to take on the road to marriage, and they certainly make for a compelling read.
Since Living in Harmony begins with the death of Amy’s parents and her decision to move to Maine with John, it takes a while to get to know our principal characters and understand their relationship. This was an interesting route for the novel to take, as most Amish novels introduce the reader to the hero and heroine separately, let us get to know them as individuals and then make us fall in love with them as a couple. Living in Harmony is completely the opposite of this, and readers are forced to get to know Amy and John as a couple and figure out their personalities from the way that they relate to each other. Thomas and Sally also have to get to know John and Amy this way, and I imagine that they are just as bemused about aspects of their relationship as the readers are. As a newlywed, it was encouraging to read about a couple who still had doubts about their future and issues they needed to address before they finally made a commitment to each other. Their relationship was not perfect by any means, which sort of makes Living in Harmony an antidote for Amish romance novels with perfect happy endings.
While a large part of this book focuses on John and Amy adjusting to life in Maine and preparing to marry, they’re joined by a great cast of secondary characters. Amy’s younger sister, Nora, tags along for the journey but fails to adjust to conservative life in Harmony. Nora’s rebellious attitude may initially irritate some readers, but it’s soon revealed that she’s running away from a past mistake in Pennsylvania, and this revelation will make every reader want to comfort Nora and make her realise how much she’s truly loved. Nora’s past is reminiscent of Sally’s, John’s sister-in-law, who is struggling to adapt to life as a minister’s wife and is often made to feel that she’s not good enough by the women of the community. Sally’s growth as a character was incredibly encouraging to read about, and I loved how supportive her husband was. Thomas was quite different from the typical Amish male character, so he made for a refreshing change. His brother, Elam, isn’t typical either, and Elam’s rebellious nature causes him to get along well with Nora, much to Amy and John’s disapproval. I never really understood what Elam’s motivations were, but I’m sure this is something that’s explored in the second novel in the New Beginnings series, Love Comes to Paradise. Often with such a large cast of characters, a few come across as not being fully fleshed out or believable, but this wasn’t the case with Living in Harmony. Each character had their own personality and purpose in the novel, which means that there’s bound to be at least one character that every reader can relate to.
It’s hard to express exactly what I loved so much about Living in Harmony. It’s not just the setting, the new community and the realistic secondary characters that made this novel so refreshing and unique. Mary Ellis crafted her hero and heroine as incredibly relatable characters, flawed human beings who prove that even the Amish don’t have perfect relationships or marriages. John and Amy made a lot of mistakes over the course of the novel, which endeared them all the more to me. If you need a little bit more realism in your Amish fiction, or just don’t want to read a happily-ever-after romance, then Living in Harmony is the book for you.
Review title provided by Harvest House.
PUBLISHER: HARVEST HOUSE
PUBLICATION DATE: AUGUST 01, 2012
RATING: 5 OUT OF 5 – NEAR PERFECT
PROS: Explores what happens after the “happily ever after”; original storyline; realistically flawed protagonists; new setting and community; fleshed out secondary characters
CONS: None!
When Amy King’s parents die in a tragic house fire, she and her fiancé decide to make a fresh start in the new Amish community of Harmony, Maine. John Detweiler’s brother and sister-in-law settled there a few years ago, and a smaller, more conservative community appeals to John after experiencing the ways that tourism can interfere with the Amish way of life in Pennsylvania. Amy’s younger sister, Nora, decides to join them in Maine, in the hope that she might meet some eligible young men in Harmony. But when they arrive, the King sisters are shocked at how small Harmony truly is, and they’re baffled by some of the community’s rules. There are limitations on the sizes of bonnets and the colours of dresses, courting buggies don’t exist and singings are chaperoned by the rest of the community. Amy is committed to making life work for her and John in Harmony, but Nora isn’t so convinced, and her behaviour quickly becomes the cause of disputes between the couple. But Nora isn’t the only cause of friction between John and Amy. John wishes to marry as soon as possible, but his minister brother isn’t keen to rush into things and believes that the couple needs a period of adjustment considering the recent death of Amy’s parents and their move to a new community. As time drags on and Amy, John and Nora continue to live with Thomas and Sally and learn the rules of Harmony, Amy and John’s relationship experiences more problems. John is keen for them to prove to the community that they’re ready to settle and marry in Harmony, but when Amy reaches out to a shunned family member, John is worried about the repercussions. He sees it as his duty to protect Amy from potentially damaging relationships. But is this the way Amy will perceive his actions? Do both of them have something to learn about love and commitment?
Just when you think nothing new and original can come out of the Amish genre, a book like this comes along and proves that you’re completely wrong. While I wasn’t exactly sold by the cover of Living in Harmony, the setting of Maine appealed to me, and I had hoped that at least the change of scenery would make this book stand out. Well, it looks like I severely underestimated Mary Ellis. After thoroughly enjoying both Sarah’s Christmas Miracle and Abigail’s New Hope, I knew that Mary was a great story-teller, and Living in Harmony proves this one again. This is by no means your average Amish romance, and it breaks new ground for Amish fiction by telling the story of a couple who have already fallen in love but still have plenty of obstacles to overcome before they marry. So many romances finish with the declaration of love and fail to mention the trials that are yet to come. The engagement period can be the most difficult in any relationship, as Amy and John soon discover. Don’t let the fact that this isn’t a standard romance put you off; Amy and John still have plenty of interesting twists and turns to take on the road to marriage, and they certainly make for a compelling read.
Since Living in Harmony begins with the death of Amy’s parents and her decision to move to Maine with John, it takes a while to get to know our principal characters and understand their relationship. This was an interesting route for the novel to take, as most Amish novels introduce the reader to the hero and heroine separately, let us get to know them as individuals and then make us fall in love with them as a couple. Living in Harmony is completely the opposite of this, and readers are forced to get to know Amy and John as a couple and figure out their personalities from the way that they relate to each other. Thomas and Sally also have to get to know John and Amy this way, and I imagine that they are just as bemused about aspects of their relationship as the readers are. As a newlywed, it was encouraging to read about a couple who still had doubts about their future and issues they needed to address before they finally made a commitment to each other. Their relationship was not perfect by any means, which sort of makes Living in Harmony an antidote for Amish romance novels with perfect happy endings.
While a large part of this book focuses on John and Amy adjusting to life in Maine and preparing to marry, they’re joined by a great cast of secondary characters. Amy’s younger sister, Nora, tags along for the journey but fails to adjust to conservative life in Harmony. Nora’s rebellious attitude may initially irritate some readers, but it’s soon revealed that she’s running away from a past mistake in Pennsylvania, and this revelation will make every reader want to comfort Nora and make her realise how much she’s truly loved. Nora’s past is reminiscent of Sally’s, John’s sister-in-law, who is struggling to adapt to life as a minister’s wife and is often made to feel that she’s not good enough by the women of the community. Sally’s growth as a character was incredibly encouraging to read about, and I loved how supportive her husband was. Thomas was quite different from the typical Amish male character, so he made for a refreshing change. His brother, Elam, isn’t typical either, and Elam’s rebellious nature causes him to get along well with Nora, much to Amy and John’s disapproval. I never really understood what Elam’s motivations were, but I’m sure this is something that’s explored in the second novel in the New Beginnings series, Love Comes to Paradise. Often with such a large cast of characters, a few come across as not being fully fleshed out or believable, but this wasn’t the case with Living in Harmony. Each character had their own personality and purpose in the novel, which means that there’s bound to be at least one character that every reader can relate to.
It’s hard to express exactly what I loved so much about Living in Harmony. It’s not just the setting, the new community and the realistic secondary characters that made this novel so refreshing and unique. Mary Ellis crafted her hero and heroine as incredibly relatable characters, flawed human beings who prove that even the Amish don’t have perfect relationships or marriages. John and Amy made a lot of mistakes over the course of the novel, which endeared them all the more to me. If you need a little bit more realism in your Amish fiction, or just don’t want to read a happily-ever-after romance, then Living in Harmony is the book for you.
Review title provided by Harvest House.
January 18, 2017
I liked how Amy worked to help Sally around the house and try to get Nora to help.
She was a positive influence on Nora.
They had it rough with the fire burning down their home. The death of their parents....
I was hoping she would like Maine. Seeing the ocean would be really nice.
Marrying John and finding their home was definitely a plus.
Liked this book.
She was a positive influence on Nora.
They had it rough with the fire burning down their home. The death of their parents....
I was hoping she would like Maine. Seeing the ocean would be really nice.
Marrying John and finding their home was definitely a plus.
Liked this book.
March 9, 2025
Mary Ellis' books are easy reading. I'm left with a warm feeling after each one and I've read several. My only complaint is her construction more than once led me to go back to discover who was being referred to. A little awkward but perhaps a new proofreader could help. It didn't spoil my reading but it broke the flow of sentences.
June 10, 2022
I truly enjoyed this author’s writing style, so natural and well-paced. Her characters were flawed and believable, and I liked that their happy endings didn’t come smoothly. Looks like the start of a good series!
September 4, 2018
Entertaining while some thoughtful perspectives. Enjoyable reads.
October 21, 2018
I really enjoyed this book.
This book continually gives you incite to how Amish families live. It does well in introducing each character. Loved it!!
This book continually gives you incite to how Amish families live. It does well in introducing each character. Loved it!!
January 4, 2019
How fun to find a new-to-me author with lots of books to read! I like her style. Fast-paced and lots of dialogue. If you like Amish fiction, you’ll probably like these books!
June 5, 2019
Good book.
September 22, 2023
This was a change of pace for me and I enjoyed this read.
Read
March 18, 2024Good Amish story!
December 31, 2015
Today I’m reviewing Living in Harmony, the first book in the New Beginnings series, by Mary Ellis.
Here is a brief synopsis:
Living in Harmony is the first book in bestselling author Mary Ellis’s New Beginnings series. It’s about fresh starts and love…and how faith in God and His perfect plan for our lives provides us with the peace and joy we desire.
Amy King—young, engaged, and Amish—faces difficult challenges in her life when she suddenly loses both of her parents in a house fire.
Her fiancé, John Detweiler, persuades her and her sister Nora to leave Lancaster County and make a new beginning with him in Harmony, Maine, where he has relatives who can help the women in their time of need.
John’s brother Thomas and sister-in-law Sally readily open their home to the three newcomers. Wise beyond his years, Thomas, a minister in the district, refuses to marry Amy and John upon their arrival, suggesting instead a period of adjustment and counseling.
During this time Amy discovers an aunt who was shunned. She wishes to reconnect with her, but this puts a strain on her relationship with John.
Can John and Amy find a way to live in happily in Harmony before making a lifetime commitment to one another?
Don’t miss this endearing story of love and commitment! – Tweet this!
Silly me — I was expecting a story similar to others I’ve read… I should have known better. Mary went a whole new direction with this series (and I’ve read more Amish fiction than anyone else I know).
In this first novel of the New Beginnings series, Amy King and her sister travel north with Amy’s soon-to-be husband, John Detweiler, after the death of her parents, to relocate in a new Amish community where John’s brother and his family is living.
Harmony, Maine sounds peaceful and content. No swarms of Englischers and easily affordable farm-land make it even more desirable. But one thing they weren’t counting on was a more strict Amish order. Amy and her sister are required to make many changes in their wardrobe — bright colors aren’t allowed, but they feel even more restricted when they learn that rumspringe, social outings and courting buggies are forbidden. How will Amy’s sister Nora find a husband?
John and Amy are also surprised that the bishop wants them to wait awhile before marrying; will all the changes draw them closer — or pull them apart?
See… I’m already involved with the characters — again. Mary creates such interesting characters and communities that I can see it all clearly in my mind. I especially liked getting to know Sally, John’s sister-in-law. She reminds me a lot of myself; trying so hard to fit in — and to bloom where she’s been planted.
If you enjoy Amish fiction, you’ll definitely want to read this series!
September 17, 2012
Mary Ellis has another series"The New Beginning"
I read book #1 Living in Harmony
This is the story of two young girls who lost their parents in a terible fire and move from their Memmonite community to another state to start over.
Amy the eldest is bethrothed and would have been married soon. Her intended has a brother living in Maine where a small grp of Mennonites are starting a new way of life. He ask Amy to move with him there and then they will marry soon after and begin their lives.
Life is quite different in Maine both in climate and the rules of the group there. Amy and John are asked to wait awhile before they marry to adjust. This seems simple at first but then John is impatient and Amy finds out some things about her intended that she was not aware of.
Many living in one household takes a toll on the couples as they move in with brother Thomas and his wife Sally along with there two little ones. Amy's sister Nora is young and prone to migraine headaches and shirks many duties that she should be helping with causing for some dissension.
Thomas is a minister and Sally is shy and insecure in her position as a ministers wife, we will watch her grow in this story as she learns to do things differently. Having the two other women in her household can be a blessing at times and a curse at others.
Harmony, Maine is quite different from where they had lived before but Amy is determined to make a go of her life here. She has had Tragedy and soon learns of a shunning of an aunt when finding a quilt at nearby store that leads her to try and find this aunt even though John is not happy with her decision.
Can their love survive so many changes and the long wait put upon them-Thomas & Sally are happy to have the family there at first but can that many people live together without problems arising-another brother comes and goes from the home as he is neither a committed Mennonite or an englisher, Nora becomes interested in him as she sees his carefree attitude about things and this suits the way she thinks many times. I loved reading and seeing lives change and new beginnings take off with this family. I was happy to see a reunion between Amy,Nora and their Aunt and secrets opened up that cleared the air in this family....
I look forward to book #2 and the story of Nora as she leaves Maine once again hoping to find Love and happiness....
I read book #1 Living in Harmony
This is the story of two young girls who lost their parents in a terible fire and move from their Memmonite community to another state to start over.
Amy the eldest is bethrothed and would have been married soon. Her intended has a brother living in Maine where a small grp of Mennonites are starting a new way of life. He ask Amy to move with him there and then they will marry soon after and begin their lives.
Life is quite different in Maine both in climate and the rules of the group there. Amy and John are asked to wait awhile before they marry to adjust. This seems simple at first but then John is impatient and Amy finds out some things about her intended that she was not aware of.
Many living in one household takes a toll on the couples as they move in with brother Thomas and his wife Sally along with there two little ones. Amy's sister Nora is young and prone to migraine headaches and shirks many duties that she should be helping with causing for some dissension.
Thomas is a minister and Sally is shy and insecure in her position as a ministers wife, we will watch her grow in this story as she learns to do things differently. Having the two other women in her household can be a blessing at times and a curse at others.
Harmony, Maine is quite different from where they had lived before but Amy is determined to make a go of her life here. She has had Tragedy and soon learns of a shunning of an aunt when finding a quilt at nearby store that leads her to try and find this aunt even though John is not happy with her decision.
Can their love survive so many changes and the long wait put upon them-Thomas & Sally are happy to have the family there at first but can that many people live together without problems arising-another brother comes and goes from the home as he is neither a committed Mennonite or an englisher, Nora becomes interested in him as she sees his carefree attitude about things and this suits the way she thinks many times. I loved reading and seeing lives change and new beginnings take off with this family. I was happy to see a reunion between Amy,Nora and their Aunt and secrets opened up that cleared the air in this family....
I look forward to book #2 and the story of Nora as she leaves Maine once again hoping to find Love and happiness....
July 13, 2015
I received a copy to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
All is not harmonious in Harmony Main for the main characters in this story. When Amy and Nora King lose their parents in a house fire, their younger siblings go to live with relatives and they go with Amy’s future husband to Harmony, Maine. John’s brother is the minister in Harmony. He decides that Amy and John need to wait a while so that Amy can properly grieve her parent’s death. Things are so different in Harmony. They are a stricter community. Amy is willing to try to fit in. Nora on the other hand has difficulty. Their clothes are too bright so they must make new ones to fit in with the drab colors of their new community. Where they would have had singings and buggy rides while courting, that is all banned in this community. For Nora it mean no Rumspringa, which is also banned. I applaud Amy for trying so hard to fit in to her new community. I also applaud her trying to help Sally, the minister’s wife who doesn’t feel like she fits in with the other women. Nora, I wanted to smack her for acting like a spoiled brat. When John’s younger brother Elam, the rebellious one shows up, he takes Nora down that path as well. Amy learns that she has an aunt who was shunned leaving nearby. She makes plans to meet with her and learns that is also forbidden. Will she follow the rules or follow her heart? Will Nora ever settle down and stop causing so much trouble? Will John and Amy finally get married? The answers to these questions are waiting for you in the book.
I have to say the only character I really had a hard time liking was John. He came across as too strong and almost unforgiving in some of the things he did. However, like all of her other books, I really enjoyed this and would definitely recommend it to those who love reading Amish Fiction.
All is not harmonious in Harmony Main for the main characters in this story. When Amy and Nora King lose their parents in a house fire, their younger siblings go to live with relatives and they go with Amy’s future husband to Harmony, Maine. John’s brother is the minister in Harmony. He decides that Amy and John need to wait a while so that Amy can properly grieve her parent’s death. Things are so different in Harmony. They are a stricter community. Amy is willing to try to fit in. Nora on the other hand has difficulty. Their clothes are too bright so they must make new ones to fit in with the drab colors of their new community. Where they would have had singings and buggy rides while courting, that is all banned in this community. For Nora it mean no Rumspringa, which is also banned. I applaud Amy for trying so hard to fit in to her new community. I also applaud her trying to help Sally, the minister’s wife who doesn’t feel like she fits in with the other women. Nora, I wanted to smack her for acting like a spoiled brat. When John’s younger brother Elam, the rebellious one shows up, he takes Nora down that path as well. Amy learns that she has an aunt who was shunned leaving nearby. She makes plans to meet with her and learns that is also forbidden. Will she follow the rules or follow her heart? Will Nora ever settle down and stop causing so much trouble? Will John and Amy finally get married? The answers to these questions are waiting for you in the book.
I have to say the only character I really had a hard time liking was John. He came across as too strong and almost unforgiving in some of the things he did. However, like all of her other books, I really enjoyed this and would definitely recommend it to those who love reading Amish Fiction.
July 31, 2012
Title: LIVING IN HARMONY
Author: Mary Ellis
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers
August 2012
ISBN: 978-0736938662
Genre: Inspirational/Amish
Amy King has planned to marry John Detweiler in November when tragedy strikes. Amy loses her parents, and the family farm. Her two younger sisters decide to stay with family in Lancaster County, but Amy and her sister Nora accompany John to a remote Amish community in Maine. There they plan to marry right away and buy a farm.
But Harmony, Maine, is much different than Lancaster County. The rules are harsher, restricting the colors to dark drab colors. The bonnets are so wide, they act as blinders for the women. No rumspringe is allowed, and neither is courting, unless the parents accompany the couple. And worse—the bishop and ministers in Harmony won’t let John and Amy marry.
Will John and Amy survive the demands placed on them in Harmony, Maine?
LIVING IN HARMONY is the first book in Ms. Ellis’ The New Beginnings series. Amy and Nora are sweet, as is John’s sister-in-law, Sally, though she struggles with most household tasks. Thomas is strict, as demanded by their Ordnung, and John often has to correct Amy and Nora for accidentally breaking the rules.
I enjoyed reading LIVING IN HARMONY, written by an Amish author I consider a friend. I love her writing and her storylines are always fresh and realistic. I enjoyed visiting a new Amish community in rural Maine. Discussion questions and some recipes are included at the end of the book as well as a sneak preview of the second book in the series, Love Comes to Paradise. $13.99. 324 pages.
Author: Mary Ellis
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers
August 2012
ISBN: 978-0736938662
Genre: Inspirational/Amish
Amy King has planned to marry John Detweiler in November when tragedy strikes. Amy loses her parents, and the family farm. Her two younger sisters decide to stay with family in Lancaster County, but Amy and her sister Nora accompany John to a remote Amish community in Maine. There they plan to marry right away and buy a farm.
But Harmony, Maine, is much different than Lancaster County. The rules are harsher, restricting the colors to dark drab colors. The bonnets are so wide, they act as blinders for the women. No rumspringe is allowed, and neither is courting, unless the parents accompany the couple. And worse—the bishop and ministers in Harmony won’t let John and Amy marry.
Will John and Amy survive the demands placed on them in Harmony, Maine?
LIVING IN HARMONY is the first book in Ms. Ellis’ The New Beginnings series. Amy and Nora are sweet, as is John’s sister-in-law, Sally, though she struggles with most household tasks. Thomas is strict, as demanded by their Ordnung, and John often has to correct Amy and Nora for accidentally breaking the rules.
I enjoyed reading LIVING IN HARMONY, written by an Amish author I consider a friend. I love her writing and her storylines are always fresh and realistic. I enjoyed visiting a new Amish community in rural Maine. Discussion questions and some recipes are included at the end of the book as well as a sneak preview of the second book in the series, Love Comes to Paradise. $13.99. 324 pages.
November 12, 2012
LIVING IN HARMONY by Mary Ellis is a wonderful Amish inspirational romance set in Harmony, Maine. Book 1 in a new series "The New Beginnings" and what a beginning. Follow Amy King and John Detweiler on a journey to find truth,secrets,love and peace. With lost,grief,faith,discovery,Amy and John does not discovery a picture perfect life or place,but learn so much more than they expected. A story of love,being shunned,tragedy, and second chances. Ms. Ellis is not only a talented author,she draws the reader into her stories and her character's lives. I enjoy Amish stories and this author's stories,this title was no exception. With lovable,believable,and engaging characters and an interesting plot you will not regret picking up the first in "The New Beginnings" series, "Living In Harmony".A must for anyone who enjoys Amish fiction,inspirational,while not "preachy",romance and just a plain good read. Received from an honest review from the publisher and Wynn-Wynn Media. Details can be found at the author's website, Harvest House Publishers and My Book Addiction and More.
RATING: 4.5
HEAT RATING: SWEET
REVIEWED BY: AprilR,My Book Addiction and More/My Book Addiction Reviews
RATING: 4.5
HEAT RATING: SWEET
REVIEWED BY: AprilR,My Book Addiction and More/My Book Addiction Reviews
May 27, 2012
Living in Harmony is the first book in the New Beginnings series by Mary Ellis. Amy King faces difficult
chanlangers in her life when she suddenly loses both of her parents in a house fire. Her fiance John,
persuades her and her sister Nora to leave Lancaster county and make a new beginning with him in
Harmony, Maine.
John's Brother Thomas and sister in law Sally readily open their home to the three newcomers. Thomas,
a minister in the district, refuses to marry Amy and John upon their arrival, suggesting instead a period
of adjustment and counceling. During this time Amy discovers an aunt who was shunned. She wishes
to reconnect with her, but this puts a strain on her relationship with John.
The book was Ok. It wasn't one of my favorite Amish novels. I kinda lost interest in it about mid way
through and forced myself to finish it.
chanlangers in her life when she suddenly loses both of her parents in a house fire. Her fiance John,
persuades her and her sister Nora to leave Lancaster county and make a new beginning with him in
Harmony, Maine.
John's Brother Thomas and sister in law Sally readily open their home to the three newcomers. Thomas,
a minister in the district, refuses to marry Amy and John upon their arrival, suggesting instead a period
of adjustment and counceling. During this time Amy discovers an aunt who was shunned. She wishes
to reconnect with her, but this puts a strain on her relationship with John.
The book was Ok. It wasn't one of my favorite Amish novels. I kinda lost interest in it about mid way
through and forced myself to finish it.
November 3, 2012
Never thought I could read this in one day! It's a full length novel. But the day turned out to be one where I had more reading time than usual. A gripping story of an Amish couple who, not yet married but promised to each other, made the decision to move from Pennsylvania to Maine and join a small Amish settlement there. John had a brother there and they had determined this to be the best course because of the high cost of land in Pennsylvania. Several subplots enhance the story, and Mary Ellis skillfully wove them together in a way that was never confusing and always moved the entire story to its intended climax. I am happy to say that she is planning another book in the series to be published early next year. Five stars for this one!
May 12, 2013
I chose to write my first review about the latest book that I am reading. Living in Harmony by Mary Ellis is a book that is full of love, second chances, and starting over. This story is about John and his soon to be bride, Amy King. Amy and her family have just lost both of her parents in a house fire so she and one her of her sisters, Nora travel to Maine to begin a new life. Although they are Amish, in Maine they find a different culture and set of "Amish rules" than they are used to. They move in with his brother, Thomas and his wife and begin to meld their family together. To follow the adventures of this couple you must read Living in Harmony. This is the first book in Mary Ellis' new series The New Beginnings.
November 30, 2014
Mary Ellis sent me this as a gift!
Thank You Mary!
She did NOT ask me to review or rate this book for her.
We "met" online through my reviews and my Book Blog. But Mary (Bless her heart) as well as two or three others, became prayer partners and friends over my many health issues and have been a real blessing sending me cards and notes during surgeries and bad periods.
Which is where this book comes in... Mary sent it to me as a get better gift after another neck procedure.
What a treat! I read it that week I came home!
I've had a VERY ROUGH 2014. So am just now writing this.
As Always, a lovely book full of faith, family, food, & fun!!
I highly recommend!
Thank You Mary!
She did NOT ask me to review or rate this book for her.
We "met" online through my reviews and my Book Blog. But Mary (Bless her heart) as well as two or three others, became prayer partners and friends over my many health issues and have been a real blessing sending me cards and notes during surgeries and bad periods.
Which is where this book comes in... Mary sent it to me as a get better gift after another neck procedure.
What a treat! I read it that week I came home!
I've had a VERY ROUGH 2014. So am just now writing this.
As Always, a lovely book full of faith, family, food, & fun!!
I highly recommend!
August 2, 2012
Moving with John, her fiancé, to a more conservative Amish district, Amy faces unexpected challenges. Because her parents are dead, Amy is pleased to locate an aunt who was shunned by the Amish. Amy travels to visit her aunt against John’s wishes. Her trip and finding that she cannot trust John causes Amy to doubt the wisdom of marrying John. An accomplished writer, Mary Ellis gives the reader strong, distinct characters. Her descriptions of the ways of the Amish bring the reader into the community, the household, and mindset of the characters.
August 1, 2013
I loved this book, Mary Ellis knows how to write a good story,keeping you in suspense until the end.
from back of book:
A tragedy, a refusal, a shunning.
Amy King young, engaged and Amish, faces life after a challenge when she loses both parents. Her Finance John Detweiler persuades her to leave Lancaster county to Harmony Maine. A new Amish community with few people in their district, with different rules than Lancaster had, Amys younger sister Nora a rebel gives them a lot of trouble but all turns out well in the end
Looking forward to the next one.
from back of book:
A tragedy, a refusal, a shunning.
Amy King young, engaged and Amish, faces life after a challenge when she loses both parents. Her Finance John Detweiler persuades her to leave Lancaster county to Harmony Maine. A new Amish community with few people in their district, with different rules than Lancaster had, Amys younger sister Nora a rebel gives them a lot of trouble but all turns out well in the end
Looking forward to the next one.
November 9, 2013
After the death of the parents by house fire in Pennsylvania Amy and Nora
move to Maine to live with the brother and wife of her fiance John. Thomas and Sally welcome the trio in to their home but Thomas a minister pushes their marriage date back and you begin to wonder if he'll ever let
them marry as problems between Amy and John become more noticeable. Nora's sitting on the fence about lots of things and may or may not have found a new love interest in Harmony. Lots to keep you guessing.
move to Maine to live with the brother and wife of her fiance John. Thomas and Sally welcome the trio in to their home but Thomas a minister pushes their marriage date back and you begin to wonder if he'll ever let
them marry as problems between Amy and John become more noticeable. Nora's sitting on the fence about lots of things and may or may not have found a new love interest in Harmony. Lots to keep you guessing.
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