A poignant Amish tale!
I thought The Warmth of Sunshine was well-written with developed characters. I like Kelly Irvin�s engaging writing style. I was drawn into the story and just wanted to keep reading. I cannot imagine what Abigail was feeling after discovering that she was adopted. She has always felt like she did not fit in since she struggles to accomplish the normal female tasks (cooking, baking, etc.). Abigail�s cookies could break a tooth. I thought the author did a wonderful job at portraying Abigail�s emotional and her mental state after this revelation. We also meet Owen who has been courting Abigail. He works for his father�s metal shed construction company, but Owen prefers farming. He wants to grow sunflowers as a cash crop on his father�s land, but Owen�s father is not keen on the idea. When Abigail departs for Abilene, Owen is left wondering if she will return to Haven. Owen�s father is also courting a local widow. It looks like he will be proposing soon which means a new stepmother and five new siblings. The story is told from Abigail and Owen�s point-of-view in alternating chapters. I found the pacing to be a little on the slow side as Abigail decides what to do and then visits her birth mother. There are good life lessons in the story. Everything happens for a reason. God has a plan that will unfold according to His schedule (not ours). The Warmth of Sunshine is a story about hope, love, family, friendship, and faith. It is the second book in the Amish Blessings series, but it can be read as a standalone. The Warmth of Sunshine is a poignant Amish tale with an unexpected announcement, baffling feelings, bewildering birth family, crop conundrum, displeased parents, and a gracious God.