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Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors #1
The Memory Jar
Every year, 30--40 young Amish men descend on the cozy little town of West Kootenai, Montana, arriving in the spring to live there for six months and receive 'resident' status for the hunting season in the fall. They arrive as bachelors, but go home with brides. Sarah Shelter has lived in West Kootenai for the last ten years and wonders if she will ever fall in love.and be married. Since the tragic death of her best friend, she carries her memories in a jar along with the small items connected to them. For just as long, she's also been carrying around her emotions instead of allowing them to penetrate deep into her heart. Now she's met a kind and gentle man who may be able to break down the wall. But can Sarah risk her heart to finally achieve her dreams?
352 pages, Paperback
First published October 23, 2012
58 people are currently reading
1412 people want to read
About the author
Tricia Goyer
161books1,656followersTricia Goyer is a busy mom of ten, grandmother of two, and wife to John. Somewhere around the hustle and bustle of family life, she manages to find the time to write fictional tales delighting and entertaining readers and non-fiction titles offering encouragement and hope. A bestselling author, Tricia has published thirty-three books to date and has written more than 500 articles. She is a two time Carol Award winner, as well as a Christy and ECPA Award Nominee. In 2010, she was selected as one of the Top 20 Moms to Follow on Twitter by SheKnows.com. Tricia is also on the blogging team at MomLifeToday.com, TheBetterMom.com and other homeschooling and Christian sites.In addition to her roles as mom, wife and author, Tricia volunteers around her community and mentors teen moms. She is the founder of Hope Pregnancy Ministries in Northwestern Montana, and she currently leads a Teen MOPS Group in Little Rock, AR. Learn more about Tricia at .
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November 19, 2012
This Gifted Author Weaves a Memorable Tale!
It's Sarah's 10th birthday and she had "only the forest floor to occupy her" in the Amish community of West Kootenai, Montana. "Pine needles, a clump of moss, a golden leaf" were placed into an old jelly jar found in her mem's cupboard. "A pinecone would be a good find for her collection." As Sarah searched for the perfect pinecone, another young Amish girl came bounding through the woods! A freespirted child, Patty discovered beauty and excitement in every situation, and her adventurous nature was contagious. Sarah offered to get another jar for them to collect wonderful things together. These flashbacks throughout the book build upon Sarah's friendship with Patty, enhancing the story and the significance of the contents of the memory jars Sarah holds so close to her heart.
Sarah is 24 years old, single, and with a fear of commitment. Two years earlier a boating accident claimed the friend who meant everything to her. Her grief and guilt have consumed her, leaving her alone, with no one to share her dreams. Sarah's painful memories threaten her ability to move forward. She continues to dream about a future husband and family, and owning a bakery where she can create "fancy" cupcakes. Her passion for baking and following God's will for her life spills over to others as she cooks and bakes with the Englisch at West Kootenai Kraft and Grocery, putting smiles on the faces of those she encounters. Sarah has an established reputation for her delicious cupcakes!
Jathan Shrock, tall, handsome, and with obstacles to overcome, moved to West Kootenai to work and establish residency in order to hunt. Family expectations and obligations have overwhelmed Jathan, and his inner struggles regarding his life's dream need to be explored away from the constant demands of his family. Guilt and responsibilities overcome him as he seeks God's direction in his life. Jathan doesn't fit the mold that his father and brothers have carved for him, and leaving Berlin Ohio behind for a time is his only solace. Jathan's dream is for a home and family of his own, and to own his own business, possibly his mother's bakery. He has a good business sense and is accomplished in the kitchen, having helped his mem throughout the years.
In West Kootenai it is tradition to "climb the mountains." Sarah had reached a crossroad in her life and felt she was ready for the challenge. Sarah, two Amish girlfriends, Jathan and his Amish friend set out for the day's hike together. The physical challenges were numerous, and not far from the mountaintop Sarah twisted her ankle. While she remained behind the others forged ahead to the summit. Thinking that her friends had forgotten her, Sarah started her way down the mountain alone, but took the wrong trail and became lost. When the others realized they had taken a different path down the mountain and hadn't found Sarah, Jathan climbed back up to look for her. He found signs of Sarah's trail down the mountainside, and eventually discovered her shortly before nightfall. As they were forced to spend a long and cold night on the side of the mountain Jathan foraged for dry wood and started a fire to keep them warm. As the night wore on Sarah opened up to Jathan, and talked about her friend, Patty, and her dreams of owning a bakery. Jathan shared his visions of God's splendor on the mountain. He is like a balm to Sarah, but he wasn't yet prepared to share his own burdens. As dawn began to break Jathan carried Sarah back to the mountain trail and reached the valley below as rescuers were arriving.
As the days progressed Jathan and Sarah's attraction and friendship developed further, and they discussed a future business together in Jathan's mem's bakery in Ohio. Unfortunately Jathan receives news that his father has had a stroke and he is needed at home. He leaves immediately, and a confused Sarah is left to wonder what will become of their friendship. Jathan realizes that Sarah could be a help in the bakery, and asks her to come to Berlin, Ohio. Sarah's aunt lives in Berlin, and as she prepares to take her leave her mother presents her with Patty's memory jar, that she had been keeping for such a time as this. Sarah takes one of her own memory jars along with Patty's to Ohio, and as she takes time to examine the contents of Patty's memory jar the healing process begins. New challenges confront Sarah as she begins her life in Ohio, but feeling God's presence fills her spirit.
The Memory Jar is filled with descriptive elements. The author paints vivid images of the areas surrounding both West Kootenai, Montana, and Berlin, Ohio. This is a carefully thought out story of the vulnerabilities and internal struggles of the main characters in this book. It is an emotional journey through the lives of two people whose struggles to overcome the past and present are presented realistically and in a heartwarming and sometimes heartbreaking manner. The main characters in "The Memory Jar" are endearing, believable, and have depth. The plot is well developed, moves along at a wonderful pace, and raises questions throughout the story that cause the reader think more deeply about life and our human frailties. I loved this book, and will be reading it again. The story evoked emotions that had me smiling, laughing, crying, and feeling spiritually uplifted. I highly recommend this beautifully woven tale to those who love Amish Christian fiction.
I was given a copy of this book by Zondervan for the express purpose of my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
It's Sarah's 10th birthday and she had "only the forest floor to occupy her" in the Amish community of West Kootenai, Montana. "Pine needles, a clump of moss, a golden leaf" were placed into an old jelly jar found in her mem's cupboard. "A pinecone would be a good find for her collection." As Sarah searched for the perfect pinecone, another young Amish girl came bounding through the woods! A freespirted child, Patty discovered beauty and excitement in every situation, and her adventurous nature was contagious. Sarah offered to get another jar for them to collect wonderful things together. These flashbacks throughout the book build upon Sarah's friendship with Patty, enhancing the story and the significance of the contents of the memory jars Sarah holds so close to her heart.
Sarah is 24 years old, single, and with a fear of commitment. Two years earlier a boating accident claimed the friend who meant everything to her. Her grief and guilt have consumed her, leaving her alone, with no one to share her dreams. Sarah's painful memories threaten her ability to move forward. She continues to dream about a future husband and family, and owning a bakery where she can create "fancy" cupcakes. Her passion for baking and following God's will for her life spills over to others as she cooks and bakes with the Englisch at West Kootenai Kraft and Grocery, putting smiles on the faces of those she encounters. Sarah has an established reputation for her delicious cupcakes!
Jathan Shrock, tall, handsome, and with obstacles to overcome, moved to West Kootenai to work and establish residency in order to hunt. Family expectations and obligations have overwhelmed Jathan, and his inner struggles regarding his life's dream need to be explored away from the constant demands of his family. Guilt and responsibilities overcome him as he seeks God's direction in his life. Jathan doesn't fit the mold that his father and brothers have carved for him, and leaving Berlin Ohio behind for a time is his only solace. Jathan's dream is for a home and family of his own, and to own his own business, possibly his mother's bakery. He has a good business sense and is accomplished in the kitchen, having helped his mem throughout the years.
In West Kootenai it is tradition to "climb the mountains." Sarah had reached a crossroad in her life and felt she was ready for the challenge. Sarah, two Amish girlfriends, Jathan and his Amish friend set out for the day's hike together. The physical challenges were numerous, and not far from the mountaintop Sarah twisted her ankle. While she remained behind the others forged ahead to the summit. Thinking that her friends had forgotten her, Sarah started her way down the mountain alone, but took the wrong trail and became lost. When the others realized they had taken a different path down the mountain and hadn't found Sarah, Jathan climbed back up to look for her. He found signs of Sarah's trail down the mountainside, and eventually discovered her shortly before nightfall. As they were forced to spend a long and cold night on the side of the mountain Jathan foraged for dry wood and started a fire to keep them warm. As the night wore on Sarah opened up to Jathan, and talked about her friend, Patty, and her dreams of owning a bakery. Jathan shared his visions of God's splendor on the mountain. He is like a balm to Sarah, but he wasn't yet prepared to share his own burdens. As dawn began to break Jathan carried Sarah back to the mountain trail and reached the valley below as rescuers were arriving.
As the days progressed Jathan and Sarah's attraction and friendship developed further, and they discussed a future business together in Jathan's mem's bakery in Ohio. Unfortunately Jathan receives news that his father has had a stroke and he is needed at home. He leaves immediately, and a confused Sarah is left to wonder what will become of their friendship. Jathan realizes that Sarah could be a help in the bakery, and asks her to come to Berlin, Ohio. Sarah's aunt lives in Berlin, and as she prepares to take her leave her mother presents her with Patty's memory jar, that she had been keeping for such a time as this. Sarah takes one of her own memory jars along with Patty's to Ohio, and as she takes time to examine the contents of Patty's memory jar the healing process begins. New challenges confront Sarah as she begins her life in Ohio, but feeling God's presence fills her spirit.
The Memory Jar is filled with descriptive elements. The author paints vivid images of the areas surrounding both West Kootenai, Montana, and Berlin, Ohio. This is a carefully thought out story of the vulnerabilities and internal struggles of the main characters in this book. It is an emotional journey through the lives of two people whose struggles to overcome the past and present are presented realistically and in a heartwarming and sometimes heartbreaking manner. The main characters in "The Memory Jar" are endearing, believable, and have depth. The plot is well developed, moves along at a wonderful pace, and raises questions throughout the story that cause the reader think more deeply about life and our human frailties. I loved this book, and will be reading it again. The story evoked emotions that had me smiling, laughing, crying, and feeling spiritually uplifted. I highly recommend this beautifully woven tale to those who love Amish Christian fiction.
I was given a copy of this book by Zondervan for the express purpose of my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
September 9, 2012
"For so long, she'd taken her memories of Patty - the memories they'd created together - and held them outside of herself, protecting herself from the pain of carrying them deep within. It was as if she carried all the memories in her jars. But if doing so, it was as if she'd also kept everyone else - those still in her life - at arm's length too."
Sarah Shelter knows she is different from most Amish girls. She can quilt but doesn't enjoy it, loves to bake, but doesn't like cooking, and find herself spending most of her time dreaming and wishing of a life she believes God wants for her, but because it might go against what others want for her, she pushes those thoughts back. Instead she spends her time and talents pouring her heart and soul in the baked goods she makes for Annie, her boss at West Kootenai Kraft and Grocery in the heart of the Montana mountains. Her customers can taste all the love she puts into each of her creations and she dreams of sometime owning her own bakery.
When the tragedy of losing her best friend Patty during an accident at the lake, she pushes her hopes and dreams back into herself much like the trinkets she has collected over the years she stores in her memory jars. She can only hope that some day she can find a man who will love the real Sarah that lies bottled up inside waiting for that special someone to unlock her dreams.
Jathan Schrock believes that "There is not a pot so crooked there isn't a lid to fit it. Years ago, Jathan knew he would have tried to pound himself into shape - but he struggles to find a way to express the passion and love he has inside that goes against what he father feels a true Amish man should measure up to and for now, takes so time to head to Montana to hunt and make some money to help his family out during their hard financial times. Yet he doesn't realize how one adventure hiking into the mountains with a group of Amish young adults will change his life forever in both good and bad ways.
In the novel The Memory Jar by Tricia Goyer, the reader is immersed into a different story from any I've read before. The setting of a mountain Amish community is a bit different and LOVE how Tricia incorporated the love of the forests and animals into the adventures and friendship Patty and Sarah share and build, but also one that Jathan and Sarah discover as well. I love Sarah's love for baking and in it she discovers she has a talent that God created in her that is different than most in her Amish community. She finds herself at odds with most in the Amish that believe that Sarah is going to far in her creativity and many find it prideful, but Sarah sees things differently.
I received this novel compliments of Zondervan Publishing and Net Galley for my honest opinion and love the parallel story lines that take place throughout this book. While Sarah feels she has lost her friendship with Patty forever, she soon discovers that Patty has been with her all along in the things she decides to do once she works past her grief. I love the memory jar concept and have one myself to look back on things that mean a lot to me that happen over the year. This is a beautifully written Amish novel that will inspire and encourage those that have gone through a sense of loss as well as searching for what our life's purpose is. I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars and this is one you will definitely want to pick up when it comes out this October. Make sure you preorder your copy today. This is the first book in the Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series and this will be one you'll want to begin and follow.
Sarah Shelter knows she is different from most Amish girls. She can quilt but doesn't enjoy it, loves to bake, but doesn't like cooking, and find herself spending most of her time dreaming and wishing of a life she believes God wants for her, but because it might go against what others want for her, she pushes those thoughts back. Instead she spends her time and talents pouring her heart and soul in the baked goods she makes for Annie, her boss at West Kootenai Kraft and Grocery in the heart of the Montana mountains. Her customers can taste all the love she puts into each of her creations and she dreams of sometime owning her own bakery.
When the tragedy of losing her best friend Patty during an accident at the lake, she pushes her hopes and dreams back into herself much like the trinkets she has collected over the years she stores in her memory jars. She can only hope that some day she can find a man who will love the real Sarah that lies bottled up inside waiting for that special someone to unlock her dreams.
Jathan Schrock believes that "There is not a pot so crooked there isn't a lid to fit it. Years ago, Jathan knew he would have tried to pound himself into shape - but he struggles to find a way to express the passion and love he has inside that goes against what he father feels a true Amish man should measure up to and for now, takes so time to head to Montana to hunt and make some money to help his family out during their hard financial times. Yet he doesn't realize how one adventure hiking into the mountains with a group of Amish young adults will change his life forever in both good and bad ways.
In the novel The Memory Jar by Tricia Goyer, the reader is immersed into a different story from any I've read before. The setting of a mountain Amish community is a bit different and LOVE how Tricia incorporated the love of the forests and animals into the adventures and friendship Patty and Sarah share and build, but also one that Jathan and Sarah discover as well. I love Sarah's love for baking and in it she discovers she has a talent that God created in her that is different than most in her Amish community. She finds herself at odds with most in the Amish that believe that Sarah is going to far in her creativity and many find it prideful, but Sarah sees things differently.
I received this novel compliments of Zondervan Publishing and Net Galley for my honest opinion and love the parallel story lines that take place throughout this book. While Sarah feels she has lost her friendship with Patty forever, she soon discovers that Patty has been with her all along in the things she decides to do once she works past her grief. I love the memory jar concept and have one myself to look back on things that mean a lot to me that happen over the year. This is a beautifully written Amish novel that will inspire and encourage those that have gone through a sense of loss as well as searching for what our life's purpose is. I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars and this is one you will definitely want to pick up when it comes out this October. Make sure you preorder your copy today. This is the first book in the Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series and this will be one you'll want to begin and follow.
October 27, 2018
To the Author
June 18, 2012
Loved this book! Such a great story about falling in love. Sarah is interested in one of the bachelors and one of them is interested in her, however, they're not one and the same.
On a hike to the top of a mountain Sarah hurts her ankle, while the others make their way to the top she stays put. When the others don't come back she tries to find her way to the path leading down and gets lost. Jathan leaves the group and sets out to find her. They end up having to stay the night on the mountain and things change for Sarah.
Before they can spend much time together Jathan is called home on an emergency. Sarah is devastated. I won't give the rest away but The Memory Jar is such a sweet story of healing, falling in love, and fulfilling dreams. I give it 5 out of 5 stars.
I received an ecopy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
On a hike to the top of a mountain Sarah hurts her ankle, while the others make their way to the top she stays put. When the others don't come back she tries to find her way to the path leading down and gets lost. Jathan leaves the group and sets out to find her. They end up having to stay the night on the mountain and things change for Sarah.
Before they can spend much time together Jathan is called home on an emergency. Sarah is devastated. I won't give the rest away but The Memory Jar is such a sweet story of healing, falling in love, and fulfilling dreams. I give it 5 out of 5 stars.
I received an ecopy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
March 31, 2021
This book had much more depth than I expected! Sarah had a wonderful childhood with best friend Patty, but they were separated as young adults when Patty was killed in an accident. Sarah has been grieving the loss deeply, and it has affected all aspects of her life. The book begins two years later, when Sarah has started to make an effort socially, and find friendship and romance where she doesn't expect it. Flashbacks to scenes from growing up with Patty show how much influence her friend had on her and the provenance of the objects in her memory jar (which she has been collecting for several years, not just since Patty's death as stated in the synopsis). I really felt for Jathan, who has dreams of his own but feels conflicted by the commandment to honor his parents who want to run his life in a direction he doesn't want to go. Sarah gives him the courage to pursue his career in business and expand his mother's bakery, and it's a new adventure for her as well. It was easy to connect with the emotions of the characters as they experienced ups and downs, obstacles and triumphs. Definitely recommend for fans of Amish fiction!
Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.
Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.
October 22, 2012
Sarah Shelter still misses her best friend several years after she drowned. Patty taught Sarah a lot about life, she is the one that got Sarah started on her first memory jar. Not only did she lose Patty, but after the drowning she lost Patty's brother, Michael, who she had a huge crush on. Patty's mother could not take living in Montana with so many memories so they moved.
Sarah has had a hard time moving on with her life and throws herself into baking, mainly cupcakes. She has found a new man she thinks she'd like to spend the rest of her life with, Amos. Amos doesn't show her much interest, although he's friendly, he's not ready to see any one girl.
Jathan has come to Montana from Berlin, OH to find himself, he is being forced into working in a factory so his dad and brothers can build furniture in their small shop. They need Jathan to bring in some steady money to help support the entire family. Jathan isn't interested in woodwork, he likes to bake and do bookwork.
Sarah, Amos, Jathan and some others go on a hike in the mountains, the same mountain trail that leads to a cabin Patty and Sarah had found when they were young and it leads to the lake where Patty had drowned. Sarah twists her ankle and decides to wait while the rest of the group proceed. When it starts getting dark she's afraid they forgot about her and starts limping back down the trail. On the way she sees a different path and decides to take that, she soon comes to a dead end and it's too late to try to make it all the way back down so she decides to wait the night out there and prays a bear doesn't find her.
Jathan is worried about Sarah and tells the rest of the group to go ahead on down the other side of the mountain and to send for help if he and Sarah don't meet them at the bottom. When Sarah is not where they left her, he sees her footprints and follows her trail, luckily he takes the same trail she did and finds her sitting on a log. They end up spending the night in the woods and getting to know each other. In the morning they wake up early and head on down, where they meet the rescuers heading up the mountain along with her parents.
During Sarah's recovery Jathan helps her with her baking and they get to know one another better. They are soon talking about his mother's bakery back in Ohio and they are both having ideas of their own that seem to be about the same things, baking together and spending more time together so they can get to know even more about each other. When Jathan gets called home after his dad had a stroke and they aren't sure he'll even survive, things don't look too good for their future.
When Jathan gets home and sees his dad, he can't talk, he feels even more like he's being forced into working at the factory. Not only that, Anna, his mother's friends daughter, thinks they will be married. The two mothers have talked about their marriage since they were little kids. Jathan talks to his dad, even though he can't answer, and tells him of his new plans, plans to bring Sarah to work in the bakery with his mom and his aunt. They will start selling cupcakes, he will do the books and he is not going to work at the factory.
Sarah arrives in Berlin, goes to work at the bakery and soon business is booming. There is a problem though, the regular customers are no longer coming in because of the changes that have been made, suggestions made by Sarah. Jathan's mom and aunt voice their opinion and he finds himself firing Sarah immediately and going to work in the factory. It seems the mother that wanted her son to marry Sarah now wants nothing to do with her, not only that she doesn't want her son to have anything to do with her.
Now Sarah has to figure out what she's going to do, she likes Ohio but can she stay there, should she go back to Montana to her family and how soon does she have to make a decision.
Tricia does a wonderful job of keeping you interested in this story, she tugs at your heartstrings for sure. There are ups and downs, just like life has, and what a wonderful friend Sarah had in Patty and it's amazing the things she taught Sarah about life in their young lives that helped her later on. The idea of a memory jar is a beautiful idea and the things Patty says it can teach you. Tricia gives you a lot of things to think about are plentiful.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the NetGalley book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.�
Sarah has had a hard time moving on with her life and throws herself into baking, mainly cupcakes. She has found a new man she thinks she'd like to spend the rest of her life with, Amos. Amos doesn't show her much interest, although he's friendly, he's not ready to see any one girl.
Jathan has come to Montana from Berlin, OH to find himself, he is being forced into working in a factory so his dad and brothers can build furniture in their small shop. They need Jathan to bring in some steady money to help support the entire family. Jathan isn't interested in woodwork, he likes to bake and do bookwork.
Sarah, Amos, Jathan and some others go on a hike in the mountains, the same mountain trail that leads to a cabin Patty and Sarah had found when they were young and it leads to the lake where Patty had drowned. Sarah twists her ankle and decides to wait while the rest of the group proceed. When it starts getting dark she's afraid they forgot about her and starts limping back down the trail. On the way she sees a different path and decides to take that, she soon comes to a dead end and it's too late to try to make it all the way back down so she decides to wait the night out there and prays a bear doesn't find her.
Jathan is worried about Sarah and tells the rest of the group to go ahead on down the other side of the mountain and to send for help if he and Sarah don't meet them at the bottom. When Sarah is not where they left her, he sees her footprints and follows her trail, luckily he takes the same trail she did and finds her sitting on a log. They end up spending the night in the woods and getting to know each other. In the morning they wake up early and head on down, where they meet the rescuers heading up the mountain along with her parents.
During Sarah's recovery Jathan helps her with her baking and they get to know one another better. They are soon talking about his mother's bakery back in Ohio and they are both having ideas of their own that seem to be about the same things, baking together and spending more time together so they can get to know even more about each other. When Jathan gets called home after his dad had a stroke and they aren't sure he'll even survive, things don't look too good for their future.
When Jathan gets home and sees his dad, he can't talk, he feels even more like he's being forced into working at the factory. Not only that, Anna, his mother's friends daughter, thinks they will be married. The two mothers have talked about their marriage since they were little kids. Jathan talks to his dad, even though he can't answer, and tells him of his new plans, plans to bring Sarah to work in the bakery with his mom and his aunt. They will start selling cupcakes, he will do the books and he is not going to work at the factory.
Sarah arrives in Berlin, goes to work at the bakery and soon business is booming. There is a problem though, the regular customers are no longer coming in because of the changes that have been made, suggestions made by Sarah. Jathan's mom and aunt voice their opinion and he finds himself firing Sarah immediately and going to work in the factory. It seems the mother that wanted her son to marry Sarah now wants nothing to do with her, not only that she doesn't want her son to have anything to do with her.
Now Sarah has to figure out what she's going to do, she likes Ohio but can she stay there, should she go back to Montana to her family and how soon does she have to make a decision.
Tricia does a wonderful job of keeping you interested in this story, she tugs at your heartstrings for sure. There are ups and downs, just like life has, and what a wonderful friend Sarah had in Patty and it's amazing the things she taught Sarah about life in their young lives that helped her later on. The idea of a memory jar is a beautiful idea and the things Patty says it can teach you. Tricia gives you a lot of things to think about are plentiful.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the NetGalley book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.�
October 6, 2012
This is the story of Sarah Shetler and her healing and finding a new life. As a little girl her family moved from Kentucky to Montana, where she is befriended by Patty. Patty and Sarah share so much of their youth together and create so many memories.
When we begin this book there has been a tragic accident and Sarah's Dear friend Patty has been killed. For Sarah, Patty was that perfect "almost Sister" type friend. They shared so many memories...as we travel through the book we are given glimpses into there happy moments. They each had a memory jar...little tokens of a special memory. How awesome...we all carry these precious thoughts, but to touch something that brings us back to those moments. Wonderful!
I feel Sarah's pain and how hard it must have been for her to find peace and feel those happy times now that her friend is gone. Along come Jathan, he has come to search his heart, and spend time in the cozy little town of West Kootenai, Montana. Every year bachelors come to go hunting in the mountains.
When they find an attraction to one another, Sarah lets down her guard and starts sharing Patty with him. He also lets her know his Mam owns a Bakery! Sarah's passion is making incredible cupcakes....I want her recipes! YUM!
When Jathan is called back home after is Daed had had a stroke will it be the end for them?
This is a story of finding oneself, and peace at our decisions, and following what is God's plan.
This is the first book in this series, and am anxious to read more of this heart warming stories!
I received this book through Litfuse Book Tours, and was not required to give a positive review.
When we begin this book there has been a tragic accident and Sarah's Dear friend Patty has been killed. For Sarah, Patty was that perfect "almost Sister" type friend. They shared so many memories...as we travel through the book we are given glimpses into there happy moments. They each had a memory jar...little tokens of a special memory. How awesome...we all carry these precious thoughts, but to touch something that brings us back to those moments. Wonderful!
I feel Sarah's pain and how hard it must have been for her to find peace and feel those happy times now that her friend is gone. Along come Jathan, he has come to search his heart, and spend time in the cozy little town of West Kootenai, Montana. Every year bachelors come to go hunting in the mountains.
When they find an attraction to one another, Sarah lets down her guard and starts sharing Patty with him. He also lets her know his Mam owns a Bakery! Sarah's passion is making incredible cupcakes....I want her recipes! YUM!
When Jathan is called back home after is Daed had had a stroke will it be the end for them?
This is a story of finding oneself, and peace at our decisions, and following what is God's plan.
This is the first book in this series, and am anxious to read more of this heart warming stories!
I received this book through Litfuse Book Tours, and was not required to give a positive review.
December 6, 2012
I am a HUGE Tricia Goyer fan. I have reviewed her books from the awesome Big Sky Series and was very excited to start the Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series. The Memory Jar by Tricia Goyer did not disappoint. Like Tricia's other Amish novels, The Memory Jar is written in a way that really draws you into the story and makes you root for all of the characters.
These stories aren't just Amish stories either. They are romance novels. I think the thing I like the best about The Memory Jar is that not only do we see Sarah deal with her memories and her grief over losing a friend, we also see her fall in love (with someone she didn't really even like) as well as learn to use a God given talent. And it happens in such a beautiful and natural way. Not all romance novels have to be filled with lust and sex. They can tell the story of love and compassion without all that. And that makes for one heck of a good story!
Tricia Goyer also has a wonderfully unique way of bringing in characters from her other series. That helps each of her stories connect and helps the reader develop a relationship with each one. I LOVE that!
I can't wait to read the rest of the Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series! And by the way, I sure wish I had one of Sarah's cupcakes!
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of Beside Still Waters as a member of LitFuse blog tours. All opinions are my own.
October 2, 2014
I really enjoy Tricia's books and the way she brings a fresh voice to her characters and stories. The Memory Jar is Amish with a twist, because it begins in Montana. It is a journey to wholeness and a journey to dreams. There's plenty of love and romance to keep the pages turning. A very satisfying story for those who love gentler stories.
November 12, 2012
GENRE: AMISH ROMANCE
PUBLISHER: ZONDERVAN
PUBLICATION DATE: OCTOBER 23, 2012
RATING: 4.5 OUT OF 5 � EXCELLENT
PROS: Not just a romance; insightful details about differences between Amish settlements; flashbacks added to Sarah’s back-story; conflict forces the reader to become emotionally invested in the story
CONS: Mixed messages about honouring your parents as an adult
Every item in Sarah Shelter’s memory jar contains bittersweet memories of her deceased childhood friend, and for a long time, these memories stopped her from moving on with her life. Frozen in time at the point of Patty’s death, Sarah still lives with her parents at the age of twenty-four, even though many of her siblings have married and started families of her own. But Sarah hopes to change this. When this year’s group of bachelors arrive in West Kootenai for a hunting trip, Sarah can’t help but wonder if she might have a future with one of the young men who frequent West Kootenai Kraft & Grocery, where the works as a baker.
Jathan Schrock is among this year’s group of bachelors, but it isn’t until they get lost on a hiking trip together that Sarah finally starts to pay attention to him. Quieter than the other men, Jathan often fades into the background. He originally came to Montana to escape his family’s desire for him to take a menial labour job at a local factory in Ohio, hoping that a change of scenery would enable him to come up with a plan to revamp his mother’s bakery and attempt to get more tourists visiting the shop. This is something that Sarah knows all about, having grown up close to her English neighbours in Montana, and she can’t help but wonder if their meeting was providential, given her skills as a baker.
When Jathan is called back to Ohio suddenly, he invites Sarah to come with him and help with the improvements he wants to make on his mother’s bakery. But although Sarah has a heart for the bakery, and for Jathan, she struggles to fit into the much more conservative lifestyle in Ohio. Locals are upset with Sarah’s elaborate cupcake designs and Jathan’s desire to appeal to Englishers more than the shop’s regular Amish customers. And most importantly, Jathan is still feeling pressure from his family to take a boring, if well-paid, job at the local factory. Will Sarah still want to be with Jathan, even if he sets aside their joint dreams in order to obey his family’s wishes? Or are her struggles at the bakery a sign that she isn’t meant to be in Ohio at all?
I was first introduced to Tricia Goyer with her Big Sky series, which also focused on the Amish of West Kootenai, Montana. This series truly spoke to me, challenging my spiritual life and getting me far too emotionally invested in the lives of the characters. I couldn’t help but wonder if Tricia’s next Amish series would live up to the Big Sky novels. While waiting for The Memory Jar to release, I read a couple of Tricia’s historical romances, and while they were fairly enjoyable reads, they weren’t a patch on her Amish novels. And having now finished The Memory Jar, I truly think that Amish fiction is where Tricia displays her best writing. If you’re an Amish reader and you’ve not picked up a Tricia Goyer novel before now, you’re definitely missing out.
What I appreciated most about The Memory Jar was how Sarah and Jathan had personal conflicts to work through that weren’t directly related to their romance. They both brought emotional baggage to the relationship and helped each other overcome these problems. Jathan helped Sarah realise that she could move on with her life without dishonouring her memories of Patty. Although Sarah’s struggles seemed like they’d been engrained in her personality for quite some time, Jathan’s were more likely to have an impact on their future together. I got really annoyed at the pressure Jathan’s family put on him about his future plans, and their belief that they knew what was best for him without considering his side of the situation. There were times when I wanted to shout at Jathan to stand up for his dreams and remind his parents that he wasn’t a child anymore. I’m sure I had some pretty angry looks on my face while I was reading this book on the bus, and it’s not surprising that no one ever sits next to me when I have my nose buried in a book. This is one of the things that I love most about Tricia’s Amish novels; she gets the reader so emotionally involved in the story that they forget that the characters aren’t real.
But I did have a little, niggling issue with Jathan’s conflict with his parents. I’m never entirely comfortable with the fact that, among the Amish, if you’re unmarried and living at home, you’re still under your parents� authority, even if you’re over eighteen. I always get this strange sense of, “If you’re not married, you’re not truly an adult� when I read Amish fiction. (Which makes me wonder whether unmarried Amish men and women are ever not under their parents� authority, even when they’re middle-aged...but that’s a question for another day). So although I can admire the fact that the Amish support their extended families, I’m a little worried that this book gave rather mixed messages about obeying your parents as an adult. Of course, everything worked out fine in the end for Jathan and Sarah (although I won’t say how) but I wouldn’t want younger readers going away from this book feeling that they can’t make a decision about their future without their parents approving it. Ultimately, all that truly matters is that your actions honour God. Fortunately for Jathan, what his family was asking of him was fairly reasonable, but sometimes parents (even Christian ones) ask things of their adult children that don’t honour God. I think Jathan worried more about obeying his parents than about honouring God, which might not be the best message to give younger, more impressionable readers.
Again, this novel is far more than just a romance, and I’m sure readers will appreciate the extra details that add depth to this story. I loved how each item in Sarah’s memory jar brought back memories of her childhood and teen years with Patty, and the way that this enabled the reader to understand Sarah’s past and the trauma caused by Patty’s death. It added depth to the novel without taking away from the main conflict between Sarah and Jathan. I also appreciated the way that Tricia subtly emphasised the differences between the West Kootenai Amish and those in Jathan’s settlement in Ohio. It can be tempting to assume that all Amish are the same, but The Memory Jar managed to dispel that myth without it seeming like Tricia was giving a seminar on the differences between settlements. Although at times I wished more of the story was set in Montana, it was also interesting to spend time in the bakery in Ohio.
This is one of the few Amish novels that I’ve read where I’ve worried that the hero and heroine might not end up together in the end. Despite being an avid writer, reader and reviewer of romance novels, Sarah and Jathan’s conflict was so heightened and realistic that there truly did seem to be a chance that they might not have their happily ever after. The Memory Jar certainly kept me on my toes right until the last page, and I hope other readers are similarly engaged with this first instalment in the Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series.
Review title provided by Zondervan.
PUBLISHER: ZONDERVAN
PUBLICATION DATE: OCTOBER 23, 2012
RATING: 4.5 OUT OF 5 � EXCELLENT
PROS: Not just a romance; insightful details about differences between Amish settlements; flashbacks added to Sarah’s back-story; conflict forces the reader to become emotionally invested in the story
CONS: Mixed messages about honouring your parents as an adult
Every item in Sarah Shelter’s memory jar contains bittersweet memories of her deceased childhood friend, and for a long time, these memories stopped her from moving on with her life. Frozen in time at the point of Patty’s death, Sarah still lives with her parents at the age of twenty-four, even though many of her siblings have married and started families of her own. But Sarah hopes to change this. When this year’s group of bachelors arrive in West Kootenai for a hunting trip, Sarah can’t help but wonder if she might have a future with one of the young men who frequent West Kootenai Kraft & Grocery, where the works as a baker.
Jathan Schrock is among this year’s group of bachelors, but it isn’t until they get lost on a hiking trip together that Sarah finally starts to pay attention to him. Quieter than the other men, Jathan often fades into the background. He originally came to Montana to escape his family’s desire for him to take a menial labour job at a local factory in Ohio, hoping that a change of scenery would enable him to come up with a plan to revamp his mother’s bakery and attempt to get more tourists visiting the shop. This is something that Sarah knows all about, having grown up close to her English neighbours in Montana, and she can’t help but wonder if their meeting was providential, given her skills as a baker.
When Jathan is called back to Ohio suddenly, he invites Sarah to come with him and help with the improvements he wants to make on his mother’s bakery. But although Sarah has a heart for the bakery, and for Jathan, she struggles to fit into the much more conservative lifestyle in Ohio. Locals are upset with Sarah’s elaborate cupcake designs and Jathan’s desire to appeal to Englishers more than the shop’s regular Amish customers. And most importantly, Jathan is still feeling pressure from his family to take a boring, if well-paid, job at the local factory. Will Sarah still want to be with Jathan, even if he sets aside their joint dreams in order to obey his family’s wishes? Or are her struggles at the bakery a sign that she isn’t meant to be in Ohio at all?
I was first introduced to Tricia Goyer with her Big Sky series, which also focused on the Amish of West Kootenai, Montana. This series truly spoke to me, challenging my spiritual life and getting me far too emotionally invested in the lives of the characters. I couldn’t help but wonder if Tricia’s next Amish series would live up to the Big Sky novels. While waiting for The Memory Jar to release, I read a couple of Tricia’s historical romances, and while they were fairly enjoyable reads, they weren’t a patch on her Amish novels. And having now finished The Memory Jar, I truly think that Amish fiction is where Tricia displays her best writing. If you’re an Amish reader and you’ve not picked up a Tricia Goyer novel before now, you’re definitely missing out.
What I appreciated most about The Memory Jar was how Sarah and Jathan had personal conflicts to work through that weren’t directly related to their romance. They both brought emotional baggage to the relationship and helped each other overcome these problems. Jathan helped Sarah realise that she could move on with her life without dishonouring her memories of Patty. Although Sarah’s struggles seemed like they’d been engrained in her personality for quite some time, Jathan’s were more likely to have an impact on their future together. I got really annoyed at the pressure Jathan’s family put on him about his future plans, and their belief that they knew what was best for him without considering his side of the situation. There were times when I wanted to shout at Jathan to stand up for his dreams and remind his parents that he wasn’t a child anymore. I’m sure I had some pretty angry looks on my face while I was reading this book on the bus, and it’s not surprising that no one ever sits next to me when I have my nose buried in a book. This is one of the things that I love most about Tricia’s Amish novels; she gets the reader so emotionally involved in the story that they forget that the characters aren’t real.
But I did have a little, niggling issue with Jathan’s conflict with his parents. I’m never entirely comfortable with the fact that, among the Amish, if you’re unmarried and living at home, you’re still under your parents� authority, even if you’re over eighteen. I always get this strange sense of, “If you’re not married, you’re not truly an adult� when I read Amish fiction. (Which makes me wonder whether unmarried Amish men and women are ever not under their parents� authority, even when they’re middle-aged...but that’s a question for another day). So although I can admire the fact that the Amish support their extended families, I’m a little worried that this book gave rather mixed messages about obeying your parents as an adult. Of course, everything worked out fine in the end for Jathan and Sarah (although I won’t say how) but I wouldn’t want younger readers going away from this book feeling that they can’t make a decision about their future without their parents approving it. Ultimately, all that truly matters is that your actions honour God. Fortunately for Jathan, what his family was asking of him was fairly reasonable, but sometimes parents (even Christian ones) ask things of their adult children that don’t honour God. I think Jathan worried more about obeying his parents than about honouring God, which might not be the best message to give younger, more impressionable readers.
Again, this novel is far more than just a romance, and I’m sure readers will appreciate the extra details that add depth to this story. I loved how each item in Sarah’s memory jar brought back memories of her childhood and teen years with Patty, and the way that this enabled the reader to understand Sarah’s past and the trauma caused by Patty’s death. It added depth to the novel without taking away from the main conflict between Sarah and Jathan. I also appreciated the way that Tricia subtly emphasised the differences between the West Kootenai Amish and those in Jathan’s settlement in Ohio. It can be tempting to assume that all Amish are the same, but The Memory Jar managed to dispel that myth without it seeming like Tricia was giving a seminar on the differences between settlements. Although at times I wished more of the story was set in Montana, it was also interesting to spend time in the bakery in Ohio.
This is one of the few Amish novels that I’ve read where I’ve worried that the hero and heroine might not end up together in the end. Despite being an avid writer, reader and reviewer of romance novels, Sarah and Jathan’s conflict was so heightened and realistic that there truly did seem to be a chance that they might not have their happily ever after. The Memory Jar certainly kept me on my toes right until the last page, and I hope other readers are similarly engaged with this first instalment in the Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series.
Review title provided by Zondervan.
April 22, 2022
This was a different type of Amish story starting in Montana and ending in Ohio. Sarah meet Jathan when he came to Montana to hunt. There relationship grew because of a hiking trip. Sarah and Jathan loved to bake and had great creativity. The theme is everyone is special and has their own contribution for others to enjoy.
This was a used book purchased at our library book sale. No review was required, but I have shared my own opinion.
This was a used book purchased at our library book sale. No review was required, but I have shared my own opinion.
October 20, 2012
Title: THE MEMORY JAR
Author: Tricia Goyer
Publisher: Zondervan
October 2012
ISBN: 978-0310335108
Genre: Amish/romance
Sarah Shelter has let life pass her by. She had her best friend, Patty, in West Kootenai, Montana, and a crush on Patty’s brother, Michael. Patty loved Sarah’s brother, Jonathon. But when a terrible accident took Patty’s life, Sarah shoved people away as she wallowed in her grief and what was left of life stored in her ‘memory jar�.
Jathan Schrock is an Amish man from Berlin, Ohio. He’s a group of bachelors who come to live in Montana for six months so he can hunt wild game. His family was against his coming because they wanted him to go to work in a factory to support the family. Jathan can’t think of anything more boring, and he wanted a chance to dream before he went back to the dullness of his real life.
When Sarah is in an accident, Jathan is the one who comes for her and stays until rescuers come. They are just beginning a friendship when Jathan is called back to Ohio for a family emergency. Will Jathan and Sarah reach across the miles to share their dreams—and will those dreams become reality? Will Sarah step out of the past enough to embrace the future?
THE MEMORY JAR is the first book in Ms. Goyer’s Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors Series. It is, as a friend called it, typical Tricia. A good story, a tear-jerking history, and even a Kleenex-worthy ending. I got a little frustrated with Sarah, being unwilling to live without her friend. Even though her life went on and she grew up, she lived her life in her past, recalling Patty, and prepared to live alone and in her past all her days. Jathan was a quiet man, unlike most Amish men, but he had the personality necessary to reach past Sarah’s barriers and touch her heart. I wanted to see these two hurting characters heal and to find their own dreams instead of the directives that had been set before them.
If you are looking for a good Amish story, set in West Kootenai, Montana for half the book and in Berlin, Ohio for the other half, then you want to read THE MEMORY JAR. It will stir your heart strings. Discussion questions are included at the end of the book. $14.99. 352 pages
Author: Tricia Goyer
Publisher: Zondervan
October 2012
ISBN: 978-0310335108
Genre: Amish/romance
Sarah Shelter has let life pass her by. She had her best friend, Patty, in West Kootenai, Montana, and a crush on Patty’s brother, Michael. Patty loved Sarah’s brother, Jonathon. But when a terrible accident took Patty’s life, Sarah shoved people away as she wallowed in her grief and what was left of life stored in her ‘memory jar�.
Jathan Schrock is an Amish man from Berlin, Ohio. He’s a group of bachelors who come to live in Montana for six months so he can hunt wild game. His family was against his coming because they wanted him to go to work in a factory to support the family. Jathan can’t think of anything more boring, and he wanted a chance to dream before he went back to the dullness of his real life.
When Sarah is in an accident, Jathan is the one who comes for her and stays until rescuers come. They are just beginning a friendship when Jathan is called back to Ohio for a family emergency. Will Jathan and Sarah reach across the miles to share their dreams—and will those dreams become reality? Will Sarah step out of the past enough to embrace the future?
THE MEMORY JAR is the first book in Ms. Goyer’s Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors Series. It is, as a friend called it, typical Tricia. A good story, a tear-jerking history, and even a Kleenex-worthy ending. I got a little frustrated with Sarah, being unwilling to live without her friend. Even though her life went on and she grew up, she lived her life in her past, recalling Patty, and prepared to live alone and in her past all her days. Jathan was a quiet man, unlike most Amish men, but he had the personality necessary to reach past Sarah’s barriers and touch her heart. I wanted to see these two hurting characters heal and to find their own dreams instead of the directives that had been set before them.
If you are looking for a good Amish story, set in West Kootenai, Montana for half the book and in Berlin, Ohio for the other half, then you want to read THE MEMORY JAR. It will stir your heart strings. Discussion questions are included at the end of the book. $14.99. 352 pages
November 1, 2012
My thoughts: First of all, I found the concept of a "memory jar" as kept by Sarah in "The Memory Jar" rather quaint even for an Amish story. To think that teens and adults would collect rocks, tiny pinecones, etc. and store them in a jar to aid as a tool to recollect their special moments or experiences in life is not in keeping with any society beyond that one really backward or very young. In spite of my concept and thinking on a "memory jar" that is an item of particular importance in The Memory Jar by Tricia Goyer.
When a young girl our heroine and her young friend both keep their memories intact inside th memory jar. This becomes especially important to Sarah after her best friend Patty dies in a boating accident. Memories are all Sarah has left of Patty and therefore the jar becomes important.
Sarah can not seem to get into the boy meets girl and girl and boy marry scenario that is expected of the Amish. She is not much for routine housekeeping responsibility and dotes on her skills as a "fancy" baker. She dreams of one day having her own bakery.
Jathan arrives on the scene along with other young Amish bachelors who come to the area hunting - both for wild game and for brides. Jathan is somewhat shy but he has spotted Sarah. They are in a group that goes hiking and become well acquainted because she has an injury and he helps her.
As the story progresses, they have family and community issues that put roadblocks in their path. It looks like things might work out for them and then it all falls apart. Will their relationship end up in the memory jar? Will it be a good memory, or will it be a memory of heartbreak?
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ GIVEAWAY ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Begins October 25 - ENDS November 9 12:01 a.m. EST
DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy of The Memory Jar from Litfuse Publicity Group on behalf of the author, Tricia Goyer, and publisher, Zondervan, in order to render a review. Opinions expressed are solely mine and I was under no obligation to give a positive review.
When a young girl our heroine and her young friend both keep their memories intact inside th memory jar. This becomes especially important to Sarah after her best friend Patty dies in a boating accident. Memories are all Sarah has left of Patty and therefore the jar becomes important.
Sarah can not seem to get into the boy meets girl and girl and boy marry scenario that is expected of the Amish. She is not much for routine housekeeping responsibility and dotes on her skills as a "fancy" baker. She dreams of one day having her own bakery.
Jathan arrives on the scene along with other young Amish bachelors who come to the area hunting - both for wild game and for brides. Jathan is somewhat shy but he has spotted Sarah. They are in a group that goes hiking and become well acquainted because she has an injury and he helps her.
As the story progresses, they have family and community issues that put roadblocks in their path. It looks like things might work out for them and then it all falls apart. Will their relationship end up in the memory jar? Will it be a good memory, or will it be a memory of heartbreak?
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ GIVEAWAY ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Begins October 25 - ENDS November 9 12:01 a.m. EST
DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy of The Memory Jar from Litfuse Publicity Group on behalf of the author, Tricia Goyer, and publisher, Zondervan, in order to render a review. Opinions expressed are solely mine and I was under no obligation to give a positive review.
July 24, 2013
FIRST, I have to say that, is my favorite among 's Amish books, and I can not wait for the second book in the series to be released. by is a must read before we head into the holiday seasons. We need the reminder that everyone has their own opinions, their own dreams, their own way of doing things, and that is okay.
I enjoyed following twenty-four-year-old Sarah Shelter as she deals with death and to understand why death happens. Also Sarah's understanding for what God has instore for her life ahead as she experiences life, love, testing of faith, and trust. More importantly is why the memory jar is or jars are so important to Sarah and the rule it plays through out the book.
The book starts out in the town of West Kootenai, Montana, where for the last ten years Sarah Shelter and her family have lived, they moved from Kentucky. When Sarah was twenty-two years old, a horrible accident happens to Patty Litwiller, Sarah's best friend. We go through the book with Sarah, who is twenty-four, as she handles death and the understand of why death happens. We also learn what God has instore for her life ahead.
And who is with Sarah when she gets hurt and then lost on a hiking trip up Robinson Mountain?
Why is Sarah going to Ohio?
I received this book free from Tricia Goyer and Zondervan in return for an honest review of the book and of my own opinion. I'm was also asked to share the book.
I enjoyed following twenty-four-year-old Sarah Shelter as she deals with death and to understand why death happens. Also Sarah's understanding for what God has instore for her life ahead as she experiences life, love, testing of faith, and trust. More importantly is why the memory jar is or jars are so important to Sarah and the rule it plays through out the book.
The book starts out in the town of West Kootenai, Montana, where for the last ten years Sarah Shelter and her family have lived, they moved from Kentucky. When Sarah was twenty-two years old, a horrible accident happens to Patty Litwiller, Sarah's best friend. We go through the book with Sarah, who is twenty-four, as she handles death and the understand of why death happens. We also learn what God has instore for her life ahead.
And who is with Sarah when she gets hurt and then lost on a hiking trip up Robinson Mountain?
Why is Sarah going to Ohio?
I received this book free from Tricia Goyer and Zondervan in return for an honest review of the book and of my own opinion. I'm was also asked to share the book.
January 2, 2013
I was enamored with this book from the start. Can you just imagine the commotion that these bachelors raise every spring when they arrive in this tiny community? I can just picture all those sweet young girls whispering and giggling together as they check out this year’s new crop of eligible men. It just makes me smile thinking about it.
Since this is a Tricia Goyer book there are a couple of different things going on that she has masterfully woven together to create a satisfying story. Both of our main characters have back stories that affect the budding relationship between the two of them. Sarah can’t seem to move past the loss of her best friend and Jathan has family obligations that he just can’t find peace about.
One of my favorite aspects of this story is when the two of them have conflict they actually talk about what is bothering them. Many authors use misunderstandings to push the story along. I prefer Tricia’s approach to deepening the storyline and the characters themselves. By the end of the novel both Jathan and Sarah have matured in their walk of faith and in their relationships with others.
Let me give you a little warning . . . this book is going to make you hungry! Hungry for the delicious sounding cupcakes that Sarah is famous for and hungry for the next book in the series. The Promise Box is the title of book two and is scheduled to come out in May 2013. I will definitely be looking forward to it.
Since this is a Tricia Goyer book there are a couple of different things going on that she has masterfully woven together to create a satisfying story. Both of our main characters have back stories that affect the budding relationship between the two of them. Sarah can’t seem to move past the loss of her best friend and Jathan has family obligations that he just can’t find peace about.
One of my favorite aspects of this story is when the two of them have conflict they actually talk about what is bothering them. Many authors use misunderstandings to push the story along. I prefer Tricia’s approach to deepening the storyline and the characters themselves. By the end of the novel both Jathan and Sarah have matured in their walk of faith and in their relationships with others.
Let me give you a little warning . . . this book is going to make you hungry! Hungry for the delicious sounding cupcakes that Sarah is famous for and hungry for the next book in the series. The Promise Box is the title of book two and is scheduled to come out in May 2013. I will definitely be looking forward to it.
November 11, 2012
It's been two years since Sarah Shetler's best friend Patty died in unexpectedly and since then Sarah has carried around a memory jar, and keeps her memories tucked inside so that she won't have to deal with her emotions.When she meets Jathan Schrock, an Amish bachelor with issues of his own, something changes. Can Jathan penetrate the walls that Sarah has built around her heart?
Overall, I enjoyed this book. It dealt with loss, pain, friendship,and the wonderful inspirational message of allowing God to heal. While I enjoyed reading about Sarah and Patty's friendship, I found that the flashbacks of these memories sometimes broke the flow of the story and made it feel a bit choppy for me. It did seem very realistic that it took time for Sarah to heal, from her loss. Jathan is also dealing with issues that make both of the characters seem very realistic. It was so nice to see the characters grow and change as the story progressed.
While this wasn't my favorite Tricia Goyer novel, I did enjoy it. There are discussion questions that would make this a great book club selection. The author also includes a glossary of words used by the Amish that is very helpful. I am anxious to read the next book in the Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series.
3.5/5
A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.
Overall, I enjoyed this book. It dealt with loss, pain, friendship,and the wonderful inspirational message of allowing God to heal. While I enjoyed reading about Sarah and Patty's friendship, I found that the flashbacks of these memories sometimes broke the flow of the story and made it feel a bit choppy for me. It did seem very realistic that it took time for Sarah to heal, from her loss. Jathan is also dealing with issues that make both of the characters seem very realistic. It was so nice to see the characters grow and change as the story progressed.
While this wasn't my favorite Tricia Goyer novel, I did enjoy it. There are discussion questions that would make this a great book club selection. The author also includes a glossary of words used by the Amish that is very helpful. I am anxious to read the next book in the Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors series.
3.5/5
A complimentary copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.
January 2, 2016
Published in 2012, The Memory Jar is the first book in the wildly popular Seven Brides for Seven Brothers series. I love the concept of a memory jar -- collecting tangible prompts for important memories. That's the way that Sarah chooses to hold tight to special moments. I really enjoyed the flashbacks that included her friend, Patty, as they were growing up. They reveal a lot about Sarah and the reasons for the way she is in the present day. She's somewhat tenuous, carrying a burden she can't bear to share with anyone...until Jathan.
He arrives in West Kootenai with his own share of troubles. Their friendship quickly hints at something deeper but Sarah and Jathan have a lot of growing to do before their happily-ever-after is secured.
"In math, two halves made a whole. But in life -- and with relationships -- two halves offered up from broken souls seemed a poor way to begin something wonderful." (p. 127)
These 'broken souls' struggle with family expectations and it isn't until they learn to trust -- in God and each other -- that their future becomes clear. In fact, the impossible dreams they have longed for don't become possible until they join forces and make them a reality together.
He arrives in West Kootenai with his own share of troubles. Their friendship quickly hints at something deeper but Sarah and Jathan have a lot of growing to do before their happily-ever-after is secured.
"In math, two halves made a whole. But in life -- and with relationships -- two halves offered up from broken souls seemed a poor way to begin something wonderful." (p. 127)
These 'broken souls' struggle with family expectations and it isn't until they learn to trust -- in God and each other -- that their future becomes clear. In fact, the impossible dreams they have longed for don't become possible until they join forces and make them a reality together.
October 30, 2012
The Memory Jar was a great Amish fiction read! I loved both of the main characters - Sarah Shelter and Jathan Schrock! One thing that was really interesting about Sarah was how she liked to make fancy cupcakes - I really liked learning about her different creations! Jathan, well, I felt bad for him a lot during this story and couldn't stop myself from hoping things would turn out for him.
At the end of some chapters in The Memory Jar, there were what I'll call memory scenes that showed things that had happened in the past with Sarah and her best friend, Patty. I liked those scenes more than I would have thought... it was interesting to learn about Sarah and Patty's friendship. :)
The Memory Jar is book one in Tricia Goyer's new series, Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors, and because this book was so enjoyable, I am very much looking forward to the next book!
If you enjoy Amish novels, then I think you'll enjoy The Memory Jar! It was great and I recommend it! :)
*I received a complimentary copy of this book for my review. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*
At the end of some chapters in The Memory Jar, there were what I'll call memory scenes that showed things that had happened in the past with Sarah and her best friend, Patty. I liked those scenes more than I would have thought... it was interesting to learn about Sarah and Patty's friendship. :)
The Memory Jar is book one in Tricia Goyer's new series, Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors, and because this book was so enjoyable, I am very much looking forward to the next book!
If you enjoy Amish novels, then I think you'll enjoy The Memory Jar! It was great and I recommend it! :)
*I received a complimentary copy of this book for my review. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.*
October 30, 2012
This is a wonderful lighthearted read with a serious side to it. Does that make sense?
Sarah has a dream ~ and only one person ever encouraged her to reach out for that dream & now she's gone. After the terrible death of her best friend Sarah withdraws from those around her and at 23 she's an old maid (almost). Her family is supportive but Sarah is afraid to let anyone to close. Then she meets Jathan and allows herself to dream. Jathan has a dream too but his family responsibilities and fear of disappointing his father and brother hold him back.
This book is wonderful and probably one of the few Amish Genre type books I can honestly say have a place on my bookshelf. I truly like Sarah - and I'd love to find a Jathan of my own. Tricia has written a couple that are "perfect" for each other. The scriptural side of the book is solidly based, you see both Sarah & Jathan learn to rely on God and in turn on each other. I can't wait to read the next book!
Disclaimer: I was given a copy of The Memory Jar to read & review on GivingNSharing. I was not required to have a positive review and no money exchanged hands. Copy was provided by LitfuseGroup.com
Sarah has a dream ~ and only one person ever encouraged her to reach out for that dream & now she's gone. After the terrible death of her best friend Sarah withdraws from those around her and at 23 she's an old maid (almost). Her family is supportive but Sarah is afraid to let anyone to close. Then she meets Jathan and allows herself to dream. Jathan has a dream too but his family responsibilities and fear of disappointing his father and brother hold him back.
This book is wonderful and probably one of the few Amish Genre type books I can honestly say have a place on my bookshelf. I truly like Sarah - and I'd love to find a Jathan of my own. Tricia has written a couple that are "perfect" for each other. The scriptural side of the book is solidly based, you see both Sarah & Jathan learn to rely on God and in turn on each other. I can't wait to read the next book!
Disclaimer: I was given a copy of The Memory Jar to read & review on GivingNSharing. I was not required to have a positive review and no money exchanged hands. Copy was provided by LitfuseGroup.com
September 3, 2012
This was one of the best Amish romances I've read in a long time. There is really so much to love about the characters and the story here. Let me share them!
1. Sarah's friendship with Patty. Even though Patty died several years before the story starts, her friendship shapes Sarah's life. She still makes her who she is today. The flashbacks really help bring their friendship into perspective.
2. Jathan is so very human. He struggles to do not only what his family wishes for him but also what he wants to do.
3. Sarah's faith. Sarah isn't a typical Amish woman. This story is Christian fiction and yes, her faith is important, but you see it more personally with her than as a community. I like how her faith helps her deal with Patty's death and even with the issues with Jathan.
4. The memory jars! I really loved the concept. I thought it was sentimental and touching. Sarah has many things that we often wish we had, something that connects us to a special moment in our lives.
A great book to start the series! I can't wait for more!
1. Sarah's friendship with Patty. Even though Patty died several years before the story starts, her friendship shapes Sarah's life. She still makes her who she is today. The flashbacks really help bring their friendship into perspective.
2. Jathan is so very human. He struggles to do not only what his family wishes for him but also what he wants to do.
3. Sarah's faith. Sarah isn't a typical Amish woman. This story is Christian fiction and yes, her faith is important, but you see it more personally with her than as a community. I like how her faith helps her deal with Patty's death and even with the issues with Jathan.
4. The memory jars! I really loved the concept. I thought it was sentimental and touching. Sarah has many things that we often wish we had, something that connects us to a special moment in our lives.
A great book to start the series! I can't wait for more!
June 14, 2013
The Memory Jar is a beautiful story of blossoming love and the healing of past hurts. Although both main characters are strong Christians, they must learn to truly trust that God has their best interests at heart.
Sarah Shelter must heal from the hurt in her heart caused by the tragic death of her best friend, Patty. It seems that Sarah's life ground to a halt when Patty's ended. She throws herself into her baking and makes amazing cupcakes, but does not embrace life anymore.
Jathan Schrock is a visitor to her community, a bachelor who has come to hunt and sort out the mixed emotions he has toward his family. The weight of others' expectations weighs heavily on him and as he tries to determine what path to follow, he finds himself falling for Sarah.
Will Sarah and Jathan be able to find a path to walk together? How will other people's expectations and perceptions of them color their relationship? Tricia Goyer writes a wonderful story, with flashbacks to conversations that Sarah and Patty had throughout their lives. I am looking forward to reading the second book of the series.
Sarah Shelter must heal from the hurt in her heart caused by the tragic death of her best friend, Patty. It seems that Sarah's life ground to a halt when Patty's ended. She throws herself into her baking and makes amazing cupcakes, but does not embrace life anymore.
Jathan Schrock is a visitor to her community, a bachelor who has come to hunt and sort out the mixed emotions he has toward his family. The weight of others' expectations weighs heavily on him and as he tries to determine what path to follow, he finds himself falling for Sarah.
Will Sarah and Jathan be able to find a path to walk together? How will other people's expectations and perceptions of them color their relationship? Tricia Goyer writes a wonderful story, with flashbacks to conversations that Sarah and Patty had throughout their lives. I am looking forward to reading the second book of the series.
May 15, 2013
I picked this up from the library and was lucky enough to pick it up for $2.99 for the Kindle recently. The series name was my lure right from the start, as I love the movie Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Not having read too much of this author, I didn't know what to expect. I have to say, this book surprised me. It was a full length read, and well written. I learned some things along the way, and paused to consider some of the situations faced by the characters. One thing that distracted from the story somewhat was the fact that we're seemingly beaten over the head with the heroine's grief at losing her best friend. The names were also unusual for Amish names, so it was also a bit of a distraction. Other than those two points, it was a very good read, and I'll be on the lookout for the rest of the series!
March 5, 2014
Just finsished reading The Memory Jar by Tricia Goyer. What an amazing book! I laughed and I cried! Oh my. Hard a hard time putting this book down. I am so looking forward to the next book in the series. You will fall in love with Sarah and Jathan. Who can forget Patty and her story in the book. Make sure you have a drink, snack and tissues, you won’t want to set it down. Thank you to Tricia Goyer for writing such a wonderful book, and to Zondervan for publishing it
February 5, 2017
This was a nice story about friendship and family. I liked the flashbacks about the items in Sarah's and Patty's memory jars. I thought that those stories were interesting and the best parts of this book. Also, there was a bit of romance. I liked that part of the story, and overall, I liked the MCs. Actually, I liked Jathan more at the beginning of the story and Sarah more at the end of the story. I'm glad they each got a happy ending.
December 29, 2012
he Memory Jar is more than a sweet romance. Sarah and Jathan juggle the desires of family and community, their personal dreams, and following God's will. And Sarah also has important lessons to live about treasuring the past instead of dwelling in the past. Tricia Goyer's writing, as always, is engaging. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel.
June 5, 2013
This is the first book in The Seven Brides for Seven Bachelor's series by Tricia Goyer - I have read several of her books , and I would definitely recommend this one - it is a sweet story of Sarah Shelter who saves her's & her best friends memories in a jar. Without spoiling the novel she comes full circle in the end and is given a great gift! I loved this book!
October 19, 2012
I normally enjoy these Amish romances but this was a dud. The dialog made the characters sound ignorant. The pacing was slow and the author described each character or item to the Nth degree when it really wasn't necessary to the story. DNF
September 28, 2024
The Memory Jar by Tricia Goyer
Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors #1
347-page Paperback story ends on 342
Genre: Amish Romance, Christian Romance
Featuring: Epigraph, Glossary, Tragedy, Baking, Lake Koocanusa, West Kootenai, Montana; Eureka, Montana; Husband Hunting, Hunting & Fishing, Boating, Hiking, German - Pennsylvania Dutch (Deutsch), Berlin, Ohio; Baking, Innovations, Drama, Dual Timelines, Charm, Ohio; Cupcakes, Unorthodox Ideas, Lyrics, Discussion Questions, Advertisements for Shipshewana Amish Mystery Series by Vannetta Chapman and Kauffman Amish Bakery Series by Amy Clipston
Rating as a movie: PG for tragedy and peril
Songs for the soundtrack: “The Ninety and Nine� by Elizabeth Clephane (lyrics) and Ira Sankey (music), "May I Sleep In Your Barn Tonight Mister" by Hank Thompson, "I Need No Mansion Here" by C. S. Grogan
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📝🍯🛶🧁🏵
My thoughts: 📖 Page 30 of 342/347 Chapter 2 - This one is going to be a long ride but I think worth it.
📖78 Chapter 8 - The flashbacks are my least favorite part of the story. The storyline with Jathan is giving me slow-burn vibes.
📖 104 Chapter 11 - This story is slow-moving but I'm determined to finish.
📖 230 Chapter 24 - I'm trying to finish this series before the weekend is over, but I need to keep my Kindle streak up too. That's the only reason I'm taking a break, this story is in its sweet spot and I'm really enjoying it.
This had a slower start but a lot of emotions tied to it. I wasn't a fan of the flashbacks timeline but I see its purpose. I'm looking forward to the next story.
Recommend to others: Yes. This was refreshing.
Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors
1. The Memory Jar (2012)
2. The Promise Box (2013)
3. The Kissing Bridge (2014)
Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors #1
347-page Paperback story ends on 342
Genre: Amish Romance, Christian Romance
Featuring: Epigraph, Glossary, Tragedy, Baking, Lake Koocanusa, West Kootenai, Montana; Eureka, Montana; Husband Hunting, Hunting & Fishing, Boating, Hiking, German - Pennsylvania Dutch (Deutsch), Berlin, Ohio; Baking, Innovations, Drama, Dual Timelines, Charm, Ohio; Cupcakes, Unorthodox Ideas, Lyrics, Discussion Questions, Advertisements for Shipshewana Amish Mystery Series by Vannetta Chapman and Kauffman Amish Bakery Series by Amy Clipston
Rating as a movie: PG for tragedy and peril
Songs for the soundtrack: “The Ninety and Nine� by Elizabeth Clephane (lyrics) and Ira Sankey (music), "May I Sleep In Your Barn Tonight Mister" by Hank Thompson, "I Need No Mansion Here" by C. S. Grogan
My rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📝🍯🛶🧁🏵
My thoughts: 📖 Page 30 of 342/347 Chapter 2 - This one is going to be a long ride but I think worth it.
📖78 Chapter 8 - The flashbacks are my least favorite part of the story. The storyline with Jathan is giving me slow-burn vibes.
📖 104 Chapter 11 - This story is slow-moving but I'm determined to finish.
📖 230 Chapter 24 - I'm trying to finish this series before the weekend is over, but I need to keep my Kindle streak up too. That's the only reason I'm taking a break, this story is in its sweet spot and I'm really enjoying it.
This had a slower start but a lot of emotions tied to it. I wasn't a fan of the flashbacks timeline but I see its purpose. I'm looking forward to the next story.
Recommend to others: Yes. This was refreshing.
Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors
1. The Memory Jar (2012)
2. The Promise Box (2013)
3. The Kissing Bridge (2014)
December 17, 2017
The book spoke to me on many levels, particularly since I read it right now with my mother passing in July of 2017 and I read the book in December. My mother use to love being in nature listening to all God's creation, looking at the wonders of what he alone created.
This story starts off with a great loss for Sarah Shelter which she continues to deal with throughout the book, as Sarah deals with the loss of her best friend through the memories they have shared she finds comfort by visiting all the wonderful collectibles they found together and are now stored safely away in Sarah's memory Jar, a pinecone, a rock, a piece of glass, a thimble. But are these memory's keeping Sarah from moving forward?
Sarah's dream is to have her own bakery (a cupcake bakery) and her eye is on the handsome bachelor Amos one of the young man who came to West Kootenai, Montana in the spring to live for six months to get resident status for the hunting season in the fall, but is Amos the man God has set aside for her?
Jathan Schrock came to Montana to get away, yes he will work and hunt but mostly he needed space to think. Then he meet Sarah Shelter who changed everything for him, will she come to see him like she does Amos?
I can't say enough good about this book, from the memory jar, which is so very special as a way to put meaning to special occasions you want to remember. To God's creations and the way Tricia explained everything. This is a wonderful book do yourself a favor and read it! I highly recommend it.
This story starts off with a great loss for Sarah Shelter which she continues to deal with throughout the book, as Sarah deals with the loss of her best friend through the memories they have shared she finds comfort by visiting all the wonderful collectibles they found together and are now stored safely away in Sarah's memory Jar, a pinecone, a rock, a piece of glass, a thimble. But are these memory's keeping Sarah from moving forward?
Sarah's dream is to have her own bakery (a cupcake bakery) and her eye is on the handsome bachelor Amos one of the young man who came to West Kootenai, Montana in the spring to live for six months to get resident status for the hunting season in the fall, but is Amos the man God has set aside for her?
Jathan Schrock came to Montana to get away, yes he will work and hunt but mostly he needed space to think. Then he meet Sarah Shelter who changed everything for him, will she come to see him like she does Amos?
I can't say enough good about this book, from the memory jar, which is so very special as a way to put meaning to special occasions you want to remember. To God's creations and the way Tricia explained everything. This is a wonderful book do yourself a favor and read it! I highly recommend it.
July 1, 2024
My first Amish Romance, and if the coziness and mountainous set dressing is consistent across the subgenre, I can see why it has such an appeal.
Unfortunately, a great tale of adventure, this is not.
There’s no singular or consistent antagonist or antagonistic force the characters have to face, so the narrative feels like a series of short stories as Sarah and Jathan are faced with a new obstacle every handful of chapters.
Naturally, the “antagonist� in a romance is the love interest and the mystery of how much interest the love has, but Sarah and Jathan know they love each other and know the other feels the same no later than the 1/3 point of the story.
It’s no wonder this subgenre is far from my normal reading habits.
But the coziness was real and the love the author has for the story was palpable, so I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it.
Unfortunately, a great tale of adventure, this is not.
There’s no singular or consistent antagonist or antagonistic force the characters have to face, so the narrative feels like a series of short stories as Sarah and Jathan are faced with a new obstacle every handful of chapters.
Naturally, the “antagonist� in a romance is the love interest and the mystery of how much interest the love has, but Sarah and Jathan know they love each other and know the other feels the same no later than the 1/3 point of the story.
It’s no wonder this subgenre is far from my normal reading habits.
But the coziness was real and the love the author has for the story was palpable, so I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it.
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