Book Review: Treasuring Emma

Emma has put everyone else first in her life. Now at nearly 25, has she missed her chance at marriage?
Emma was Adam's first love but circumstances made them both choose different paths in life. Emma's heart breaks all over again when Adam returns to the Amish community of Middlefield, Ohio, years later.
For the past ten years, Emma has been a care-giver. First for her mother who unsuccessfully battled breast cancer, and now for her grandmother who gets more frail with each passing year. Emma has always put the needs of others above her own. With more time on her hands, she determines to focus on herself and her dream of opening a rescue shelter for stray animals in the community.
With Adam's return come feelings Emma's long buried. They're older and life hasn't turned out the way they thought it would. Adam's feelings for Emma are stronger than ever, but will he be able to convince her to put the past aside and give their love a chance?


I started out really enjoying this book.  It is not just a typical Amish Romance type story, there is also a mystery involved.  I got involved in the story and the character development and enjoyed the "bad guy" element and the mystery of what he was going to accomplish.  But, I have to say that I was greatly disappointed in the ending of this book.  The author put so much time and effort in building such a great story and wonderful characters and then at the end simply cut off the story.  We are told at the beginning of the book how much Emma loves animals and would like to open an animal shelter, but that part of the story is never developed.  We assume Emma and Adam have a happy ending along with her sister and her husband.  We are told but not shown Adam's coming back to the Lord.  We never find out what was truly troubling Carol and whether or not she found peace.  We are introduced to a brand new character whose fate is left hanging.  The "bad guy" does not come to justice but instead seems to go on his merry way.  One of the things I love about reading is getting to the end of the book and having all of the loose ends tied up and the characters getting to live ,"Happily Ever After."  I found this to be very disappointing in this book which is too bad because it had wonderful elements of being a great story.

I received a complimentary copy of Treasuring Emma from Thomas Nelson for the purpose of writing a fair and honest review.  I received no other compensation.