Book Review of 'Lullaby by the River' by Temperance Johnson

Hello Bookworms!

If you've found yourself in a literary rut and you enjoy Amish fiction then I have a unique reading experience for you. This is not your typical Amish tale and tackles a sensitive topic that I believe needs more light shined on it.

I hope you enjoy my thoughts on this Amish Fiction and don't forget to scroll to the bottom of this post and enter the amazing giveaway from JustRead Tours.

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Lullaby by the River by Temperance Johnson, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Lullaby by the River ‎
Series: Amish River
Author: Temperance Johnson
Publisher: Independently Published
Release Date: February 4, 2025
Genre: Amish Fiction

An unique Amish love story.

A wounded woman with no way out…unless she marries her ex.

After unexpected abuse, quiet and happy Priscilla Yoder thinks her life can’t get worse. But then she finds out she’s pregnant, and her family and church insist she marry the man who hurt her. When a man she used to love, a man who wants to leave the Amish, offers to marry her, she doesn’t see a better option.

Danny Taylor, charming bad boy of his Amish community, is ready to leave the plain life. But when a woman he used to love finds herself in danger of marriage to an evil man, he can't resist offering marriage to keep her safe. Only problem is, he didn’t expect to fall for his bride so fast. She's softening his tough heart and showing him that there’s a good side to the Amish. As they grow closer, he realizes this gorgeous woman in pain has giant walls, and it will take both patience and faith if he wants to scale them.

Caring for Danny was never what Priscilla wanted. And she never expected his faith to bring her closer to God.

But when Danny’s past wounds resurface, and as Priscilla learns to hope again, can they trust God to make their relationship more than just a marriage of convenience?

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon

My Review

When they say “unique Amish story,” they are not kidding. This story hits hard from the get-go with the heavy subject matter. Priscilla is in a dire situation, and Danny comes to the rescue. This was a tougher read than I was anticipating, but the promise of healing and a possible happily ever after kept the pages turning.

Like a caged animal who has been mistreated, Priscilla is in her feels, and rightly so. It takes a lot of time and patience for Danny to show Priscilla that he can be trusted, and even when trust is established, the scars still remain. Danny’s love is the perfect picture of unconditional love. There are many truly touching moments in this novel that paint a beautifully poetic mosaic, and seeing Priscilla rise up and find her voice as the story progressed was so great.

This is an exceptional journey of finding faith and healing after suffering. While it’s not your typical clean Amish read, it is an important subject to tackle and is handled in a sensitive way. Faith-based manipulation is a sad and ugly truth that is often overlooked. While it may not be easy to read, it is something that deserves attention and light shed on it.

Despite the heavy subject matter there are inspiring moments and a happy ending that was much deserved. The power of faith and love will never cease to amaze me.

My Rating: ★★★★

Also Available

About the Author

Temperance Johnson has always loved to read and write. As one of eleven children, she read from her older sister's books. With that, her love for both reading and writing has only continued to grow. Passionate about the subjects of adoption, family, and faith, she started the Liberty Chronicles and now her Amish fiction. In her free time, she plays with her ponies and many nieces and nephews. Her horses even made it into her stories. She enjoys spoiling her ten nephews and twenty-three nieces.

Connect with Temperance by visiting temperancejohnson.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

Tour Giveaway

(2) winners will each receive a $20 Baker Book House gift card and a print copy of Lullaby by the River!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight April 8, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on April 15, 2025. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!