The Memory Jar - Seven Brides for Seven Bachelors Romance Novel | Perfect for Book Clubs, Gifts & Cozy Reading

Amongst tragedy, I believe we all sometimes wonder where God is and what good could possibly come out of it. This is how, I think, Sarah Shelter feels in this book. It starts out with a great loss for her, and she continues to battle grief throughout the story. Sarah feels alone and wonders if she will ever see the dreams she has in her heart, the dreams she believes God has given her, come to reality. Sarah also wonders if she will ever marry. In the small town in Montana where she has lived for 10 years, many bachelors stay for 6 months out of the year to get residency to come and hunt. As Sarah deals with the loss of someone she loves, she struggles with wanting a dream to come true with her cupcake business and wonders if she will ever fall in love. Amish or not, I think we can all relate to Sarah.Sarah spends a great bit of thought and time trying to get the attention of a certain Amish man, when an unlikely hero comes to her aid when she gets lost on a hike with several of her friends. Jathan is visiting from Ohio, taking some time away from his family and the pressures he feels they are placing on him to run and be part of a family business that is not what he wants to do with his life. He is the quiet Amish man at first, until he decides to be the one to go to Sarah's aid. Because Sarah hurts herself and the temperature is dropping, Jathan decides that building a fire and bunking down for the night would keep them alive than trying to walk out of that Montana forest at night. Jathan and Sarah talk long into the night, and something changes in them both. They see hope, in both of their situations.This story goes from the beautiful vast Montana skies to the valleys of Ohio. As Jathan and Sarah find out that the dreams each of them has coincides with the other, they decide to make a move back to Ohio, after Jathan's father has a stroke. Sarah is to help the bakery his mother runs, hoping her cupcakes will bring in more revenue for the family. Sarah starts to question her decision when the cupcakes she bakes are not welcomed in the quaint bakery shop. They are not "plain" enough. How could God give her this gift of bringing to life his beautiful creation through the decorating of her cupcakes and not be able to us these gifts?I think, like Sarah and Jathan, we all ask that of our gifts. God has blessed each of us with a gift or gifts that can be used for his glory. Sometimes, those gifts don't get used and we feel lost like both of our main characters. We ask "why?".I think this whole story was touching. I felt like I was right there with both Sarah and Jathan, going through what they were going through. Cheering them on for their dreams to come true. Romans 8:28 says "And we know that all things work togetherfor good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose." Neither of them knew what good would come out of everything they both had gone through, but again, God comes through.This was a great read! I especially loved the first half being based in Montana, as I am from Montana, so feeling like I was right there was no exaggeration! I love Montana, it is absolutely beautiful! I think Tricia did a great job bringing our characters to life and giving them struggles we all face. We are very different from the Amish in many ways, but I also think we are similar in many ways, especially if you are a child of God!