Book Review - Courting Miss Amsel

Courting Miss Amsel

BY: Kim Vogel Sawyer

PUBLISHED BY: Bethany House

PUBLISHED IN: 2011

ISBN: 978-0-7642-0784-6

Pages: 346
Reviewed by Billy Burgess

After her mother’s death, Edyth Amsel took care of the household chores and raised her siblings. With just her younger sister, Missy, still at home, she decides that it is time for her to live on her own. She takes a job as a schoolteacher in Walnut Hill, Nebraska. Since she is single, the town thought it would be best if she didn’t live by herself, so she rents a room from Mrs. Kinsley.

The students were nervous for their first day of school, but Miss Amsel was more nervous than them. The previous teacher had whipped the students when they were out of line or didn’t understand their school work. Miss Amsel would have none of this. She wanted her students to love learning, and the students become fond of her. Miss Amsel informs the students that she would be making a visit to each family, so she could introduce herself to the parents. There are several single father’s in the area that are eying her, including Joel Townsend, who is raising his two nephews, who are students of Miss Amsel, on his own.

Miss Amsel’s teaching methods aren’t liked by some of the parents, who feel that the children only need to learn basic schooling. A student named William starts acting up during class, and is disturbing the students. She goes to his parents about his behavior, but they tell her that William is her problem during school hours. To make matter’s worse; she receives word from her father that Missy has runaway.

I’m a fan of Kim Vogel Sawyer and Courting Miss Amsel was not a disappointment. It’s fast paced and is cleverly plotted. I easily felt for the teacher as she struggled with the parents and the misbehaved Will. Being classified as historical romance, the book could have fallen into a cliché, but the author avoided this by using witty dialogue. I recommend Courting Miss Amsel to all readers.

*I would like thank Bethany House for sending me a copy to review.