I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House Bloggers and was under no obligation to post a review. No compensation was received for sharing this review and all opinions are my own.
Published by Thorndike Press on 2013
Source: Bethany House Bloggers
Genres: Amish & Mennonite, Christian, Fiction, General
Pages: 485
Come home to Hickory Hollow, Pennsylvania--the beloved setting where Beverly Lewis's celebrated Amish novels began--with new characters and new stories of drama, romance, and the ties that draw people together. "Much of the credit [for the growth of Amish fiction] goes to Beverly Lewis, a Colorado author who gave birth to the genre in 1997 with The Shunning..."--"Associated Press" When Jodi Winfield comes to Lancaster to house-sit, the last thing she expects to find is a disheveled little girl alone on the side of the road. The young teacher is mystified when she learns there have been no reports of a missing child, and the girl herself is no help, since she can't speak English. It's as if the child appeared out of nowhere. Then Jodi turns her attention to Hickory Hollow--and the cloistered world of the Old Order Amish--in search of answers.
It’s no secret that I love returning to Hickory Hollow and I will do so any chance that I get! Each new book that comes out—I rush through until I get to the parts with Ella Mae. I just love her and I can’t get enough of her wisdom! I adore the spunk and tenacity that she possesses. Of course, the main plot is always fantastic as well. Beverly Lewis is an author that never disappoints her readers.
About the Story
Jodi is a young woman struggling to piece together her life after losing her sister. While her parents and fiancé all love her deeply there is something missing in her life. Since the loss of her sister—Jodi has given up on God. She has stopped talking to Him and that causes a void in her life that she can’t seem to fill.
When a young Amish girl, Sarah falls out of the family buggy—it is Jodi that finds her and returns her to her mother. Sarah is drawn to Jodi and though her mother, Maryanna is worried about developing a relationship with Jodi she can’t say no to her youngest daughter.
Jodi begins to spend more time with Sarah and her family and her heart begins the slow process of mending while her faith begins to be renewed. Only time will tell if Jodi’s heart will mend enough to draw her closer to her fiancé and to her parents.
Maryanna is also dealing with her own silent grief—the loss of her husband, Benuel who was truly her best friend. She feels that she can never love another but also worries that her children are suffering without the firm guidance of a father figure in their life.
Local widower, Joshua is very interested in Maryanna. Having have lost his wife and unborn child in recent years, he is finally looking towards the future rather than living in the past. The problem is that Joshua was Benuel’s best friend and their neighbor which gives Maryanna a little inside look into what could be viewed as eccentricities.
I thought the story really wrapped up beautifully. Perhaps a bit predictable but we really wouldn’t have wanted it to end any other way. Mrs. Lewis seems to know what her readers expect of her and she delivers her stories beautifully. Filled with wisdom and encouragement in the faith her stories do not disappoint. I loved everything about this story, all the way down to the beautiful cover. Definitely a 5 star story and I cannot wait until my next trip to Hickory Hollow in “The Secret Keeper” which is due to be released in September 2013!!!
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About Beverly Lewis
Beverly Lewis, raised in Pennsylvania Amish country and both a schoolteacher and an accomplished musician, has been an award-winning author for over a dozen years. Her acclaimed novel, The Preacher’s Daughter, was a 2006 Quill Book Award finalist in the romance category. Her books have appeared on numerous bestseller lists, including USA Today and The New York Times. She and her husband, David, live in Colorado.”
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