Product Details

• Paperback: 316 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (September 11, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764209787
• Genre: Christian Fiction

Synopsis:

The Latest in Chart-Topping Amish Fiction from Beverly Lewis.  Twenty-seven-year-old Joanna Kurtz has made several trips to the altar, but never as a bride. The single young Amish woman is a closet writer with a longing to be published something practically unheard of in her Lancaster County community. Yet Joanna’s stories aren’t her only secret. She also has a beau who is courting her from afar, unbeknownst even to her sister, Cora, who, though younger, seems to have suitors to spare. Eben Troyer is a responsible young Amish man who hopes to make Joanna Kurtz his bride–if he can ever leave his parents’ farm in Shipshewana, Indiana. Yet with his only brother off in the English world, intent on a military career, Eben’s hopes for building a life with his dear Joanna are dimming, and patience is wearing thin. Will Joanna ever be more than a bridesmaid?

My Review:

While I love to read Christian fiction, I must admit, I have never read a book from Beverly Lewis. I’ve never really enjoyed Amish stories and I thought that the audience Beverly Lewis typically wrote for were older adults.  And…I still see myself rather young

I received this book through an ARC giveaway on LibraryThing and was actually intrigued that the release date was on 9/11.  While there is no reference to 9/11, that date has always been very sensitive to me for personal reasons (aside from the horrific tragedies).

Reading this book, I quickly became immersed in the daily living of the Amish community in Hickory Hollow.  I loved the way Beverly was able to describe each character with detail and how well the personalities of two sisters could easily be detailed in her book.  While this is a short read for (a little over 200 pages), Beverly filled it with quite a lot of rich traditions, family alliances, upholding their faith, and finding love.  I fell in love with the characters of Joanna and Eben. I also loved the friendship that develops between Joanna and Jake, and the way young couples court one another.  With church lines, dedications to their respective churches and families, Joanna and Eben must find a way to follow their heart or else be separated forever.

I loved the simplicity of the story, the character developments, and how Beverly Lewis is able to seamlessly tie in their faith in a modern world.  The only “critique” I have, is wishing Beverly would have made the story longer and perhaps given us a little more of history behind Auntie Joanna and the Wise Woman.  Otherwise, it was a great book and I will certainly read this series!

*This book was provided by LibraryThing in exchange for an honest review.

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