Coming Home

by David Lewis

I've decided that I need to start a label for Christian books. It seems that about half of what I read these days is Christian fiction, and while that may not be for everyone, I thought that maybe for some, that would be what they would prefer. So over the next few days I'll be getting that label up and in the sidebar.

But to the book. David Lewis happens to be the husband of author Beverly Lewis, whose books I've also enjoyed reading. This was his first solo novel, and judging on my reaction to it, I bet it won't be his last.

Our main character is Jessie, a 24 year old woman about to embark on her dream to move to the state of Oregon. Her boyfriend is supposed to move with her, and the eve of their move, he decides instead to break up with her, citing her mental health as the reason for the split. He has a point. As the story continues we find that Jessica is a young woman with a past that she doesn't want to remember, and in her attempt to repress those memories, she's also lost her happy memories. Jessie decides to head to Oregon on her own, and along the way takes a detour- the road less traveled, and heads to her old hometown, which is full of haunted memories for her. Before she realizes what she's doing, she's sitting in her car in front of her estranged grandmother's house, where her grandmother is hiding a few secrets of her own.

This was a strange book at first. I was drawn into Jessica's life easily enough, but the strange dreams and flashbacks were almost disconcerting at times. The introduction of her childhood friend, Andy was a welcome diversion from her strange musings for a time. I really enjoyed his perspective on Jessie and her life. With Andy's help, Jessica decides to find out the truth of her past, and tries to get rid of the ghosts that haunt her dreams. Scattered throughout the story is also Jessie and Andy's lost faith. They both grew up in Christian homes, but have lost their faith upon reaching adulthood, and both of them wonder if there really is a God. The spiritual journey of both of these people was very realistic, and very well-written. It was very, very believable.

I enjoyed this book a lot, it really had some teeth to it, and a whole lot of heart. What I didn't enjoy so much was the end. It wrapped up much too quickly and really felt a little contrived at the very end. Still, it was a sound ending and I was happy for it, I just wanted more to it.

Annie's People

by Beverly Lewis

What can I say about these books. Once again I found myself drawn into the world of the Amish. So much so this time. There are three books to this series, The Preacher's Daughter, The Englisher, and The Brethren.

Our heroine is Annie Zook, the daughter of an Amish preacher with a secret. Annie loves to paint and draw and has a natural talent in that area. In her Ordnung though, art is strictly forbidden, so she must perform her art in secret only. When one person sees her artwork, she convinces Annie to enter the painting in a national contest, and much to Annie's dismay, she wins, with her painting gracing the cover of a magazine popular with the Amish community. The first book deals a lot with her struggle to paint, and the struggle with her father. She has been expected to formally join the church for some time now, and she continues to put it off because she knows that once she kneels and says her vows to the church, that her painting will be lost to her forever.

The second book continues the struggle for her art, as well as introduces a new struggle for her- a forbidden romance blossoms with an outsider and Annie struggles with the choice between her father and her people and the thought of a life with this Englisher. Adding greatly to this story in both books is the English woman Louisa. Louisa has been Annie's pen pal since they were young children first learning to write. In a desperate attempt to escape her life, Louisa finds herself in Amish country, a guest of the Zook household. She blends in as best as she can and does all she can to learn about her best friend and the world she lives in. Louisa adds such a fun element to the story, I loved reading about her and her learning the Amish ways of doing things.

I loved these books. I won't discuss it too much more, because there is so much treasure inside. These are such beautifully written novels, and they really swept me away for a time. I've said before that I love reading about the Amish, and this was no exception. Beverly Lewis is such a a descriptive writer, I felt like I knew my way around Paradise, and knew how everyone looked and behaved. I felt like I could walk down the road and I would know everyone on sight. These were great books and highly recommended. There is a Christian message to these books, and it is pretty blatant, so take that as you will. Highly recommended, and an excellent idea for the bookworm on your Christmas list.

The Shunning, The Confession, The Reckoning

By Beverly Lewis

I thought I'd review these all together, because it really is one flowing story. You could probably get away with reading the first one and stopping, but you'd still wonder what happened. But all three books could have easily been published as one story, with maybe a little more detail. In fact, that's exactly what I wish would have happened with these books.

At the beginning we meet Katie Lapp, a young Amish woman who is looking forward to her upcoming marriage to a widower. We find her and her family busy planning and getting ready for the wedding, and as most young brides experience, Katie finds herself full of nerves. She has always felt like a free spirit, and is hiding a love for music and the guitar (forbidden in their Amish Ordnung). And one day, while looking at her mother's wedding dress, she finds a satin pink baby dress with the name Katherine Mayfield on it. The discovery of the dress takes the entire Lapp family on a long and winding road full of discovery and love for each other.

Overall, I really enjoyed these books. In fact, I read two of them in one day, they were gripping and very easy to read. I enjoyed learning a little more about the difference between Amish and Mennonite communities, and once again I found myself drawn to these people and their way of life. These are most definitely Christian novels, and there is no getting around the strong message of forgiveness among the pages. My only problem with this book was that it was really easy to figure out what was going to happen. The foreshadowing was pretty blatant, and while I was satisfied with the conclusion, I knew most of what was going to happen well ahead of time. I also found that there were several loose ends that just seemed to be dropped, and I would have liked a little more closure there. But overall, an excellent was to spend a few afternoons. I would read more from Beverly Lewis, and in fact, plan to do so, as she has several series of books set in Pennsylvania Dutch country.

The Proposal and The Rescue

by Lori Wick

These are Christian romance novels. Now I have to admit that I was bit sceptical at first. I mean, to me, a romance novel is full of juicy love scenes. And Christian fiction is not. So how could the two really successfully merge without seeming fake and contrived. Ah but they can. These books are set in England in the 1800's. Status was important, and men and women behaved in a very proper manner. This was the era of courting, and it couldn't be a better setting for Christian romance. I will say, these books are laced with Christian values and conversations about God, so once again, if that is not your cup of tea, these will not be for you. But overall, these were very nice to read.

Lori Wick writes beautifully. I was caught up into both books right away, and I was unable to put them down until completion. Literally. These were one-a-day novels for me. They were a quick read, and completely enjoyable. It didn't take me long to fall in love with the people of Collinsborough, England. The first book, The Proposal started off in such a fun, albeit a predictable manner. We meet Jennings, a proper Englishman who has a sister he's estranged because she "found God" and he is alone. For the first time he finds himself lamenting the fact that he hasn't had children, and sadly feels that he is past the years of having them. Surprise, surprise, a distant relative dies, leaving him the sole guardian for three children. While amazed with the turn of luck that could afford him children without the inconvenience of a wife, he quickly realizes that he is in over his head.

Jennings turns to his sister Lydia, a married mother or 4 of her own. She is very welcoming to her brother who she thought she'd never see again, and a friendship quickly blossoms between Jennings' wards and Lydia's children. What ensues is a wonderful friendship among family members, and it doesn't take long for Jennings to realize that he needs to be near to his sister, and so he befriends a community. Along the way, he finds love in a most unexpected place and bungles a proposal twice before getting it right the third time. Along with the love story is the story of Jennings finding God and determining to give these children the love they deserve.

The Rescue continues the story of this community, only this time we meet a single woman Anne, who is caring for her elderly father, The Colonel. The Colonel has a mental disability that makes him forget things from day to day, and he doesn't always process what he sees or hears. So when he stumbles upon his daughter Anne in a precarious position with a new-to-town Mr. Weston, he insists upon an instantaneous marriage, and orders Mr. Weston to a wedding by sword point. The story that ensues is wonderfully written. Anne comes under scrutiny for behaving as a woman of her position shouldn't- and is a victim of careless and untrue gossip. While an entertaining love story, it is also full of lessons that you can take away with you.

These are the first in a series called The English Garden series, and I'm looking forward to reading the remainders. Although they are a bit predictable, they are still fun stories full of heart and real-life lessons. A definite thumbs up from me, and a great light read for a lazy Saturday afternoon.

The Storekeeper's Daughter

by Wanda Brunstetter


Well, I simply had to go back and read the first book by Wanda Brunstetter. And I will say this, read them in order. I knew what was going to happen in this one, and I found myself anticipating it, and it almost made it difficult to read. I mean, I got caught up in the lives of these people. I wanted them to make different choices, different decisions. And I found myself crying along with their pain and sharing their joy as well. Basically, another great book. And yes, this has a lot of the spiritual stuff in it as well, so if that's not your thing...

Once again though, I find myself amazed at the Amish people. I know for a fact that the author has not taken liberties with the generalities of the Amish people. What we are reading, is very much how life is among the Plain people. The whole aspect of Amish courting is amazing, and the fact that before every decision is made, a quick prayer is sent off to ask for guidance. Simply amazing.

I am really looking forward to reading the third part of this series, The Bishop's Daughter. I feel like I know these people well, and there are some conclusions that must be brought into the lives of these families. I can only hope that my patience is rewarded.

the Quilter's Daughter

by Wanda Brunstetter

I love to read about other cultures. I have always been interested in learning more about the Amish people, there's something so intriguing about living a simple life. Wanda Brunstetter is a Christian author who has spent a lot of time among the Amish and has managed to capture the essence of an entire society on the pages of a book. This book is not a light read by any means. Easy to read, yes. Beautiful and capturing, yes. Light read, no. I started reading this book yesterday afternoon, and I literally crawled out of bed late last night to finish it. It's been such a long time since I read into the wee morning hours. It was so worth it. This book was beautiful. I was fully immersed in the lives of Abby and Fannie and their families.

Abby is a young Amish woman who is betrothed to a wonderful young man. She spends her life running a quilt shop- selling quilts as well as making them. When she learns that her mother is expecting a baby, she quickly offers her assistance in preparing for the arrival of the baby and helping run the household until her mother can handle things. Soon, disaster strikes Abby's young life and caring spirit. She loses her Faith and her handle on life itself and finds herself in need of help. The ensuing journey is one that eventually restores her Faith in both her God and her family.

Let me start by saying this is very much a Christian novel. If that's not your cup of tea, you will not enjoy this book. Secondly, this is the second book in a series of three, so you may want to read the first one first, the Shopkeeper's Daughter. While I do feel I can successfully go back and read the first one now without knowing too much, it probably would have been better to read them in the correct order. But I do have things to say about this book and these people. So often we see the Amish portrayed in movies and on television as farmers, and not much more. But there is so much more... the very being of the Amish people can be broken down to their Faith. Absolutely everything they do is for the love of God. Everything. Their days do not begin without earnest prayers, praying for the day ahead, and thanking the Lord for that day. And they're not just prayers. They're not just saying random prayers. Prayer is their answer to everything. And wholeheartedly, they believe that God answers. It is their Faith that drives them every day. As the farmer is doing his chores, he's thanking God for the opportunity to work his land. With every stitch of thread, the quilter is thanking the Lord for the beautiful colors and the ability to work the fabric into a work of art. It's simply stunning and amazing.

Even though this is a work of fiction, it causes great reflection. I am really looking forward to reading the other two books in the series. And not only does this book cause me to think on my own Faith, it also gives me an urge to consider taking up quilting, and try to create my own work of art. This book is a great inspiration and is also very encouraging. I am very grateful to have read it.

The Secret Life of Becky Miller

I'm not entirely sure what led me to read this book. I saw it reviewed on a blog, and I just HAD to read it. A few clicks on Amazon, and it was on my way. I was not disappointed.

The Secret Life of Becky Miller is a fictional story about Super-Mom. Becky Miller is a stay-at home Mom who is finding life a little hard to juggle. Her passion for her children and husband is conflicting with her passion for her church and God. This book is about her journey to combine the two. While ultimately this book is Christian Fiction, this book would appeal to any busy Mom- stay at home or working. Reading this book, I had several mind-opening thoughts. I am still digesting, but in the few days since I've finished the book, I've made it a priority to enjoy my children just a tiny bit more. It also has me thinking about what more I can do to show them how much I love them, and to show them how to grow up gracefully. Definitely a lot to think about, and I think I may find myself reading this book again in the near future.

I recommend this book to any woman who finds herself in need of a recharge, or even just a smile. This book provides a rewarding conclusion that will leave you with many thoughts, and a smile as you go about your day.