The Proving by Beverly Lewis (Book Review)

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from Bethany House in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the book-

Amish Fiction's #1 Author Presents a Touching Story of Perseverance and Second Chances
Amanda Dienner hasn't seen her Old Order family in five years when she receives word that her mother has passed away and left her Lancaster County's most popular Amish bed-and-breakfast. Now an Englisher, Mandy is shocked: Her twin sister should have been the obvious choice! What's more, the inheritance comes with a catch: The farmhouse inn will only truly be hers if she is able to successfully run it for twelve consecutive months.

Mandy accepts the challenge even though it means returning to Gordonville and the painful memories she left behind at eighteen. Still, she's determined to prove she is more than capable of running the bed-and-breakfast, no matter that its loyal clientele are expecting an Amish hostess!

The inn isn't Mandy's sole test, however. Rubbing shoulders with her married twin sister reopens wounds that Mandy isn't ready to forgive. And an Englisher guest with a difficult past of her own just complicates matters.

Can Mandy fulfill the terms of her inheritance? Or will this year in Amish country prove a dreadful mistake?

My thoughts-

I have read so many Amish fiction novels that I always think that there is no way an author can think of a spin on this type of story that I haven't already read. Beverly Lewis always manages to prove me long. This was an interesting story overall with Amanda Dienner coming back to take over her mother's bed-and-breakfast, coming back to the family she has been estranged from,including her twin sister. I enjoyed watching Mandy's story unravel but I also equally, if not more, enjoyed Trina's story in the novel. I would love to get away to this Inn. I wish it existed in reality! I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Amish Fiction. 

The Last Bride by Beverly Lewis

Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book via the publisher in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.

About the book-

Of her Old Order parents' five daughters, Tessie Miller is the last to marry. She has her heart set on Amishman Marcus King, but Tessie's father opposes the match. Impetuously, Tessie and Marcus elope to the English world, then return to Hickory Hollow to live as singles, trusting they'll convince the Millers to give their love a chance over time. But when the unthinkable happens, Tessie faces the almost-certain censure of the People. Will she find a reason for hope in spite of her desperate plight?

My thoughts-

I loved the original Hickory Hollow book series and I love reading book series where old characters might pop up again, so I was excited to pick up this book to read. This was definitely a different plot for an Amish love story and I appreciated that. Sometimes it is nice to have a fresh take on things. It is apparent at the beginning of the novel that eloping is going to cause some issues because of Tessie's parents being adamant about not going forward in the relationship, but what happens is even beyond that. Tessie has a lot to deal with and she doesn't feel like she can really share it with anyone. Unfortunately, her secret will eventually come out so she will have to share it whether she wants to or not. I can' really say too much about this book without giving away secrets of the plot, so I will say that it was an interesting Amish romance. This is not your typical story although it has many of the typical elements. There were some interesting things in this novel that I guess I never really thought about that the Amish might deal with when it comes to pairing up. I would recommend this book to a lover of Amish fiction, but if you have never read a Beverly Lewis novel, I would recommend going back and reading the original Hickory Hollow series over reading this novel. It was good, just not her best.


About the author-

Beverly Lewis, born in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch country, is the New York Times bestselling author of more than ninety books. Her stories have been published in eleven languages worldwide.


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The Secret Keeper (Home to Hickory Hollow #4) by Beverly Lewis

*Disclosure- I received a free e-ARC of this novel via NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About the book:

Jennifer Burns has always had an "old soul," but joining the Amish world will challenge her spirit--and her heart--in ways she never expected.

Jenny heads to Hickory Hollow and joins a familiar cast of characters as she learns what it takes to live the Amish life.

My thoughts:

When I read the plot description for The Secret Keeper, I was excited at the prospect of this new take on the Amish world- an outside "Englisher" not born into the Amish wanting to give up all of her worldly possessions to join their life, their church. This is the fourth book in a series of books "Home to Hickory Hollow," but stands alone well. I have only read one of the three books that proceeds it and didn't have any trouble following along. As I began to read The Secret Keeper, I noticed some familiar names (like Rebecca Lapp) pop up and realized this book was about familiar characters! I was SO ecstatic. I really enjoyed the books in the Heritage of Lancaster County series that were focused on Rebecca Lapp's daughter Katie, so I was really happy to catch up with characters in this book and see what has become of their lives a few years later. This book almost feels like you are taking this journey with Jenny. At least it did to me. I have always been fascinated by Amish culture, I don't think I could ever join their community, but it was fun to follow someone who was convinced that she was meant to live simple and among the Amish. I could relate to her in many ways- she feels like she was born in the wrong era, that she really doesn't fit in with those around her. These are things I can certainly understand. It seems that once Jenny gets to Hickory Hollow she's found somewhere she does fit in, but there are many people around her not so sure that they do. This, coupled with a big secret she is asked to keep by her mentor, causes her a bit of confusion in her own journey. There are some interesting turns in this story and I was happy to see how things wrapped up. For a moment near the end, I was almost afraid that the book wouldn't end how I thought it should and desperately wanted it to, but overall I was happy with how the entire thing panned out. I am definitely hoping there is another book that focuses on Jenny as she continues her journey! I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Amish fiction, anyone who might just be curious about Amish culture and of course anyone who loves a sweet love story.

The Secret Keeper will be available September 3, 2013. You can pre-order it right now on Amazon.com.

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  Book trailer for The Secret Keeper:

The Confession- Movie Review

*Disclosure- I received a copy of the movie to view. I was not required to render a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

About The Confession:

Raised by an Amish family, Katie Lapp (Katie Leclerc, TV's "Switched at Birth") always felt the call of another life. Now, her quest to find her birth-mother, Laura Mayfield-Bennett (Sherry Stringfield, TV's "ER"), has drawn her into the world of the "Englishers." Along the way, two very different men try to help her overcome a devious scheme to steal her rightful inheritance. Business-minded but kind-hearted Justin Wirth (Michael Rupnow) reaches out to disvoer Katie's hidden secrets, while her childhood sweetheart Daniel Fisher (Cameron Deane Stewart) sacrifices his own happiness for her future. Katie's heart is divided between two worlds as love reveals the trust in the moving saga based on the hit novel from New York Times best-selling author Beverly Lewis.

Michael Landon Jr. Brings to life this second installment in author Beverly Lewis' The Heritage of Lancaster Country trilogy on the big screen. I must confess, upon beginning to movie I didn't realize that this was the second in a series, but this movie (and I am sure the novel as well) is able to stand on it's own quite well. Although I had not read any of the books from this particular series of Ms. Lewis, the movie sounded great so I definitely wanted to watch it. I thought it had a great story line. Katie is on a journey to find her birth mother, who is not Amish, so she is in the world of the "Englishers" trying to figure out how to find her. She finally finds out where she is only to discover once she gets there that someone else is posing as her! She stays anyway, mistaken as a new maid, just to be around her mother and to figure out exactly why there is someone pretending to be her! I loved following along in the movie rooting for Katie in so many different ways. I wanted so badly to see that Katie would be able to reveal herself to her mother or that her mother would somehow figure out who she was. I love some of the little plot twists that revealed themselves in the movie, but I won't ruin that here for those of you who haven't read the books. There are two men that seem to love Katie and want to see her happy and help her along the way. This makes for some fantastic scenes for those of us who enjoy romance! The ending of the movie was great and left me wanting more, so I REALLY hope that they make the third installment of The Heritage of Lancaster Series into a movie as well!

The Confession is a great family movie filled with faith and love. I would recommend this movie to anyone who enjoys a family friendly, heartwarming story. The Confession debuted on The Hallmark Channel on May 11. The DVD will be available on June 11 and can be bought at Walmart stores nationwide. You can also pre-order the movie on Walmart.com right now! 

As for me, after watching The Confession, I realized the first movie in the series is on Netflix...guess what holds the number one spot on my instant queue? I look forward to seeing where the story began and to reading the third book (and hopefully watching the third movie if/when it gets made!) to see what is sure to be a wonderful conclusion to this great series!

The Bridesmaid by Beverly Lewis Book Review

Joanna Kurtz is a 24 year old Amish woman who seems to always be the bridesmaid for her friends wedding. Joanna wonders if her turn for love is going to come or if that ship has long past sailed for her. She also happens to be a closet writer of fiction- something that is frowned upon in Lancaster county among her fellow Amish.

Eben Troyer falls for Joanna immediately, but he has things in Indiana where he lives standing in the way of making her his bride the biggest being his brother who has chosen to leave the Amish way of life and left Eben to take over for his parents. Joanna doesn't want to move away from her home. Will they be able to find love in the end or will Joanna always be a bridesmaid?

I always enjoy a good Amish fiction book. Since Beverely Lewis invented the genre, I always expect to really like her  novels and The Bridesmaid is no exception. I enjoyed the plot and it was an easy read. There was tension as each page unfolded Eben and Joanna's story and I wasn't sure how it was going to end. I also really wanted to find out more about Joanna's aunt- her namesake- a mysterious woman that no one has said much about until Joanna starts asking questions. I don't think I have ever read an Amish fiction novel where the main characters had so much distance standing in the way of their happily ever after, so I thought that brought a new twist on the typical Amish love story and I really enjoyed that refreshing difference. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys love stories, Amish culture or inspirational fiction. This was an easy read sure to please any romantic.


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*Disclosure- I received a complimentary copy of The Bridesmaid from Bethany House Publishers. I was not required to render a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own.