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 Christian Fiction: Amish/Mennonite

Archive - Book Titles reviewed - W

A Wedding Quilt for Ella - Little Valley Series Book One by Jerry S Eicher A story of a lost love. Ella is preparing for her wedding day when the terrible news arrives that her husband to be, Aden, has died suddenly of a neglected burst appendix. So easy to be wise after the event, of course he should have gone to a doctor but he had no idea it was anything more that a strain, he was a builder, and then it was too late. Daniel who worked with his brother and has the care of the money Aden had saved to build a house for Ella and himself has a surprising suggestion that even more surprisingly her parents and the Bishop of their District agree to. Alongside this story, we meet Ella’s family: the young sister who is just becoming aware of boys, the older one who often looks on the dark side of life and the brothers who have their own stories. My appetite is well whetted for the next in the series Ella’s Wish Review by Mary Bartholomew  (02/12/11)

A Widow’s Hope - Miller Family Series by Mary Ellis A dreadfully wet summer afternoon, a feeling of lethargy and a good story; I gave up on work and read through till bedtime and beyond. Another Amish story to warm your heart and transport you into a different way of life. Hannah’s young husband has died, leaving her a farm to run on her own. With her families’ support she manages, but is glad when her brother Thomas agrees to purchase the farm freeing her to go and live with her sister and family, far away in Ohio. Her Deacon brother-in-law Simon, has reluctantly agreed to let her bring her beloved flock of sheep, whose wool she spins and weaves into throws and shawls. Now Simon has a widowed brother Seth who, unlike Simon, admires Hannah’s forthright manner. The scene is set for a good yarn..... The pity is we have to wait till Jan 2010 for the next in the series Never Far From Home Review by Mary Bartholomew  (31/07/09)

The Waiting - Lancaster County Secrets by Suzanne Woods Fisher The second of this series of stories set within the Amish community of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, USA. They can be read as separate books as they do not link to each other. In The Waiting Jorie King has long loved one of the Zook brothers, but Ben has gone off to Vietnam as a non combatant to help with wounded soldiers. The Amish are conscientious objectors but still have to serve their term in the forces and unbeknown to his family Ben had volunteered to go abroad. He was always the wild one of the family with no wish to settle down as an Amish farmer. The plot of this story is for ever springing surprises and many things happen to disturb the peace of Jorie, her family and friends. I have struggled with how to tell more without spoiling the story. Suffice it to say that there is more to this book than a soldier coming back from the war, a love story and what happens in a one-room school, much more, and it makes for a gripping read. Specially recommended. Review by Mary Bartholomew  (30/11/10)

The Way to a Man’s Heart - The Miller Family Series by Mary Ellis This is another story about the Amish community by the same author that again deals with youth and their discoveries about life and love prior to their making a full commitment to the Amish way of life. There are some nice touches in the story but I found this fairly ‘clunky’ in places where the reader is told exactly how the character is feeling when it is not needed. Some of the characters are weakly developed and didn’t ring true to me, and some aspects of Amish life were explained several times over to make sure that the reader ‘understood’. Much is made about the difference between those who follow the ways of the Amish but don’t necessarily have a full understanding of the faith and the person of Jesus Christ behind it, and those whose faith is coming alive to the full. For me it was over long in its attempt to make a spiritual point and I found myself skipping through bits to get to the end, but the central character was likeable and it ended happily, so with those caveats in mind it is a gentle story allowing one to relax into an afternoon cup of tea. Review by Jackie Scott  (03/05/11)

The Wonder of Your Love - A Land of Canaan Novel by Beth Wiseman Katie Ann has a baby boy, Jonas, her husband’s child, yet her husband left her for a woman outside their community. Now this ‘other woman’ wants to visit her. Ivan is dead and his death is going to have repercussions for both women. Katie Ann has a faithful Englischer (non-Amish) friend, Martha, an endearing character who treats Katie Ann and Jonas as dear family but Martha has issues of her own. The scene is set for an unusual Amish story, and rest assured, after many twists and turns, there is a happy ending and I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Review by Mary Bartholomew  (05/10/11)

Where the Heart Leads by Kim Vogel Sawyer This gentle, countryside ramble takes us from Boston to the little town of Gaeddert in Wales. The hero is Thomas Ollenburger, who as we quickly learn has Mennonite roots, and I was fascinated to read about the author's own perception of the Mennonites as being honest, hardworking and peaceful. But then, my own limited viewpoint of them is taken from Sherlock Holmes's A Study in Scarlet, which portrays the group as being violent and exclusive. Our hero's group promotes marriage, which Thomas is not sure if he needs, and careers away from politics and journalism, both of which Thomas develops a flair for. Will our hero choose the City's blinding glitter or will his heart lead back home? While I didn't fall off my chair at the gentle close, I found the ending more unpredictable than expected, and admired Thomas's gentlemanly - if slightly stiff - thirst for virtuosity. Review by Alice Collins  (28/01/09)

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