The Guardian by Beverly Lewis, Book review

Publisher: Bethany House Publishers; 1 edition (March 26, 2013)

ISBN-13: 978-0764209796

Synopsis:


When schoolteacher Jodi Winfield goes for a morning run, the last thing she expects is to find a disheveled little girl all alone on the side of the Pennsylvania road, clad only in her undergarments, her chubby cheeks streaked with tears. Jodi takes the preschooler home with her, intending to find out where she belongs. But Jodi is mystified when no one seems to know of a missing child, and the girl herself is no help, since she can't speak a word of English. It's as if the child appeared out of nowhere.

As the days pass, Jodi becomes increasingly attached to the mysterious girl, yet she is no closer to learning her identity. Then an unexpected opportunity brings Jodi to Hickory Hollow--and into the cloistered world of the Lancaster Old Order Amish. Might the answers lie there?

Here are my thoughts:

Leave it to the matriarch of the Amish genre to come up with yet another gem! Since she first began to entertain us with stories of this cloistered community, Beverly Lewis has repeatedly captivated fans and acquired many new readers with her insight into this mysterious world few of us has seen and understand.

In 'Home To Hickory Hollow', Book # 3 'The Guardian' we discover a strong willed little Amish girl named Sarah and Jodi, the troubled young woman who finds the little darling when she tumbles out of her Mum's buggy and gets lost.

Beverly Lewis systematically introduces us to many facets of the Old Order Amish community we know little or next to nothing such as intermarriages and deriving genetic disorders or their reluctance to involve the authorities even in the case of a missing child.
I was surprised at the 'no pets allowed in a household' preference but cannot but marvel at their strong sense of community and survival in an ever encroaching English world.
The concept of an outsider being not only accepted in such a tight community as a close friend but also hired to teach their children even on a temporary basis was definitively unexpected.

Always at her best when she describes the ties that draw people together no matter their origins, Beverly Lewis approaches the subject of pain and loneliness which occurs after losing loved ones.
For Maryanna Esh, Joshua Peachey and Jodi Winfield, there is a lesson to be learned as long as they have faith! 

"The soul yearns for tranquility but the only real peace comes from communing with God." 

Returning readers will enjoy meeting old friends such as Ella Mae the Wise Woman and her down to earth approach to life but never fear this 'Home To Hickory Hollow' story stands on its own!

5 Stars!


About the Author:

Beverly Marie Jones (Lewis) was born in the heart of Amish country—Lancaster, Pennsylvania. At the tender age of nine, she began writing short stories and poetry. Prior to that, she made up lyrics to the "little fingers" piano pieces she learned, at the age of five.

"My mother saved everything I wrote, even the stories I dreamed up during my grade school years," Bev says. One such tale is semi-autobiographical, about a young girl whose parents can no longer afford to give her piano lessons. The manuscript was 77 pages long and titled "She Shall Have Music," penned under the shade of a lone willow tree. "Reading, writing, and playing piano have been top three on my list of favorite things," she says.

Source (HERE) and be sure to visit her website (HERE) 


I received this book from BETHANY HOUSE PUBLISHERS as part of their blogger review program. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC 16 CFR, Part 255 'Guides concerning the use of endorsements and testimonials in advertising. I was not asked to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.