About the book:
When the future is threatened by the past, can she trust herself to make the right choice?
Despite growing pains in her 1846 Amish community in Indiana, Naomi Schrock has settled into a comfortable life in her parents' home with her adopted son, Davey. Surrounded by family and friends, she tries not to think about the fact that she's not at the top of any man's list of potential wives. Yet when Cap Stoltzfus moves into the area and befriends Davey, Naomi finds herself caught between the plans she has made for her future and the tantalizing thought that Cap might be part of a life she never dared to hope for.
When a couple shows up claiming to be Davey's true family, Naomi and Cap must unite to make the decision that will determine the boy's future--as well as their own.
My review:
I really enjoyed this well-written story! I liked Naomi and felt for her lack of self-confidence due to a physical issue. It was nice to see a character who wasn't portrayed as perfect. I also felt that she was very relatable in that she had a hard time forgiving. I think that's a hard issue for a lot of people to overcome. Cap was such a great guy. He really looked at Naomi's heart and took Davey under his wing and yet he wasn't afraid to say the hard things to Naomi when she needed to hear some truth or to be strict with Davey. It was wonderful to see both Cap and Naomi's transformations from someone who doesn't think God cares to someone who knows He does, from thinking He wants rule followers to knowing He wants your heart. I especially liked the part where Cap compared Naomi being a mother to God being a father and that He cares about what we're doing, if we're safe or happy, even what we had for breakfast! I liked that the gospel was spelled out simply and clearly. There were some good discussions about suffering and God's goodness. I was a little surprised that Cap first was going to obey God in something, then changed his mind. I was very frustrated with a character who showed up to cause some issues in the community and especially for Cap. It's hard to fathom someone who's deliberately evil like that, especially when he's supposed to be a man of God. He's also part of the reason it was hard to stop reading, though, because I wanted to find out what he would do next. I'm always amazed when I read Amish books to see their commitment to non-resistance. It really takes a lot of determination and trust in God to not fight back and I admire that, even if I don't always agree. There was a bit of romance. This worked well as a stand-alone, though it's book three, and it was nice to see characters from the first two books. I'd definitely recommend this book if you like Amish stories as it's one of the better ones I've read.
I received this book from Revell free to review.
Jan Drexler brings a unique understanding of Amish traditions and beliefs to her writing. Her ancestors were among the first Amish, Mennonite, and Brethren immigrants to Pennsylvania in the 1700s, and their experiences are the inspiration for her stories. Jan lives in the Black Hills of South Dakota with her husband of thirty-five years. She is the author of The Prodigal Son Returns, A Mother for His Children (winner of the 2013 TARA award), and A Home for His Family (finalist for the 2016 Inspirational Reader's Choice Award), as well as Hannah's Choice and Mattie's Pledge.
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