Book Review: The Guardian by Beverly Lewis

This is the first Beverly Lewis book I have ever read and, I guarantee you, it won't be the last. What a joy it was to immerse myself into the world of the Amish (Plain) people of Pennsylvania. I think most of us find ourselves wishing, at one time or another, that we lived in a simpler time or place. As you read this book, you can almost feel yourself relax into a completely different world.

In the opening pages, we meet widow Maryanna Esh and her four young children as they ride home one evening in their buggy. The youngest child, little four-year-old Sarah doesn't make it home, however, and Maryanna is understandably frantic. A massive search is undertaken almost immediately as word spreads throughout their close community but to no avail. Little Sarah is nowhere to be found.

We are then introduced to Jodi, a young woman who is house sitting in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, for her cousin. She is still reeling from the death of her sister just six months prior and has decided to have nothing to do with God any longer. Although raised in a Christian home and engaged to a godly young man, Jodi finds herself feeling distant from those she loves as they encourage her to pray and turn to God for help. She is just not interested in having any conversations with a God who let her sister die. Jodi's life takes a major turn, however, when she goes out for a run and discovers little Sarah asleep by the side of the road, dressed only in her underwear, with a bump on her head.

When events take place that lead Jodi to the Amish community and Sarah back home, it quickly becomes apparent that God knows exactly what He is doing. We would do well to remember that too. I highly recommend this book.

**I was given an advance reader copy in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to give a positive review.**

I have been busy reading~

The Forever Year by Lou Aronica

Having fallen completely in love with two other stories from Lou Aronica (Until Again and Blue), I just couldn't wait to read this one. Here again, this author has crafted an amazing, touching story that will stay with me for a long time. Just like the main character in the book, I too was an "oops" baby, surprising my family with my presence. However, Jesse was a much bigger "oops", arriving twelve years after his nearest sibling. The resulting family dynamics left him feeling out of the loop, so to speak. He and his siblings are too far apart in age to relate and his father, Mickey, just can't figure out who he is or what to do with him. His mother, Dorothy is the only one who takes the time to nurture and understand her young son. Unfortunately she passes away unexpectedly and far too soon, leaving the family distant and disconnected.
When Mickey begins showing unmistakable signs of age, the four children get together to determine what needs to be done. The three oldest are way too busy to even consider anything besides dumping him into an assisted living home. However, Jesse, longing to get to know his father and develop a relationship with him, suggests that Mickey move in with him. Although his siblings dismiss his idea out of hand, he decides this is worth fighting for. When he lets Mickey in on the decision being made by the other three, his father decides to accept the better option and moves in with Jesse.
The remainder of the story follows the two of them as they learn about each other and how to live in the same space. The main focus comes about when Mickey insists on meeting Marina, Jesse's girlfriend. When Mickey recognizes the special relationship they have and yet realizes his son Jesse is too skeptical of the enduring quality of love to take it seriously, he makes the decision to tell Jesse about his own amazing love story ... and this story has nothing to do with Jesse's mother Dorothy. Since he tells the story in stages, as a reader I felt like taking his face in my hands and saying, "Just get on with it, will you?" I don't want to give any more of the story away so I will leave it at that. I guarantee you though that you will love this amazing story.




The Mine (Northwest Passage) by John A. Heldt

I absolutely loved this story, much more than I anticipated. Of course I assumed I would enjoy it; otherwise I never would have bothered to read it at all but what a pleasant surprise!
The story opens as we meet Joel Smith on Memorial Day in 2000. As a college senior just about to graduate, Joel is out celebrating with his best friend Adam, and his typical playful and risk-taking personality leads him to a decision that changes his life. While exploring an abandoned mine much to the chagrin of Adam, he stumbles upon an odd, glowing chamber and emerges from the mine in May of 1941. His money is dated far into the future, his cell phone doesn't work and his options are few. We go along for the ride as this smart, likable young man quickly adapts to his surroundings and turns a potential disaster into a surprising new life. As war threatens those he has come to love, he realizes he too may end up dying in a war that, in his world, is long over and simply part of history. When circumstances present him with the possibility of returning to the year 2000, what does he do? Does he go and lose the love of his life or does he remain and risk erasing his very existence? You'll have to read it for yourself, but I am sure you will not be disappointed. Highly recommended!