MY REVIEW:
For those who thrive on Amish fiction, Never Far From Home and the previous installment of the Miller Family series, Widow’s Hope are two more books to add to their to read list. In the tradition of Beverly Lewis and Wanda Brunstetter, Mary Ellis chronicles the daily lives and struggles of members of an Amish family. Never Far From Home focuses on Emma Miller, an industrious sixteen-year-old with her own wool and craft business and who is attracted to James, who is not Amish. Other family members take primary roles also, including Emma’s Aunt Hannah, a newlywed who is having problems dealing with submission to her husband after her independence following her first husband’s death.
The novel is well written and easy to read. However, it had a hard time capturing my attention – most likely because I just couldn’t seem to drum up much interest in the love life of a sixteen-year-old and never got past that. This book would probably be enjoyed by a younger audience who would like to learn more about their Amish counterparts.
A review copy of Never Far From Home was provided by Rebeca Seitz with Glass Road Public Relations.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Mary Ellis follows her captivating Widow’s Hope with a new story from the heart of Holmes County, Ohio. In Never Far From Home, fifteen–year–old Emma Miller finishes school, starts her own wool business, and is longing for someone to court. When the object of her affection is a handsome English sheep farmer, with a fast truck and modern methods, her deacon father, Simon, knows he has more than the farm alliance to worry about.
Emma isn’t the only one with longings in Holmes County. Her aunt Hannah wants a baby and her uncle Seth hopes he’ll reap financial rewards when he takes a risk with his harvest. But are these the dreams God has for this Amish family? With engaging interactions and thoughtful characters, Ellis weaves a story about waiting for God’s timing and discovering that the dreams planted close to home can grow a lasting harvest of hope and love.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Mary Ellis grew up close to the eastern Ohio Amish Community, Geauga County, where her parents often took her to farmers’ markets and woodworking fairs. She and her husband now live in Medina County, close to the largest population of Amish in the country. They often take weekend trips to purchase produce, meet Amish families, and enjoy a simple way of life.
