This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
The Judgment
Bethany House (April 5, 2011)
by
Beverly Lewis
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Not until her own children were well into middle school did Bev seek to publish her work, first in magazines such as Highlights for Children, Dolphin Log, and Guideposts for Kids. Her first book followed in 1993—Mountain Bikes and Garbanzo Beans—presently retitled Big Bad Beans (book #22 in the popular CUL-DE-SAC KIDS series of chapter books—see list of Bev’s children’s books).
Beverly’s first venture into adult fiction is the best-selling trilogy, THE HERITAGE OF LANCASTER COUNTY, including The Shunning, a suspenseful saga of Katie Lapp, a young Amish woman drawn to the modern world by secrets from her past. The book is loosely based on the author’s maternal grandmother, Ada Ranck Buchwalter, who left her Old Order Mennonite upbringing to marry a Bible College student. One Amish-country newspaper claimed Beverly’s work to be “a primer on Lancaster County folklore” and offers “an insider’s view of Amish life.”
Booksellers across the country, and around the world, have spread the word of Bev’s tender tales of Plain country life. A clerk in a Virginia bookstore wrote, “Beverly’s books have a compelling freshness and spark. You just don’t run across writing like that every day. I hope she’ll keep writing stories about the Plain people for a long, long time.”
A member of the National League of American Pen Women, as well as a Distinguished Alumnus of Evangel University, Lewis has written over 80 books for children, youth, and adults, many of them award-winning. She and her husband, David, make their home in Colorado, where they enjoy hiking, biking, and playing with their three grandchildren. They are also avid musicians and fiction “book worms.”
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Rose Kauffman is engaged to Silas Good, a well-liked Amish fellow, so why does she still pine for Nick Franco, the former foster son of the bishop? Especially now that Nick has left the Amish community under a cloud of suspicion after the death of the bishop’s biological son? Will Rose marry Silas, even while struggling with romantic feelings for Nick? Meanwhile, Rose’s older sister, Hen, has returned to live at her parents’ farm with her young daughter. Hen and her modern husband, Brandon, are separated by mutual agreement, although he is threatening to sue for custody of their daughter if Hen does not return soon. Will the judge rule in Brandon’s favor? Is there any way Hen can reestablish her place among the People without sacrificing her marriage?
If you would like to read the first chapter of The Judgment, go HERE
Watch the book trailer:
MY REVIEW:
The Judgment is a good example of why Beverly Lewis reigns as the “queen” of Amish fiction. This novel is complete with plenty of drama and conflict, a bit of mystery, a touch of romance, highly emotional situations and a lot of faith. Told primarily from an Amish viewpoint, several separate stories are interwoven. Characters are well rounded and dialogue is fairly natural. The second installment of The Rose Trilogy, The Judgment continues the story of Hen and her non-Amish husband’s separation.Younger sister Rose is now engaged to Silas but continues to miss Nick. At the same time she has to wonder what is actually going on between Silas and Rebekah who has recently returned to the community. Other characters from The Thorn also make their appearance here.
Although Hen’s actions tended to frustrate me, I understood her to a degree. I have known people who could not function well except within a strong legalistic system. I do hope that circumstances that occurred near the end of the book (won’t give it away – read for yourself) will help Brandon understand Hen a little better and that Hen will realize that her marriage is worth a little compromise to save. I only hope that we won’t see Brandon become Amish in the final book – that just would not be very believable.
Beverly Lewis is also a master at writing cliffhangers. Perhaps that is why her series sell so well. She leaves her readers anxious to learn what happens next. I know I want to know and will definitely be waiting for The Mercy to be released in September.
