This Amish series is different than most in a good way, and this novel is the best of the three! Each one addresses a specific challenge that many families have faced, so it is a blessing to see examples of Christians finding help and hope. My heart has gone out to each of the three friends in the series, especially Irma. While there is no bad language, graphic violence, or terrible examples of abuse, some of the scenes may be uncomfortable for those who were abused or spilling that abuse to the next generation. I hope that many will seek help as a result of it, whether one has been abused in any way or loves someone who has experienced child abuse. What the novel shows me is that there is hope for the Lord to allow healing, and some of His instruments of healing may be clergy or Christian counselors.
We get to know three childhood friends, Eleanor, Doretta, and Irma, through their conversations, letters, and behaviors. I was happy to see Eleanor and Doretta, from earlier novels, again. Doretta serves her friends and loved ones well with her prayers and her thoughtful, encouraging letters. I admire how well the Amish, who do not use cell phones, email, or texting, yet communicate better than non-Amish people.
Irma’s beloved father died when she was young. Within a year, her widowed mother married Homer, who moved them away from their family and friends in Indiana to Montana. Her mom and Homer had four more children, and he grew increasingly more critical of Irma, crossing the line to verbal and emotional abuse, then to physical abuse. Irma saw her mother stand by and allow Homer to abuse her. After Irma and LaVern met, married, and moved to Ohio where his family lived, she never went back to visit, and communicated as little as possible with them.
When they got word that Homer died suddenly, Irma grudgingly went to Montana with LaVern for his funeral. They didn’t arrive until late the night before the committal, and left the following morning. LaVern came from a very loving family, and knew little about the relationships in Irma’s home, so he was puzzled by Irma’s reactions.
Irma hoped her nightmares and flashbacks would stop if she went to the funeral. Instead, they got much worse. Her patience with their young children snapped, she found out she was pregnant again, and she caught herself heading toward that line of hurting her own little ones until it actually happened. This time, she was not able to get the children to stay silent before LaVern came home and found out.
I was completely unaware that some of the challenges in this series happened in Amish communities. I was happy to see how close-knit church districts are equipped to assist with such challenges in a positive way. I feel this novel has an excellent place in today’s Christian Women’s Literature whether one is, or was in an abusive situation, or to recognize someone who is actively abused. I appreciate how people shared their faith in the Lord. I enjoyed seeing Doretta enjoy watching birds and other local nature. I highly recommend this to women of all ages, especially those who enjoy Amish Christian settings and reading about women who are committed to their friends, churches, and communities.
From a thankful heart: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.