What do you think?
Rate this book
Abram's Daughters #4
The Prodigal
Beverly Lewis Bestseller, Beautifully Repackaged
In The Prodigal, Leah Ebersol knows all too well that the truth can be thorny, even heartbreaking. But when an alarming secret is brought to light, she must make another difficult choice, one that could be further complicated by a prodigal who few expected to return.
In The Prodigal, Leah Ebersol knows all too well that the truth can be thorny, even heartbreaking. But when an alarming secret is brought to light, she must make another difficult choice, one that could be further complicated by a prodigal who few expected to return.
343 pages, Paperback
First published February 15, 2002
232 people are currently reading
2392 people want to read
About the author
Beverly Lewis
258 books3,013 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Beverly Lewis, raised in Pennsylvania Amish country and both a schoolteacher and an accomplished musician, has been an award-winning author for over a dozen years. Her acclaimed novel, The Preacher's Daughter, was a 2006 Quill Book Award finalist in the romance category. Her books have appeared on numerous bestseller lists, including USA Today and The New York Times. She and her husband, David, live in Colorado."
Beverly Lewis, raised in Pennsylvania Amish country and both a schoolteacher and an accomplished musician, has been an award-winning author for over a dozen years. Her acclaimed novel, The Preacher's Daughter, was a 2006 Quill Book Award finalist in the romance category. Her books have appeared on numerous bestseller lists, including USA Today and The New York Times. She and her husband, David, live in Colorado."
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 255 reviews
January 30, 2021
Another great book in this series full of family drama, forgiveness and faith. Can't wait to read the last book of the series to see how it ends!
February 5, 2017
The Prodigal was amazing! How Beverly Lewis can create characters so dear that they stay in your heart and you still hope for them even when all hope seems lost... I don't really know.
***SPOILER ALERT***I nearly cried when Jonas returned, I was so moved by the scene! My heart just swelled with happiness for Leah and him! And after all that time, it was just miraculous. ***Spoiler Alert Ends***
Beverly Lewis weaves stories so intricate, mysterious, and with enough trials and sorrows to make the joyful scenes worth ever so much more! Furthermore, she gives you such an insite into the Amish way of living--I can always recommend her books!
So, I would advise you to read The Prodigal; but don't forget to start at the beginning of the series (Abram's Daughters)... and be swept up into the perplexing lives of Sadie, Leah, Jonas, and many others!
***SPOILER ALERT***I nearly cried when Jonas returned, I was so moved by the scene! My heart just swelled with happiness for Leah and him! And after all that time, it was just miraculous. ***Spoiler Alert Ends***
Beverly Lewis weaves stories so intricate, mysterious, and with enough trials and sorrows to make the joyful scenes worth ever so much more! Furthermore, she gives you such an insite into the Amish way of living--I can always recommend her books!
So, I would advise you to read The Prodigal; but don't forget to start at the beginning of the series (Abram's Daughters)... and be swept up into the perplexing lives of Sadie, Leah, Jonas, and many others!
May 4, 2012
The Prodigal is book four in the Abram's Daughters series. In this book some time has passed and the focus has shifted more to Lydiann and Abe, the youngest Ebersol's who are being raised by their older sister, Leah. Lydiann has fallen hard for Jake who is none other than Jonas Mast's younger brother. Jonas is Leah's old flame who is shunned for leaving the community and pursuing a life as a carpenter. When Leah and Sadie find out a shocking secret about Jake, they find themselves in the same place that Abram was in years ago as he desperately attempted to keep Leah and Jonas apart. In an attempt to shield the hearts of Lydiann and Jake as well as that of his family, they make secret arrangments to have Jake sent away. When Jake arrives in Ohio he is paired up with a local carpenter to learn new skills. No one would have ever guessed that Jake would just happen to cross paths with his shunned brother.
With Jake gone, Lydiann is pining away for her love and they continue to contact each other. Leah and Sadie fear that they may have to bring Lydiann in on their secret, even if it means breaking her heart. Sadie carries this dark secret with the most pain and even grief. She longs to finally be free of all her secrets and to find peace. She also hopes to find love and to have a respite from the loneliness that eats away at her spirit.
Of course, this book also takes us into the lives of Mary Ruth, Hannah and their families. Hannah as we see is still tormented with thoughts of death and struggles with deep depression. She leans towards darkness and Mary Ruth and her family take her before the throne of grace to plead for divine intervention on her behalf.
As this family mends broken fences and grows closer to the Lord, old secrets and past sins bubble up to the surface, waiting to be confessed so that hearts are made pure and peace is made with God and with each other.
I love this series. It's something akin to a Amish soap opera but with themes of healing, forgiveness and coming clean of your sins so that you can find forgiveness. As the series draws to a close I am starting to see how things will turn out and while I am anxious to see resolutions but at the same time...I am sad that I am almost ready to say goodbye to Abram's daughters.
You may find reviews for the following installments of the Abram's Daughter Series here:
Part 1: The Covenant
Part 2: The Betrayal
Part 3: The Sacrifice
With Jake gone, Lydiann is pining away for her love and they continue to contact each other. Leah and Sadie fear that they may have to bring Lydiann in on their secret, even if it means breaking her heart. Sadie carries this dark secret with the most pain and even grief. She longs to finally be free of all her secrets and to find peace. She also hopes to find love and to have a respite from the loneliness that eats away at her spirit.
Of course, this book also takes us into the lives of Mary Ruth, Hannah and their families. Hannah as we see is still tormented with thoughts of death and struggles with deep depression. She leans towards darkness and Mary Ruth and her family take her before the throne of grace to plead for divine intervention on her behalf.
As this family mends broken fences and grows closer to the Lord, old secrets and past sins bubble up to the surface, waiting to be confessed so that hearts are made pure and peace is made with God and with each other.
I love this series. It's something akin to a Amish soap opera but with themes of healing, forgiveness and coming clean of your sins so that you can find forgiveness. As the series draws to a close I am starting to see how things will turn out and while I am anxious to see resolutions but at the same time...I am sad that I am almost ready to say goodbye to Abram's daughters.
You may find reviews for the following installments of the Abram's Daughter Series here:
Part 1: The Covenant
Part 2: The Betrayal
Part 3: The Sacrifice
September 23, 2018
More great stories of the Plain people by the master of Amish fiction, Beverly Lewis.
June 4, 2025
Honestly, I don't think I'm gonna finish this series.
Cons:
I was very very bored at the beginning. All through out the book the conversations were hard to read. The way the characters talked was a little distracting to me.
Besides that, I was just a little unhappy about how predictable this book was. I wanted to find out about the characters reactions to things, but the real plot, I saw that coming from a mile away.
I also am so done with these characters not communicating! Like there is so much drama and so much heart break because this family avoids talking about difficult subjects with each other.
Pros:
I liked all the peaceful scenes in the country, and Hannah's diary writings.
I liked how Leah wanted to protect Lydian but also gave her privacy and let her just do her own thing.
I do not want it to look like I am not giving credit to Beverly Lewis for her writings. Indeed, the plots seem a little complex and it must be hard to make everything come together like she does, however I just don't care too much for this genre like I used to.
Cons:
I was very very bored at the beginning. All through out the book the conversations were hard to read. The way the characters talked was a little distracting to me.
Besides that, I was just a little unhappy about how predictable this book was. I wanted to find out about the characters reactions to things, but the real plot, I saw that coming from a mile away.
I also am so done with these characters not communicating! Like there is so much drama and so much heart break because this family avoids talking about difficult subjects with each other.
Pros:
I liked all the peaceful scenes in the country, and Hannah's diary writings.
I liked how Leah wanted to protect Lydian but also gave her privacy and let her just do her own thing.
I do not want it to look like I am not giving credit to Beverly Lewis for her writings. Indeed, the plots seem a little complex and it must be hard to make everything come together like she does, however I just don't care too much for this genre like I used to.
May 31, 2025
I haven’t read Amish fiction in many years. I had gotten tired of it back then, mainly because the stories all sort of ran together. I only picked this one up because I am waiting on a ThriftBooks order. I ended up really enjoying it. The slow, peaceful setting was a nice reprieve. The plot twist was totally unexpected. I am glad I picked this one up.
Favorite quotes:
“…a dispirited person is open to even more opposition from the enemy of the soul.”
“…I ‘spect heaven’s pursuit of me has the Lord himself near tuckered out.”
Favorite quotes:
“…a dispirited person is open to even more opposition from the enemy of the soul.”
“…I ‘spect heaven’s pursuit of me has the Lord himself near tuckered out.”
July 1, 2025
I have absolutely loved reading this series and following the family’s life over the several books.I highly recommend this series!!!
December 16, 2015
I'm still enjoying the series, but I am starting to feel even more strongly that it is starting to drag on a bit. I've just started the last book in the series, "The Revelation" and it just doesn't feel like the story has progressed as much as it should have.
I'm not terribly fond of the twins, especially Mary Ruth, who is becoming a bit more annoying in this book. I do have to admit, though, Ms. Lewis has a remarkable gift for creating very human characters, as realistically, some people just are going to be harder to like than the next. I also enjoy Ms. Lewis's descriptions of scenery, something many authors have difficulty with. She even has a gift of tugging at the heart strings a bit as I have caught myself getting a bit teary eyed a few times throughout this series.
Overall, I would rate this book 4.4. Enjoyable, but the story is dragging a bit too slowly.
I'm not terribly fond of the twins, especially Mary Ruth, who is becoming a bit more annoying in this book. I do have to admit, though, Ms. Lewis has a remarkable gift for creating very human characters, as realistically, some people just are going to be harder to like than the next. I also enjoy Ms. Lewis's descriptions of scenery, something many authors have difficulty with. She even has a gift of tugging at the heart strings a bit as I have caught myself getting a bit teary eyed a few times throughout this series.
Overall, I would rate this book 4.4. Enjoyable, but the story is dragging a bit too slowly.
October 22, 2017
Is it cute and engaging? Yes. Does it have problems? Absolutely.
1. It's really not necessary. Like, two hundred pages of this story are not necessary. Split the remaining 143 between the previous book and the next book and it would not have mattered.
2. Why is not necessary? Because there are TOO MANY TIME JUMPS. It was a never ending time jumping disaster.
3. No one talks to anyone of a different generation. It's frustrating. You're a family. Just talk it out already...
Recommened 13+ for romance, family drama, stupid shunning, and lack of communication.
1. It's really not necessary. Like, two hundred pages of this story are not necessary. Split the remaining 143 between the previous book and the next book and it would not have mattered.
2. Why is not necessary? Because there are TOO MANY TIME JUMPS. It was a never ending time jumping disaster.
3. No one talks to anyone of a different generation. It's frustrating. You're a family. Just talk it out already...
Recommened 13+ for romance, family drama, stupid shunning, and lack of communication.
July 7, 2021
Time goes on. Long kept secrets are finally divulged. Leah is instrumental in bringing some things to light, but parts are still hidden. She shows a flash of true anger on her sister Sadie’s behalf, and it seems a little out of character for her. A chance encounter with someone she hasn’t seen in many years jolts her. The characters are interesting and the story, if somewhat contrived with the characters’ ancestry, is still quite entertaining.
October 24, 2021
Ok, I like Sadie a little more in this book.
August 10, 2018
I loved this book!! Great story!! Love this author's books!!
August 18, 2018
Finally, a positive ending! The series is getting better.....
May 26, 2017
Still loving this series. Can't wait for the next book!
August 3, 2025
Sadie frustrates me to no end...
July 4, 2018
This next book in Abram’s daughters series starts out in 1956. Little by little through a series of coincidences and fate Leah and Jonas will be brought back together.
Sadie admits to Leah about the letter she threw away from Jonas which would have explained the mix up of Leah and Gid holding hands and getting closer. Sadie actually gives Leah the original letter that the postman delivered recently, it being miraculously found, nine years later!
Mary Ruth still lives with Dan and Dottie Nolt and their adopted son, Carl. Questions and thoughts linger...could Henry Schwartz be the father of Leah? Could Carl Nolt, being adopted, be Sadie’s child?
Mary Ruth and Robert Schwartz eventually will get married and have a daughter, Ruthie.
Abe is found unconscious at Black Bird Pond face down on the ice. Dat makes the right choice to send for Dr. Schwartz rather than the pow wow doctor. Abe is sent to the hospital where he recovers from a concussion. It takes him a long time to fully recover and get back to normal.
Sadie is once again in trouble with the bishop. She disobeyed the rules of her getting accepted back in the church by walking too far with Mary Ruth asking if she knew/heard anything about Derek Schwartz. Then because it was a blizzard, Robert Schwartz, who was driving by and saw Sadie, picked her up to give her a ride back to her house, also forbidden. The bishop happened to be at the house, checking on how Abe was doing. Dottie Nolt let’s Sadie stay with them.
Abram and Lizzie get married. Abram becomes more open minded about the scriptures with the help of Ida’s bible, and Lizzie and Leah’s love of God and belief of salvation.
More and more the mystery of Sadie’s baby and the handkerchief Sadie placed on the baby’s head is puzzling and how it showed up in front of the doctor’s house. (Fannie must have dropped it.)
1963 - Lydiann is now courting age and is seeing Jake Mast! This becomes an issue, reminding me of a VC Andrew’s novel!! (Relatives falling in love.)
Leah decides she must talk to Dr. Schwartz when Leah notices a picture of Derek Schwartz looking a lot like Jacob Mast, along with things she remembers from the night Sadie’s baby was born. Dr. Schwartz finally admits his faults and mistakes of that night. Sadie’s baby is alive. He is Jacob Mast! When Fannie Mast has her twins, the second, a boy, died, and the doctor gave her Sadie’s baby without her being aware. Fannie’s stillborn baby is buried in the grave on his land that he visits. He knows what he did was wrong, and he knows the Amish women would never press charges. He just didn’t want his name to be tarnished, and his wife would be inconsolable.
Leah tells Sadie the truth. Sadie is distraught but realizes telling Jake would only disrupt his life and his family.
When Leah finds out Lydiann is being courted by Jake, she decides the only right thing to do is send Jake away to Ohio with other boys in the community. The boys are being swapped with boys from Ohio so there could be less marriages with close relatives. So Leah tells Gid what’s going on and he tells Peter Mast that his son is seeing an Ebersol girl, which the family shunned. Peter therefore wants to send Jake away. (I don’t think this was the best idea, since Jake and Lydiann are still promising each other they will wait and continue to write each other letters.) But by coincidence and fait, Jake is put to work under Jonas in his woodworking shop! They finally figure out they are brothers, and slowly reveal what’s been going on in Lancaster, but most importantly, Leah is not married and neither is Jonas! Emma is the older, near deaf woman Jonas rents a room from.
Jonas goes to Lancaster. Coincidence again, he meets Leah who is sitting by the road, and they are able to tell each other what has been going on in their lives. They are still in love. The biggest obstacle they now face is Jonas having to go to the bishop to get back into the church community.
The next biggest obstacle is having to tell Lydiann and Jacob they are close relatives: Lydiann being Jacob’s Aunt.
Sadie admits to Leah about the letter she threw away from Jonas which would have explained the mix up of Leah and Gid holding hands and getting closer. Sadie actually gives Leah the original letter that the postman delivered recently, it being miraculously found, nine years later!
Mary Ruth still lives with Dan and Dottie Nolt and their adopted son, Carl. Questions and thoughts linger...could Henry Schwartz be the father of Leah? Could Carl Nolt, being adopted, be Sadie’s child?
Mary Ruth and Robert Schwartz eventually will get married and have a daughter, Ruthie.
Abe is found unconscious at Black Bird Pond face down on the ice. Dat makes the right choice to send for Dr. Schwartz rather than the pow wow doctor. Abe is sent to the hospital where he recovers from a concussion. It takes him a long time to fully recover and get back to normal.
Sadie is once again in trouble with the bishop. She disobeyed the rules of her getting accepted back in the church by walking too far with Mary Ruth asking if she knew/heard anything about Derek Schwartz. Then because it was a blizzard, Robert Schwartz, who was driving by and saw Sadie, picked her up to give her a ride back to her house, also forbidden. The bishop happened to be at the house, checking on how Abe was doing. Dottie Nolt let’s Sadie stay with them.
Abram and Lizzie get married. Abram becomes more open minded about the scriptures with the help of Ida’s bible, and Lizzie and Leah’s love of God and belief of salvation.
More and more the mystery of Sadie’s baby and the handkerchief Sadie placed on the baby’s head is puzzling and how it showed up in front of the doctor’s house. (Fannie must have dropped it.)
1963 - Lydiann is now courting age and is seeing Jake Mast! This becomes an issue, reminding me of a VC Andrew’s novel!! (Relatives falling in love.)
Leah decides she must talk to Dr. Schwartz when Leah notices a picture of Derek Schwartz looking a lot like Jacob Mast, along with things she remembers from the night Sadie’s baby was born. Dr. Schwartz finally admits his faults and mistakes of that night. Sadie’s baby is alive. He is Jacob Mast! When Fannie Mast has her twins, the second, a boy, died, and the doctor gave her Sadie’s baby without her being aware. Fannie’s stillborn baby is buried in the grave on his land that he visits. He knows what he did was wrong, and he knows the Amish women would never press charges. He just didn’t want his name to be tarnished, and his wife would be inconsolable.
Leah tells Sadie the truth. Sadie is distraught but realizes telling Jake would only disrupt his life and his family.
When Leah finds out Lydiann is being courted by Jake, she decides the only right thing to do is send Jake away to Ohio with other boys in the community. The boys are being swapped with boys from Ohio so there could be less marriages with close relatives. So Leah tells Gid what’s going on and he tells Peter Mast that his son is seeing an Ebersol girl, which the family shunned. Peter therefore wants to send Jake away. (I don’t think this was the best idea, since Jake and Lydiann are still promising each other they will wait and continue to write each other letters.) But by coincidence and fait, Jake is put to work under Jonas in his woodworking shop! They finally figure out they are brothers, and slowly reveal what’s been going on in Lancaster, but most importantly, Leah is not married and neither is Jonas! Emma is the older, near deaf woman Jonas rents a room from.
Jonas goes to Lancaster. Coincidence again, he meets Leah who is sitting by the road, and they are able to tell each other what has been going on in their lives. They are still in love. The biggest obstacle they now face is Jonas having to go to the bishop to get back into the church community.
The next biggest obstacle is having to tell Lydiann and Jacob they are close relatives: Lydiann being Jacob’s Aunt.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Read
March 1, 2020
This summary/review may have been copied for other sources and is used only as a reminder of what the book was about for my personal interest. Any personal notations are for my recollection only.
**
The Prodigal is book four in the Abram's Daughters series. In this book some time has passed and the focus has shifted more to Lydiann and Abe, the youngest Ebersol's who are being raised by their older sister, Leah. Lydiann has fallen hard for Jake who is none other than Jonas Mast's younger brother. Jonas is Leah's old flame who is shunned for leaving the community and pursuing a life as a carpenter. When Leah and Sadie find out a shocking secret about Jake, they find themselves in the same place that Abram was in years ago as he desperately attempted to keep Leah and Jonas apart. In an attempt to shield the hearts of Lydiann and Jake as well as that of his family, they make secret arrangments to have Jake sent away. When Jake arrives in Ohio he is paired up with a local carpenter to learn new skills. No one would have ever guessed that Jake would just happen to cross paths with his shunned brother.
With Jake gone, Lydiann is pining away for her love and they continue to contact each other. Leah and Sadie fear that they may have to bring Lydiann in on their secret, even if it means breaking her heart. Sadie carries this dark secret with the most pain and even grief. She longs to finally be free of all her secrets and to find peace. She also hopes to find love and to have a respite from the loneliness that eats away at her spirit.
Of course, this book also takes us into the lives of Mary Ruth, Hannah and their families. Hannah as we see is still tormented with thoughts of death and struggles with deep depression. She leans towards darkness and Mary Ruth and her family take her before the throne of grace to plead for divine intervention on her behalf.
As this family mends broken fences and grows closer to the Lord, old secrets and past sins bubble up to the surface, waiting to be confessed so that hearts are made pure and peace is made with God and with each other.
***
**
The Prodigal is book four in the Abram's Daughters series. In this book some time has passed and the focus has shifted more to Lydiann and Abe, the youngest Ebersol's who are being raised by their older sister, Leah. Lydiann has fallen hard for Jake who is none other than Jonas Mast's younger brother. Jonas is Leah's old flame who is shunned for leaving the community and pursuing a life as a carpenter. When Leah and Sadie find out a shocking secret about Jake, they find themselves in the same place that Abram was in years ago as he desperately attempted to keep Leah and Jonas apart. In an attempt to shield the hearts of Lydiann and Jake as well as that of his family, they make secret arrangments to have Jake sent away. When Jake arrives in Ohio he is paired up with a local carpenter to learn new skills. No one would have ever guessed that Jake would just happen to cross paths with his shunned brother.
With Jake gone, Lydiann is pining away for her love and they continue to contact each other. Leah and Sadie fear that they may have to bring Lydiann in on their secret, even if it means breaking her heart. Sadie carries this dark secret with the most pain and even grief. She longs to finally be free of all her secrets and to find peace. She also hopes to find love and to have a respite from the loneliness that eats away at her spirit.
Of course, this book also takes us into the lives of Mary Ruth, Hannah and their families. Hannah as we see is still tormented with thoughts of death and struggles with deep depression. She leans towards darkness and Mary Ruth and her family take her before the throne of grace to plead for divine intervention on her behalf.
As this family mends broken fences and grows closer to the Lord, old secrets and past sins bubble up to the surface, waiting to be confessed so that hearts are made pure and peace is made with God and with each other.
***
March 14, 2008
I have loved this series. And this fourth book did not disappoint me. In many ways, I think this one is my favorite so far.
It continues the story of Leah and her sisters. Her mother has died and she has raised her youngest brother and sister. Her sister Sadie has returned, and her father has mellowed a little. Thank goodness!
I thought I had the story figured out a couple of books ago, and while I was correct in at least one of my assumptions, I was surprised in other ways. There are twists and turns, heartbreak and love, and even some reconciliation.
Beverly Lewis has created a wonderful story, with characters you can like. Her prose is plain and concise, but not simple or shallow. The first book is a bit of a slow starter, but the rest make up for it. Completely.
I cannot wait to read the 5th and final book of the series.
It continues the story of Leah and her sisters. Her mother has died and she has raised her youngest brother and sister. Her sister Sadie has returned, and her father has mellowed a little. Thank goodness!
I thought I had the story figured out a couple of books ago, and while I was correct in at least one of my assumptions, I was surprised in other ways. There are twists and turns, heartbreak and love, and even some reconciliation.
Beverly Lewis has created a wonderful story, with characters you can like. Her prose is plain and concise, but not simple or shallow. The first book is a bit of a slow starter, but the rest make up for it. Completely.
I cannot wait to read the 5th and final book of the series.
May 11, 2014
WIIA: I will put on baker publishers description..way better than mine! "In The Prodigal, Leah Ebersol knows all too well that the truth can be thorny, even heartbreaking. But when an alarming secret is brought to light, she must make another difficult choice, one that could be further complicated by a prodigal who few expected to return."
Pros: I love this series!! This was one of my fave books in the series! More secrets...more things to figure out! LOL
Cons: More secrets...more "Ohhh I wish I could go in this book, they are makin' the wrong decision!" moments. Plus now Leah is soo much older, my heart goes out to her. I worried about her in this book I felt sad that she wasn't living the life she has dreamed about. But that is just the way Beverly Lewis writes.
Iffy: Adult-teen romance. I can't remember all the iffy\romance...sorry :(
Pros: I love this series!! This was one of my fave books in the series! More secrets...more things to figure out! LOL
Cons: More secrets...more "Ohhh I wish I could go in this book, they are makin' the wrong decision!" moments. Plus now Leah is soo much older, my heart goes out to her. I worried about her in this book I felt sad that she wasn't living the life she has dreamed about. But that is just the way Beverly Lewis writes.
Iffy: Adult-teen romance. I can't remember all the iffy\romance...sorry :(
March 13, 2017
I'm thinking my feelings towards this book have a lot to do with the fact that I skipped the 3rd installation of this series. So, take with a grain of salt.
As with most endings, I feel this one was a little abrupt. However, the lead-up to the ending was satisfying so I do feel that everything ended as it should have.
Oh, but a warning to those of the faint-of-heart (this also might be a SPOILER): an aunt and nephew fall in love with each other. Okay, they are both the same age, very innocent, and have no idea they are aunt and nephew but, to be quite honest, the story took a hard left turn for me at that point. Just letting you know.
As with most endings, I feel this one was a little abrupt. However, the lead-up to the ending was satisfying so I do feel that everything ended as it should have.
Oh, but a warning to those of the faint-of-heart (this also might be a SPOILER): an aunt and nephew fall in love with each other. Okay, they are both the same age, very innocent, and have no idea they are aunt and nephew but, to be quite honest, the story took a hard left turn for me at that point. Just letting you know.
October 8, 2010
I don't know about these books. They are such a mixture of not enough and too much. I don't think the characters are deep enough, I often find myself wishing for more emotion, more depth...and then all of a sudden the plot goes so far that I think "really?!?" But still there is something that keeps me holding on...just when I think I am going to give up....I keep reading. How many more books are left this series?
October 2, 2021
Ive always loved BeverleyLewisbooks, but honestly this one was unerving. There were too many jumps in time.
Abe was just starting his journey to recovering in the 1st pt, then he's taking his sister to singing in the 2nd half??
Abe was just starting his journey to recovering in the 1st pt, then he's taking his sister to singing in the 2nd half??
February 10, 2023
The Prodigal brings changes to the community of when one of their own returns. The deceitfulness, suspense, and trusting God continues for the Ebersol family along with new beginnings and heartbreak for others.
January 4, 2010
This book was hard to get into. The story finally picked up with 50 pages to go. I will read the sequel because I have grown to care what happens to Leah.
May 5, 2010
Good heavens! I'm glad there's another book - the poor girl needs something good to happen to her at some point!
January 21, 2012
This is the first of this series I have read. It was too hard to keep track of who is who.
April 27, 2016
Too many references to earlier books in the series; hard to follow them all.
June 4, 2022
This is the last of the Abrams Daughters series (#4). I enjoyed all 4 and glad I read them in order. Otherwise it would be confusing. The history lesson in the different religions was especially interesting. This community is mainly Amish, the Plain People, who traveled by horse drawn black buggies and they were pretty much told how to live by the strict Amish bishop.
The other group, The English had electricity, cars and modern amenities and their religion was more closely related to Christianity as we know it. They were the Mennonites. The two groups generally did not mingle because it was forbidden by the Amish bishop.
The conflicts started when some of the Amish secretly started really studying the Bible and talking directly to God like the English people. This was not allowed and had to be in secret.
The Amish Bishop did the 3 hour Sunday sermon but bible passages were never discussed in the open or questioned. Anytime the Amish Bishop became displeased with a member, which was often, that member was shunned and ordered out of town never to contact his family again. The people were so scared of the bishop they fell in line………until.
What an interesting read and great author.
The other group, The English had electricity, cars and modern amenities and their religion was more closely related to Christianity as we know it. They were the Mennonites. The two groups generally did not mingle because it was forbidden by the Amish bishop.
The conflicts started when some of the Amish secretly started really studying the Bible and talking directly to God like the English people. This was not allowed and had to be in secret.
The Amish Bishop did the 3 hour Sunday sermon but bible passages were never discussed in the open or questioned. Anytime the Amish Bishop became displeased with a member, which was often, that member was shunned and ordered out of town never to contact his family again. The people were so scared of the bishop they fell in line………until.
What an interesting read and great author.
September 27, 2017
This is a wonderful story, I have not read the other’s in the series band may go back to read them at a later time. What a love story between Jonas Mast and Leah who were separated and she didn’t know what had happened to Jonas. This also includes how families can mean the best for its members but things can go awry. Her sister is taking care of her younger siblings as a dying request of her mother and now Lydianna is of age where she can enjoy her run around years and is attracted to one of the young men in the community. When Leah makes a discovery which could tear not only the fancily but also the town apart – what to do with this information? I love the ending where it seems that Jonas and Leah has me looking forward to the next installment.
February 25, 2020
Time has brought many changes to the Ebersol family and their community. Leah is caring for her younger siblings and is still a maidel living in her father's home. Sadie has returned from Ohio, but is she repentant and disciplined enough to prove herself to her family and the community? Lydiann is a young woman experiencing love and courtship for the first time. Mary Ruth is married and expecting her first child, while her twin Hannah is courting a budding interest in healing. As life goes on on the Ebersol farm, a visitor comes that will shake their foundations of faith, love, and hope.
Book 4 of the Abrahm's Daughters series did not disappoint. Really, this is a great series that is a page turner and always leaves you asking "What is going to happen???"
Book 4 of the Abrahm's Daughters series did not disappoint. Really, this is a great series that is a page turner and always leaves you asking "What is going to happen???"
Displaying 1 - 30 of 255 reviews