The Ebb Tide

by Beverly Lewis

When a well-to-do family asks Sallie Riehl to be their daughter's nanny for the summer at their Cape May, New Jersey, vacation home, she jumps at the chance to broaden her horizons beyond the Lancaster County Amish community where she grew up. Curious by nature, Sallie loves reading and learning, and she fears that her chances of making a good match with an Amish farmer will be hampered because of it.

Though she loves taking care of nine-year-old Autumn Weaver during the week, Sallie has free time on the weekends to enjoy the shore. It is there that she meets Edward Kreider, a young marine biology student who talks freely about all he's learning and asks about her interests, unlike the guys she grew up with. Sallie wonders if this is the kind of relationship she's been longing for. Then again, Ed isn't from her community--and he's Mennonite, not Amish.

Sallie is afraid of what her parents would think about her new friendship. But that's not all she's fearful of. When unexpected danger threatens Autumn, Sallie will have to put her fears aside. Will this be a summer to remember, or one to forget?

Genres: Amish, Christian Fiction, Fiction, Romance, Amish Fiction, Christian, Contemporary

336 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2017

About the author

Librarian 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."

Reviews

[Shantelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Ebb Tide was delightful! Beverly Lewis writes with such charm and grace, and this newest novel of hers completely swept me away.

Sallie Riehl is a sweet character, likable and so fun to explore the world with! When the nineteen-year-old is asked to be a nanny for the summer in Cape May, New Jersey, the adventure of a lifetime begins. Through trials and joys, I inwardly urged her to follow the Lord's gentle prompting and her own beautiful dreams, and rejoiced with each new discovery that touched her Plain life.

Not only is the Amish lifestyle always interesting to read about when penned by Beverly Lewis's hand, but the ocean theme in The Ebb Tide was spectacular! It was intriguing reading about "sea diamonds" and different ocean life. And lovely revisiting the crashing waves, ocean sunrise, boogie boarding, and calm, sandy beach walks - not to mention, the unique and fun shops! (I recently was at the ocean myself and got to experience all that! So made me want to go back!)

Ah, what a journey of faith and discovery this was! So sweet and touching, it unfolding in just the perfect timing. Hearts changed and minds were renewed. Romance blossomed and friendships deepened. Sallie's walk with the Lord deepened in a beautiful way throughout the course of The Ebb Tide as she surveyed His magnificent creation and met some of His devoted followers. Oh, how I loved it. I must admit, I was anxious and frustrated at certain points in this book, but it turned out oh so incredibly right, and joy filled my heart at the last page.

The characters were all wonderful. From Sallie and her family, to Cousin Essie, to sweet Autumn, to the strong and dear Kevin. (Yes, yes, I so loved Kevin! What a guy! Actively seeking the Lord, searching beneath the surface for God's Hand in everyday life, passionate about exploring the world and helping people ... ) Certainly fun to get to know them all, and watch them grow in character - struggle and blossom in life.

The Ebb Tide wasn't all charm and delight. There were hard decisions. Frightening moments. Intense confusion. Crippling heartache. Sallie was a character with real struggles and fears. There were times when it didn't seem like it could all work out as it should. But Beverly Lewis unfolded this tale of finding God and finding oneself with gentleness and depth, beauty swirling across every page as we taste the salt of the ocean and feel the sand beneath our feet. With clean romance and touching faith themes, The Ebb Tide ultimately leaves its reader satisfied and joyous.

I absolutely loved it and highly recommend!

I received a copy of The Ebb Tide from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest review.

[Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was utterly delightful. Uplifting and beautiful and soul-touching. I don't even know where to begin this review.

How about we start with what you see first? The cover. The beachy, summery, oceany, amazing cover. (And no, I did not just make half of those words up.) It is sooo beautiful!! If you know me, you know that I have a love of book covers. But this one is exceptionally lovely.

The plot was quite wonderful, not the typical Amish story, and I really liked it. I wasn't sure that I was going to like it that much at first, but I ended up adoring the Autumn and all of the Logan family.

The characters were sooo great, realistic, and well-rounded. Sallie was sweet and charming. ('Cute' too, as Kevin so dearly pointed out. <3) Autumn was spunky and lovable. Kevin was just...a wonderful guy and I liked him (and *cough* totally didn't ship them *cough*) from the start. And Sallie's dad! Aww, he was just a dear! I totally soaked up his and Sallie's heart-to-hearts. <3

Autumn and Sallie had me chuckling several times, and then smiling over their sweet chats about life and mostly baby Connor. I really enjoyed reading about their relationship. :D

Before reading this book, I'd never really considered that I may enjoy marine biology and oceanography. But learning about different fish and ocean life through Sallie and Kevin's talks and explorations was quite fun!

The theme of waiting on God really struck home with me. I nearly cried reading about Sallie's journey. It definitely touched my heart and gave me encouragement in areas where I needed it. The way our God can use fictional stories to touch hearts is absolutely incredible. <3

All the way around, this was a beautiful, lovely story. Definitely a favorite of mine, and one I would recommend. 5 stars, all the way!! :)


**I received a free copy of this book from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for my honest review.**

[Rebecca Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the best book I have read by Beverly Lewis!

[Staci · Rating 4 out of 5]

First book by Beverly Lewis!

19 year old Sallie hasn't yet been baptized as she has a desire to travel first and has been saving money for years to visit Australia. The Ebb Tide is about her journey to discovering God's will for her life.

[Alicia Ruggieri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! This was a beautiful book in many ways, straight from its ethereal, ocean-splashed cover down deep into its strong, hearteningly Biblical message. Friends, you know how eagerly I await each new Beverly Lewis release – always with bated breath, always with a slight feeling of trepidation that maybe this new one won’t live up to what I’ve come to expect from this gifted author.

The Ebb Tide was not a disappointment! Lewis draws life-like characters, from our main character Sallie to her Mamm and Dat to her would-be beau Perry. My favorite character of all, though, was Cousin Essie – a single older Amish woman full of life and true wisdom. In Essie, the author truly depicts a woman of dignity and strength.

I also really appreciated the way Lewis shows that sometimes God calls someone to move outside the sphere into which they were born ~ and yet she manages to depict this without giving her heroine a headstrong, rebellious streak. Instead, Sallie – with the guidance of her elders and not without error at times – begins to listen not to her own heart nor to the voices of everyone around her, ultimately, but to the Lord God Himself.

Lovers of the ocean {I’m smiling myself here!} will really enjoy Beverly Lewis’ descriptions of Sallie’s days at the shore – They are so realistic that I could nearly taste the salty sea! 🙂 Along with this, Lewis adds details to the everyday lives of her characters that many authors skip — and so she adds a strong feeling of authenticity to the novel. I really loved that!

Though it is written for adults, The Ebb Tide seems appropriate for readers 14 and up to me ~ Young adult readers will love it just as much as older readers!

[Amy Clipston · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful story of faith, family, new beginnings, and love.

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

With a similar storyline to her other books, Beverly Lewis brings to life the Amish community in the way only she can. What made this story unique, was the setting. Much of the book was near the ocean, and that brought a different flare to the story that I truly loved. Plus, it doesn't get much better than reading a balmy, ocean story, while it's snowing outside!

I loved Sallie's character, especially because I understand her longing to travel and see the world. I also loved how her struggles were shown and she didn't just rush off when she felt the longing in her. Her relationship with Autumn was really sweet, and I loved the progress of her relationship with a certain fellow ;) Their conversations and friendship was so sweet. It's definitely the sort of relationship that all girls should look for, because if you're friends first, everything is done so much more appropriately :)

I would have liked to have seen some scenes shown rather than told, but in general, her writing style goes well with the course of the story. If you're looking for a gentle story of love and friendship, this is a good one to pick up. I don't agree with a lot of the Amish viewpoints, but I love their way of life and just as anyone in the world, they have souls too. This author shows their hearts in the perfect way.

[Maureen Timerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very different Amish book as our main character has wanderlust, and was surprised her family was going to allow it, although she promises for sure she will join the Church next year.
While she does forgo one trip another seems to fall in her lap, and a life change is about to happen. She is going to Cape May NJ and becoming a nanny. Now that sounds like a fun job and time to me, and she sure does have a lot of adventures, which we are going to enjoy with her.
After all of this will she be able to come home and bend her knee, and maybe join the young man who seems to want to court her. Or will the adventure be the catalysis to leave her faith, one would hope not. We do meet her family and extended family, and she is mightily blessed to have so much support.
A fun read that is full of interesting information, it made me want to head to New Jersey. Enjoy your stay with Riehl family and friends.

I received this book through Net Galley and Bethany House Publishing and was not required to give a positive review.

[Stefanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Ebb Tide by Beverly Lewis was such a sweet story.
I’ve always loved her Amish novels. Reading about The People has always been fascinating to me and their simple ways make for a peaceful read.
The Ebb Tide was a little different in the sense that the main character, Sallie, had a heart for travel and much of the book was set in Cape May, New Jersey. The beach is my happy place and to read a book with its main setting in the beach is always a wonderful treat.
Sallie was a very relatable character in the sense of her worldly desire to travel and see the world and her struggle to decide what was the best route to travel in her life’s journey.
The Ebb Tide was a wonderful read!

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 4 out of 5]

A different sort of Amish novel...but a great one!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good story, a little different than most of Beverly Lewis's stories. Most of this book takes place away from Sallie's Lancaster County Amish community and visits Cape May, New Jersey instead. I did find the beginning of the book a little slow, but once she arrived in Cape May, it picked up quite nicely.

Sallie is an unusual Amish woman. From a very young age, she was interested in the wider world around her, not just her community. She was an avid reader, especially of books about faraway places, and she dreamed of having a chance to travel. Much to her parents' displeasure, she saved enough money to take her dream trip to Australia. She was just weeks from leaving when she gave up that trip to help someone else. But as the saying goes, "When God closes a door, sometimes he opens a window." One of the customers at the restaurant where she worked asked Sallie if she would be willing to be their daughter's nanny at the Jersey shore that summer. Naturally, she jumped at the chance.

There were several things that could have worked against her. First, her parents, especially her mother, were not very happy that she would have to put off her baptism into the church for another year. Also, her older sister was getting married, and Sallie's help was needed with the preparations. Others were worried that spending that much time around "Englischers" would tempt Sallie away from her faith. Then there's the disappointment of the young Amish man who wants to court her. Any one of those things could have put an end to her dream, but Sallie was a determined young woman and found a way to make it happen. I especially loved the part her father played in making her trip happen.

There was a lot going on during this summer at the beach. Sallie was there to watch over nine-year-old Autumn while Autumn's mother was recuperating from a difficult pregnancy and dealing with a fussy newborn. Autumn is a pistol of a kid, warm-hearted and friendly, and full of energy. I loved seeing how much fun she had showing Sallie around Cape May. She's not a perfect child, however, and had her moments of grumpiness. She also exhibited some jealousy of her baby brother, with frequent complaints about his crying and how much of their mother's time he takes. I loved Sallie's efforts to bring the two children closer together. I ached for Autumn and her unhappiness and worried that she would remain that way. It took a terrifying experience for Autumn to gain a different perspective on her relationship with her baby brother.

The time away from Lancaster brought some changes to Sallie's outlook. She began to look at her life and her faith and question some of the things she felt. There was guilt over her relief at avoiding joining church for another year. She felt the weight of her parents' expectations and wondered at her own reluctance. Her correspondence with Perry started well but became more of a chore the longer she was away. Even the longed-for visit by her sister Frannie had some tense moments as Frannie noted the changes in Sallie.

Early in the visit, Autumn and Sallie went on a boat tour, where they met marine biology intern Kevin Kreider. Kevin is friendly and knowledgeable and connected quickly with both Autumn and Sallie. Kevin is a Mennonite who also has Amish family that lives near Sallie's home. He and Sallie began spending a lot of time together. I loved their growing friendship and how they were able to talk together about so many different things. Sallie loved hearing about Kevin's travels and soaked up everything he would tell her. Kevin was very interested in learning about Sallie's life with the Amish, as his own family didn't talk about their old lives. Sallie knew that she and Kevin could only be friends, but she couldn't deny that there was more to it. It was pretty clear that Kevin had fallen hard for Sallie. I loved the sweet way he treated her, and his pleasure in making her happy. Their visit to Kevin's church was especially moving, and I loved the effect it had on Sallie. But when Sallie realized her feelings for Kevin had changed, she pulled back. I ached for both of them as she returned home at the end of the summer.

Her time in New Jersey had changed Sallie deeply though, and she spent a lot of time contemplating her future. She also missed Kevin desperately, even as she tried to renew her relationship with Perry. I ached for her as she wrestled with the decisions she had to make. I loved the unexpected visit from Kevin and the renewal of their friendship. It warmed my heart to see how he interacted with her family and their reactions to him. I especially liked that Sallie took her time and thought long and hard about what she wanted for her life. The support and encouragement of her family were unexpected and wonderful to see. I loved how everything worked out. The epilogue was fantastic.

[Andrea Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely story about stepping out of our comfort zones and following God’s call despite the opinions that try to limit us. Much to admire in this one.

[Shirley Chapel · Rating 5 out of 5]

At the beginning this book seemed different than other books by Beverly Lewis , that I've read. But as I progressed on in the book I was easily drawn into the story. I found it to be every bit as good as all her other books. In fact it was right up there with The Shunning and her earlier books.
Sallie Riehl has always had a strong desire to travel to far away places and countries of the world. Unlike her Amish sister Frannie , she hasn't thought much about courting or joining the Amish faith . For years she's saved for a trip overseas. The further away from home the better as far as she was concerned.
Then after putting her money down on the trip of her dreams she learns her young nephew is very sick and is in need of surgery to save his life. Uninsured, the boys parents can't afford the surgery. The Amish medical fund has been used up on another sick member of the community. Sallie wrestles with cancelling the trip and using the money to help her nephew, or going on her trip as she had planned on for years.
This story does not stop with Sallies decision. There's even a part near the end of the book that had me ringing my hands and on the edge of my seat. Not wanting to be a spoiler I will just say I thoroughly enjoyed the entire book . I think you will too. If you are a fan of Beverly Lewis please don't miss this story. I highly recommend it to all readers of Christian Fiction.

[Paula-O · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beverly Lewis writes The Ebb Tide

I like reading stories of the amish , seeing their faith in everyday life and relationships along the way.
In this story Sallie is a dreamer, always wanting to see far away places and she has taken a job to save monies hoping to do just that. She puts off joining church so she can have an adventure before she settles down.
When a young man in the community needs financial help for surgery, Sallie knows she cannot just save for a trip -she must help-she gives up her dream and helps.
Later an opportunity comes for her to be a nanny near a beach and she things seeing the ocean will be her adventure. She is to live with the family for the summer and help with the baby and his sister.
While there she meets a mennonite young man that she soon forms a friendship with.
Should we put ourselves in a relationship that we know is not where we should be? She would not have had a dilema in her life if she had not let herself get close to this young man BUT was it wrong or right?
Choices must be made in life and we have to be responsible about them.

I received this book from Bethany House publishing for an honest review. Thank you.

[Sunnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can't go too wrong reading a Beverly Lewis book, can you? This was true to form. It was an amazing read and I loved it. I was quite sorry to see it end.

This book brought out the feelings that everyone needs to find their path in life, follow the road that God has led them to. Not all of us our the same even within religious circles.

Sallie is somewhat restless and not the "typical" Amish woman. She wants more, although she tries her hardest to conform, it's a trial for her and as life opens up opportunities for her, she longs to explore where they may lead her.

It was a great book! I am so glad I was able to read this!

I received an ebook copy from NetGalley for my honest review. All thoughts are my own.

[Allen Steele · Rating 3 out of 5]

Starts off really slow, and doesn't speed up. The ideas flow from one to another pretty easy. I've read others from this author, but this was the one I liked least..It did have a few redeeming qualities, like the over all message of the book, " wait on God". & Her descriptions of the sea was very nice.

[Groktest4 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very nice one..i really liked the flow of the book

[Sally Lindsay-briggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would describe this book as very pleasant and inspirational. Sallie is an Amish girl who wants to travel. She gives away her savings for a trip, to her nephew, who’s very sick. She does get to travel to the ocean by becoming a nanny. It’s a very enjoyable trip to Cape May, New Jersey. She meets a Mennonite boy who basically changes her life plans. This was a novel with a very romantic conclusion.

[Sarita · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a sweet story about how to be still and patient and listen to God’s voice for His will for your life even though His path might be different to the life you and your family might have wanted or thought would be the path.

“Havin’ to wait gives us time to learn that He’s always standing with us, teaching constant love and patience, until we finally come to the point of prayin’, ‘Thy will be done,’” Frannie pointed out.”

*I listened to the audiobook on Everand.*

[Jeanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ebb Tide is the time when the sea level falls, and the shore is revealed. In life, an opportunity arises where our hearts and desires are revealed and with patience and faith we wait to see what miracle can happen.

Sallie has always been curious. As an Amish young woman, she has put off her baptism to travel to Australia, however when a need a arises, she sacrifices her trip for something better. It is those times of sacrifices, we find other God-opportunities.

A young English family has requested that Sallie come with them to nanny their young daughter in their vacation home in the East Coast. Sallie is very drawn to this English family and with her parents consent and a conflicted heart, she sets out for another adventure that replaced her Australian adventure she had since she first read about Austria as a young girl.

On a visit to the beach, she meets Kevin who is a student studying to be biologist. They have more in common than first realized. Kevin's mother came from Amish upbringing and Kevin feels a strong attraction to Sallie in her upbringing and the simplified life. Sallie is attracted to Kevin in that he represents her desire to know the glorious world that God has made. Their relationship starts as friends as they both discover a different worlds.

I loved the intertwining stories in this one. The family Sallie was caring for and their needs. The tension of remaining in the Amish community and what attracts others to the simple life of very little distractions. It was all brought together as the relationship between Kevin and Sallie grew. It also taught you about the why of some Amish culture that I had not read before.

A Special Thank You to Bethany House Publishers and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE EBB TIDE is set in Cape May, NJ and without even finishing it, I was recommending it to all the Coast Guard Moms out there whose sons or daughters are or were stationed in Cape May for boot camp and/or for a time during their Coast Guard service. I honestly had no idea that there was so much to see and do in Cape May when my son graduated boot camp. Reading THE EBB TIDE is like reading a fictional tour guide. I wished I'd had read it beforehand!

Ms. Lewis probably broke every rule in the fiction writing guidebook. Show, don't tell. Use deep point of view. Resist the urge to explain. Etc. But being Beverly Lewis, of course, she can get away with it. The story itself is sweet romantic coming of age story. The romance itself is not center stage but couldn't be eliminated completely without ruining story, though at times it felt like it was tacked on, as in editor's notes -- you need some mention of a beau here... and so it was slapped in there, not really flawlessly. I am not implying that is what really happened. It just feels that way at times.

I did love Kevin. He was so sweet. And Autumn. What a dear little girl. But I mainly loved the story because of the Cape May connection. That was awesome. My son is in the United States Coast Guard and for eight very long weeks he was in Cape May. Ms. Lewis, if there is a huge, unprecedented increase in sales on this book, it is thanks in large part to the very well connected Coast Guard Moms.

[Sarah Coller · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've enjoyed every Beverly Lewis book I've read, to some extent, but some really touch me. The Ebb Tide was a beautiful story about the blessing that comes from patiently waiting for God's leading in one's life. I loved how Sallie recognized her heart's yearnings but desired to put God's will first. The patient and mature way she handled her questions was blessed in the end by family and friends who were able to see her for who God made her to be and were able to give their blessings on her choices.

I also loved the beautiful imagery of a not-so-Amish place, the seaside. I've got the travelin' bug, just like Sallie, and I understand how easy it is to get caught up in dreams of visiting far-off places. I also know how easy it is to visit far-off places and am so glad my family gives me the freedom to do so.

[Leah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a fun story. Although, it did have a deep message about faith and family. I liked the romance in this story, but it wasn't the main plot point. It was nice to see the relationship between Sallie and Kevin grow. My favorite thing about this story, though, was the setting. Cape May, NJ sounds beautiful.

[Eva-Joy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh.

I picked this one up because the cover intrigued me and the premise sounded interesting enough - not like the typical Lewis story. Unfortunately, it was still boring and kinda predictable and I ended up skimming through the last several dozen pages just to FINISH it. Not a good sign.

[Sarah Rhomberg]

This was a really sweet story! Although I personally did not relate to the main characters, I enjoyed reading about them. I loved the whole sibling theme – so precious! I also appreciated the way prayer was presented in this novel. All in all, a wonderful book!



Favourite Quotes (so many to choose from!):

“Following the Lord’s leading – His calling – also means learning to live without regrets. After all, if it’s the way He has directed us to go, we can trust He knows best.”

“I’m a fountain of useless knowledge.” XD

“A girl should never consider being serious about a beau [= boyfriend] till she was prepared to be single.”

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beverlys books are always a joy to read! I always look forward to her next one because I enjoy being pleasantly surprised and I was definitely surprised by this book!!! I enjoyed this book because it is somewhat different than the other Amish books that I have read.
I loved the back drop
This beautiful story is set in Cape May and that it's on the beach.
somewhere that I hope I get to go (beach) this summer.
I also like the family that is portrayed. A family that is unselfish and I thought it was cool that they asked Sally along on the trip.
For an Amish person I thought it was highly unusual to have wanderlust like Sally.
I enjoyed a trip to the beach with Sally.
I felt like I could put my feet in the sand and hear the waves crashing against the shore and maybe even Soak some in the sun.
I have to like Autumn. I love the name as well because it's so unusual. I love her outgoing energy and wish I have the energy a 9 year can have.
I feel like I'm like Autumn in many way. For one, I love to draw. (I'm not quite so good at it anymore)
I Have been an only child for many years and I think that I would have a very hard time adjusting to a sibling.
My parents were foster parents for a lot of years and yes I was very jealous of every one.
(They treated me differently)
Sallie is a pretty special lady but different. I say. different because she got to do what most Amish don't and was a nanny to Autumn and Conner.
I loved the way Sallie's family stood by her in her decision making. I am very happy that Sallie took her time in making her decision. Decisions are important!
I am glad I decided to finish this book after all!!!
I also enjoy reading the authors little notes at the end of the book. Very interesting!!!
I received a complimentary copy from from the publisher and in no way required to review this book

[Kelly Tyree · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot say enough good things about The Ebb Tide. It was so well written you felt like you were walking with Sallie throughout the entire book. I consider it a must read for all lovers of Amish/Christian fiction!

[Smutty~ Vibes · Rating 5 out of 5]

i thought this was a wonderful read i really enjoyed it i loved Sallie and her family it was fun getting to know them and not to mention just the love this family had 💕 i love Beverly Lewis her way of writing is just wonderful couldn't put the book down

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Ebb Tide is a new Amish novel by author Beverly Lewis. Sallie Riehl is just shy of twenty years old and lives with her family in Paradise Township, Pennsylvania. Sallie has yet to join the Old Order Amish community, because she has dreamed of traveling for years. Her goal is a trip to Australia, and she has finally saved up enough money. Sallie purchases her trip and announces to her family that she will be leaving in two weeks. The Riehl family receives news that Aaron, Sallie’s four years old newphew, has a heart murmurer. He needs tests and possibly surgery. Vernon, Aaron’s father and Sallie’s brother, is worried about the costs. Sallie knows what she most due and cancels her trip. The money is put towards Aaron’s tests. But when God closes a door, he opens a window. Sallie is asked to be a nanny for the summer for young Autumn Logan in Cape May, New Jersey. This will be Sallie’s chance to travel. It would mean, though, putting off her baptism instruction classes for another year (much to her mother’s dismay). Sallie’s parents agree, and she is quickly off to the seashore. Sallie takes Autumn to visit the Cape May Whale Watch and Research Center and meets intern, Kevin Kreider. Kevin is studying to be a marine biologist and is a Mennonite. Kevin and Sallie start spending time together. Sallie knows she can only be friends with Kevin, but she greatly enjoys his company. At the end of the summer, Sallie returns home. But she is not content upon her return. Sallie needs to reflect and decide what she wants for her future.

The Ebb Tide is a well-written and engaging novel. I liked the characters and the setting. Cape May sounds just beautiful. I felt that the book had a good flow and was well-paced. The religious aspect of the novel is not as light as in other Amish novels, but it is not dominant or overwhelming. We are shown how prayer, love, faith and reflection can help (benefit) a person’s life and those around them. I appreciated that the author included an epilogue that nicely wrapped up the story. I give The Ebb Tide 4 out of 5 stars. I found The Ebb Tide to be a lovely novel. It is a nice break from what is going on in the world. I did feel that it was a little too long, but, otherwise, I liked it. I look forward to reading the next Beverly Lewis novel when it releases.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Ebb Tide is the newest Amish Fiction release by Beverly Lewis. Sallie Riehl has big dreams before joining the Anish Church. She takes a job as a nanny for an English family and goes with them on vacation in Cape May, New Jersey. This is where she meets a nice young Mennonite man and love begins to blossom. But the two are from two different worlds. How will this affect the future for Sallie?
I enjoyed The Ebb Tide. I loved the beautiful setting of Cape May. Makes me want to jump in the car and go there! I admired Sallie's determination to not rush into joining the Amish church without the seeing the world first. She has hopes and dreams that she wants to fulfill first, but still had her true faith. I loved how she interacted with the children. Autumn is such a precious little girl. Then there is Kevin, I just love, love, love him and the two were so sweet together. I was a little surprised at how it all ended.
Recommended.
4 stars.