The Road Home

by Beverly Lewis

Lena Rose Schwartz hadn't planned to leave her Old Order community in Centerville, Michigan. But then, she could not have foreseen the accident that made her and her siblings orphans. After her parents' funeral, her younger brothers and sisters are farmed out to various nearby relatives. But when the deacon in charge of the arrangements tells her there aren't places enough for everyone, she agrees to go live with her father's second cousin and his family in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Beside the fact that Lena has never been more than a few miles from home, she's never met the family she will now be living with. But worse than that is the thought of being separated from her siblings. How will they manage without her to care for them--especially eight-year-old Chris? And what about Hannes Lehman, the beau she was sure would soon be asking her to marry him? It was true that he was not the man her father would have preferred for her. Maybe that was what the deacon was hinting at when he said "a fresh start might do you good."

It won't be forever, she consoles herself. I'll come back as soon as I can to take care of my family--and to make a home with Hannes. But doing so may prove far more complicated then she ever imagined.

Genres: Amish, Fiction, Christian Fiction, Amish Fiction, Christian, Historical Fiction, Romance

320 pages, Paperback

Published April 3, 2018

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

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Road Home

Beverly Lewis

Provided by Bethany House



THE ROAD HOME is a beautiful story that takes place in 1977. Lena is eighteen years old and lives with her parents and ten brothers and sisters. That is until the day the police arrive to tell her that her parents were in a tragic accident and are dead. Since her family is so large, the children are split up and Lena goes to live her Daed's cousins, Harley and Mimi. Since no one else has room for her back home, Lena reluctantly leaves to help Mimi and Harley. She doesn't want to leave, especially since she has a beau, Hans, and her youngest brother, Chris who she has practically raised since he was born. Once Lena is in Pennsylvania, she realizes how much she is needed as Mimi is very lonely since her daughter, Tessa got married and moved away. Will Lena ever find her way back to Michigan and her siblings?


While Lena is in Pennsylvania helping Mimi with her sewing business, she never stops dreaming of returning home to her brothers and sisters. All the while, she never loses hope or her faith. THE ROAD HOME finds Lena struggling with staying with Hans even though they are many miles apart and he writes less and less as time goes by. Lena also has a new friend, Arden, who is instantly taken with Lena, but Lena tells him she can only be friends with him as she has a beau back home. Will Arden accept Lena's conditions or will he wait patiently to see what happens?


THE ROAD HOME is about Lena trying to get back home to her family. My heart broke for Lena and her siblings and I kept hoping they would all be together once again. Not only did they lose their parents, but their brothers and sisters as well. Why couldn't they all just stay together in their family home? Their story is so heart tugging and filled with faith, devotion, and love that the reader can't help but cheer for this broken family. Beverly Lewis grabs hold of the reader's heart and never lets it go! She made me sad, then the next moment I was smiling and giggling out loud! You can never go wrong with a Beverly Lewis book if you are a fan of the Amish genre. THE ROAD HOME is a heart tugging story that will hold you hostage until the very last page. Once you start reading, it will be very hard to put down!

[Amy Clipston · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful story of faith and finding love after tragedy. Once you open the book you won't stop reading until you reach the last page! Fans of Amish fiction will love the authentic details of the community.

[Shirley Chapel · Rating 5 out of 5]

How I love Beverly Lewis' ability to weave together a warm hearted story that draws the reader in from the first Chapter. The Road Home did just that for me and certainly didn't disappoint this reader. I have always enjoyed her books and how real her stories seem to be. I loved the cover as I was able to imagine what Lena Rose and little Chris looked like as I read the story. I could see the love on Lena's face as she made sure that little Chris was ready for his first day of school.
As the story begins shocking news comes to Lena Rose and her sister Emma. Both of their parents had been killed instantly in an accident. This left 10 children orphans . Lena Rose being the oldest at 18. Her Aunt and Uncle thought Lena was too young to keep the family together. It was impossible to find a home for all ten kids where they could live together. The family had to be split up in different homes with Lena Rose moving to Lancaster County Pennsylvania to live with her aunt and uncle whom she'd never met.
Lena worries about her siblings and especially little Chris who has taken his parents death and the separation from her and his brothers and sisters the hardest of them all. She believes something will open up for her back home in Centreville Michigan in a few months so she can return there to be close to her family. But time passes and she begins to wonder if she will ever get back home again. It's not that her Aunt and Uncle haven't made her feel welcome . Everyone in Lancaster County has been so very kind , but oh how Lena Rose misses her sisters and brothers.
The shock of her parents death and then the separation from her family and having to move away to a new and unfamiliar community has been the hardest thing Lena Rose has every had to face in her 18 years. Will she ever get to go back home ? Why does it seem that God doesn't hear her prayers ? She left behind a beau in Michigan . Will her beau wait for her to return.
Fans of Beverly Lewis will not want to miss reading this book. All readers of Amish Fiction will enjoy the story. I personally feel that it is one of her better books. I highly recommend it.
I was fortunate enough to win a signed copy of The Road Home from the author who did an interview on Amish Wisdom . I was not asked to do a review but because I enjoyed this book I was more than happy to do so. I have been honest here with my opinion of the story.

[Lindsey (Books for Christian Girls) · Rating 3 out of 5]

About this book:

“As the sun began to rise, Lena Rose leaned against the cool pane of the bus window and gazed out at the familiar landscape of her life. I'm leaving my family and everything I know behind. She sighed, trying to keep her composure.
Grieving the death of her Amish parents and the separation from her nine close-knit siblings, Lena Rose Schwartz consoles herself that her new life in Lancaster County won't be forever. Surely someday soon she will return to her beloved Michigan settlement, including her beau. But even as she holds on to hope for a reunion with those she loves most, she discovers that Lancaster holds charms of its own. Will she find the courage to open her heart to other possibilities?”


Series: As of now, no. (I’m also pretty sure it’s not connected to any other books.)


Spiritual Content- Scriptures are mentioned, quoted, read, & remembered; Prayers; Talks about God; ‘H’s are capital when referring to God; Many mentions of God & God’s will; Many mentions of prayers, praying, blessings over food, & thanking God; Mentions of Bibles, Bible reading, & devotionals; Mentions of churches, church going, services, youth activities, & ministers; Mentions of Amish beliefs & values; Mentions of Christmas, Nativity plays, & hymns; Mentions of blessings & being blessed; A couple mentions of those in the Bible; A couple mentions of a prayer list; A couple mentions of godsends; A mention of sins;.


Negative Content- Minor cussing including: a form of ‘dumb’; A bit of eye rolling; Mentions of a car accident & deaths; Mentions of drinking, an alcoholic, & wine; Mentions of hunting & shooting/killing animals (barely-above-not-detailed); A few mentions of gossip & rumors; A couple mentions of blood/bleeding; A couple mentions of jail & jail time; A couple mentions of an animal part in a food (that wasn’t supposed to be there).


Sexual Content- A (married couple) cheek kiss, two cheek kisses, and a barely-above-not-detailed kiss; Touches, Embraces, Hand Holding, & Flutters; A bit of Noticing; Mentions of winks; A couple mentions of a kiss & kissing; Light love, falling in love, & the emotions.

-Lena Rose Schwartz, age 18-19
P.O.V. switches between Len & Harley (Prologue & Epilogue in Lena’s 1st POV)
Set in 1977
316 pages

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Pre Teens- One Star
New Teens- Two Stars
Early High School Teens- Three Stars
Older High School Teens- Three Stars
My personal Rating- Three Stars
{ Content was very clean, so those interested in the plot can add a star. }
I didn’t know too much about this book when I first started reading it. However, I knew that as a Beverly Lewis book it would be clean, have some good Spiritual Content, and sweet moments.
I was right on all three points. ;)
I do have to add that I did struggle with reading this one because of three reasons: 1.) The beginning and middle was so sad. 2.) I wasn’t sure why in the world we see Harley’s (a middle-age cousin of Lena’s) POV. After finishing the book, I’m still not sure. And 3.) There were some details and conversations that add nothing to the story. While I liked that the romance was very light overall, I did wonder where their chaperones were at times.
It was a nice read, but, personally, I don’t think it’s Miss Beverly’s best one.


Link to review:
https://booksforchristiangirls.blogsp...


*BFCG may (Read the review to see) recommend this book by this author. It does not mean I recommend all the books by this author.
*I received this book for free from the Publisher (Bethany House) for this honest review.

[Christina DeVane · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 🌟 I typically enjoy Lewis’ writing as a break from heavier topics as her storylines are always straightforward with happy endings. This one seemed slower than others, but it may have been because I’ve read many captivating books lately. However, it was enjoyable for an easy read and I enjoyed the old couple getting together more than anything!😆

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Road Home by Beverly Lewis takes us back to August of 1977. Lena Rose Schwartz is eighteen years old and has been courting Hans Bontrager for two months. She lives with her parents and ten siblings in Centreville, Michigan on their farm. Lena is surprised when two police officers arrive in the afternoon to tell her that parents died in an accident on their way home. There is no one relative or nearby family that can take in all of the children, and they are not allowed to stay in their home. Homes are found for everyone except Lena. Harley and Mimi Stolzfus, her father’s second cousin, writes that they can use Lena’s assistance. Lena has never been away from hometown and she has raised her youngest brother, Chris since he was born. It also means leaving her beau, Hans. Lena helps her siblings settle into their new homes and then departs for Leacock Township, Pennsylvania with the hopes that the move is temporary. Mimi and Harley are welcoming to Lena. Mimi has been lonely since their daughter, Tessa married and moved away after a quick courtship. Lena misses her family back home, but her new home has its own enticements. Which path is the right one for one for Lena? She will need to have faith and wait to see what the Lord has in store for her.

The Road Home contains good writing and lovely characters. Beverly Lewis is a descriptive writer. Her word imagery helps me to visualize the scenes and characters. There are good messages in the story. The importance of family, friendship and community for example. My favorite being that we must have faith in God and wait for him to reveal the path he has planned for our life (being patient can be difficult). Lena not only has to grieve for her parents but deal with leaving her siblings and the only home she has known. She then relocates to another state with people she has never met. When Lena is presented with a difficult choice, she must decide what to do (I do not want to say too much and spoil it for you). The Christian elements were nicely incorporated into the story (faith, prayer, God knows what is in your heart, trust in God, God’s will). I especially appreciate the message about using the talents/gifts God has given us to help others. The pace of the book was slow in places (those scenes would take me out of the story) and there is some repetitiveness (could have used editing to tighten up the story). The Road Home has an uplifting ending that put a smile on my face. I am giving The Road Home 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it).

[Cathy Cermele · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my all time favorite book by Beverly Lewis! From start to finish, this book had my undivided attention. I didn’t answer the phone or allow any outside interference to interrupt my time with Lena Rose Schwartz.

The story is as beautifully written as I’ve come to expect from the author, but more importantly, the characters had heart, making them seem so real to me. My heart broke for Lena Rose as she had to say goodbye to her younger siblings after their parents died in an accident. They were a large family and there was not any one family that could accommodate all of the children, so they all must go to families that can care for them.

Lena Rose is sent far away from her brothers and sisters, grandparents and community to Lancaster County, Pa. She also leaves behind the young man who she’s planning to marry. What I loved about Lena Rose was her ability to fit in with her new community and helping her aunt and uncle that so kindly provided her with a home. It was always her plan to return to Michigan, which helped ease her homesickness.

As she became more engaged with the youth and started attending singings’, various gatherings and church, she becomes more attached to the community and her new friends. I was so excited when she finally had the opportunity to go home, even though I was just as conflicted as she was when it was time to leave. I loved that this isn’t necessarily all about romantic entanglements, although there are a couple of those, but it’s more about family and home. I respected that Lena Rose kept her promise to stay in touch with her siblings, while honoring her commitments to her new-found family, friends and having faith that it would all work out in the end.

I teared up a few times while reading this, but I was smiling at the glorious ending.

I received a copy through Netgalley and have given my honest opinion.

[Becky Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes location is a big draw for a book. I will read anything Beverly Lewis writes, but I was tickled pink to see that the novel starts out in Centerville, MI!! This is a place not far from me, and I looked for nuggets of familiarity. I was happy to see that the covered bridge, unusual for this area, merits a mention.

I was also happy to see the inclusion of the “Blizzard of ‘78.” Possibly mistimed to fit the story, the blizzard is infamous around these parts for its ferocity and unusual intensity, even here in Michigan.

Lewis has a warm, welcoming writing style that pulls the reader into the story and makes her/him feel part of the family or community described.

It can be easy to adapt the attitudes of those around you. Indeed, immersed in the world of Lena and her family, I first felt love; then heart-wrenching sadness; a strong yearning for loved ones, and desperation borne of that love.

I loved the way that Lena decides, miserable as she is, to “bloom where she is planted.” She has such a positive effect on others around her, even though her heart is breaking inside.

In her own gentle way, Lewis weaves her faith message seamlessly throughout the book. It never seems forced, only natural, presented in small, tasteful bites.
...”Lena wondered if she ought to pray about something so minor. Cousin Mimi likely would. She talks to God about practically everything...”

If you like Christian Amish stories recounted by one of the best, pick up your own copy of Beverly Lewis’s The Road Home. I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and NetGalley. This in no way affected my opinions,given voluntarily, for which I am entirely responsible. Also, I am not related to the author.

[Alicia Ruggieri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Despite the sober circumstances spoken of on the back cover, The Road Home felt like one of Lewis’ “lighter” novels – easy and quick to read, with generally likeable characters, not a lot of strong conflict, few true quandaries. Overall, I enjoyed the sweetness of the story, especially Lena Rose’s subtly-depicted journey of spiritual growth as well as seeing the realistic, yet loving relationship she has with her siblings. I will admit that I wished for more true tension; though the description hints at this, in my opinion, Lena Rose never deeply struggles over whether she will return to Michigan or stay in Pennsylvania, only over why God has not provided a way for her to get home. As a result, the ending of the book wasn’t quite as satisfying to me as some of Beverly Lewis’ other novels (such as The Ebb Tide), though it was still a very enjoyable read.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another win win book from Beverly Lewis!! I so enjoy her books!!
Beverly Lewis is my all time favorite author. She almost never disappoints
Her characters are easy to make friends and connect with them.
Her books leave me content and happy.
I love Lena Rose! She's so brave!!
I could not imagine having such a big family!! I'd love to have brothers and sisters but sadly I was disappointed in that area.
My dad came from a family of 8 children. So, I have lots of cousins.

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

I found this very enjoyable. I related to Lena who lost her parents, had to relocate, hoped and prayed for a job close to her siblings. It was inspirational, lots of scripture and Lena did a lot for others, teaching, reading and cleaning. She loses her boyfriend in her hometown but finds another better beau in Arden. Romance was interesting, and all the characters were well drawn.

[RebekahAshleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Road Home" is such a lovely book! Beverly Lewis is my favorite author and I usually love all of her books. This one was no exception! I just loved the characters, and the story was great. It was pretty sad at first, but it ended up being a really great, sweet book.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved this book and like the author
I won this book

[Tiffany Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Following the tragic and sudden death of her parents, there isn’t anyone in the community or their close by family that’s capable of taking in Lena Rose Schwartz and her nine siblings. There are enough family members and other homes in their small Amish community in Michigan for all of the Schwartz children, except for Lena Rose. One of her father’s cousins offers to give her a home, so she winds up moving all the way to Lancaster, Pennsylvania. This is a scary prospect, as Lena Rose has never been so far away from home and her family before, or even met the relatives that she’s going to be living with. So, now she finds herself not only grieving her beloved parents but also her separation from her brothers and sisters, and the community that is her home. She’s always helped to take care of all of her brothers and sisters, but most especially, her youngest brother, six year old Chris. She doesn’t know how they’ll all manage in the face of the loss if their parents and the separation from each other. And, will she and her new beau, Hans Bontrager, manage to continue their relationship , with so many miles between them, until she finds a way to come home? Even while Lena Rose holds tight to her desires to move back home, she learns that her new community in Lancaster holds charms of its own, and that there are many wonderful people there, too. Will Lena Rose be willing to open her heart to new possibilities?

I’ve loved reading Beverly Lewis’s books for many years, now, and The Road Home was no exception. Once again Beverly has written a sweet story with characters that you can’t help but love and themes that really teach you more about God’s love. One of the main themes in this one was learning to trust in God’s plans for us, even when things aren’t going the way that we would want them to, even when things seem hopeless and we don’t understand why we’re going through our current circumstances. Often, we want to take charge and make things happen the way we want, but we need to put our lives and situations in God’s hands, trusting that when He says that “all things work together for good to them that love God”, He actually means ALL things. I know that’s something I struggle with. I want things to happen my way and want to make them do so. But, it’s when I let go of the reins and relinquish that desire for control, that God brings about fat better than anything that I could have planned for myself. And, the path that He’s used to get me there has helped me to grow in ways that I could have never imagined. And, this sweet story illustrates this perfectly. I really adore everything about this story, especially the sweet, wonderful people we meet. I truly hope that Beverly writes more stories with these same characters.

I’d like to thank Beverly Lewis, Bethany House Publishers, and Netgalley for providing me with an electronic copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review. I understand that this in no way obligates me to leave a positive review.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

THE ROAD HOME is the most recent in a long line of best selling Beverly Lewis novels. I've read all of her books to date, and like most fans of Amish fiction, hers was the first I read.



THE ROAD HOME is written mostly in Lena Rose's point of view with a few in other male points of view, such as her dad's cousin Harley, or an uncle. None of the points of views are from the hero, though this is more women's fiction than a true romance. Lena Rose's journey home is the focus. The romantic relationship is not necessary for the story line but it is tacked in there to satisfy readers who want a romantic angle. And I have to admit I did find myself skipping ahead to find mentions of said hero and read about their romance.



For those who like it sweet, there is no sexual tension so it should satisfy the most conservative of readers. And there is a lot of Amish information set in both Centreville, MI (which is near Indiana) and in Lancaster County. Ms. Lewis does mention the difference in dress styles, kapp styles and dialects so she did her research. It isn't dwelled on though.



If you are a huge fan of Amish fiction and Beverly Lewis or Wanda Brunstetter you will want to read THE ROAD HOME.



This book is a LOT more telling than showing, but the story does get through and despite the wall between the character and the reader I did grow to care of Lena Rose by the end of the book.



I was given a copy free. All opinions are my own.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I used to read a lot of books by Beverly Lewis…they are what I think of as comfort reads. The characters are usually kind and peaceful and provide a nice escape from the stressful “Englisch” world that we live in.

I enjoyed this story but found it to be a bit dull. There wasn’t a lot to the plot and I found the pacing to be slow. The characters were sweet, especially Lena, and I really felt for her with the difficult situation she found herself in. The scenes of Amish life were fun (another part of Lewis’s books that I enjoy), but I would have enjoyed more of them. I also loved the descriptions of yummy food that are always found in these books.

Overall, this was not my favorite of Beverly’s books but it did remind me why I enjoyed reading them…I really enjoy visiting the Amish community every once in a while.

My Rating: 2.5 stars
I received this book from the publisher to review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Sarah Rhomberg]

Unlike most of her books, “The Road Home” does not have an extremely complex, interwinding plot, but rather a simple one. Despite this, I still really liked it! If I had to use one word to describe the entire novel, it would probably be “sweet” or “heart-warming”. All the characters seem so real and they are kind to each other, which makes it even more difficult to see them suffer. Lena Rose Schwartz, the main character, is someone I can relate to. (And don’t we all love finding characters we can relate to?)

The author starts the novel with the epigraph “Pray, and let God worry.” – Martin Luther. This speaks for the theme in the entire book. Lena finds herself worrying again and again about various things, from her siblings to the weather, and she must learn to pray about every worry that fills her mind, instead of nourishing it.

Although this is not one of my favourites by this author, it was most definitely a lovely read!


My favourite quotes:

“Do what you believe you‘re s’posed to do. What God as put in your heart.”

“We sew and fret, an’ then when we finally throw up our hands, the Good Lord provides.”

“Those stars are like jewels, ain’t so?” Vera asked, still transfixed by the glittering sky. “They’re pretty, but I’d say people are the real gems,” Lydia said, giving Vera a quick little hug.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lena is the oldest Amish girl of 10 children and very close to her youngest brother when her parents are killed. The children are split up and Lena has to go hours away to live with another family to find work. Her boyfriend breaks up wih her long distance and she keeps wanting to go home. As she works through being away she learns a lot about life and helping others.

[Janet · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imagine being the oldest of nine children and losing your parents in a tragic accident. You are grown, but single, with no outside means of support. Imagine that the best, the ONLY, solution for the family is to spread out the younger children among local families and you go states away to stay and work with family you don't know. Separating your close knit family, leaving behind the siblings you feel responsible for, you helped raise. Leaving the only home you've ever known in a state you have never left. Separating your family, separating your past, separating your boyfriend, possibly even separating your future. It's not forever everyone says. It's going to help your relatives out east every one says. But can it really help your heart? Can it really benefit your family? There seems no other options but it doesn't feel beneficial at all. That is were we find Lena at the beginning of 'The Road Home'. Leaving everything she knows, and loves, and just looking for the path that will, hopefully, bring her right back home.

I have yet to meet a Beverly Lewis book I didn't enjoy. For the sake of full disclosure I haven't read them all, yet, but she is just an amazing story teller. She gives me characters that live and breath and sets a scene I want to visit. Again, for full disclosure, Lena got on my nerves just a tidbit. I mean, yes, I should be patient with her as she did just lost literally everything in her life. Her parents are gone, her siblings separated, her home sold, and she's living states away with family she'd never met but that her dat had spoken so highly of. She lost so much and she struggled to grieve through that. I mean, she kept a mostly upbeat outlook of hope blanketed in faith. I think her struggle was with missing home while still finding herself comfortable in her new environment. She went from not wanting to mingle with the locals her age as she was going home to her family and Hans, the man she was courting with, to finding herself falling into something more than a friendship with a local man without truly revealing her status. She wasn't purposely obtuse or even deceptive but she was such a contrast between her thoughts and her actual interactions.

The thing is, if none of the first things had happened then none of the good could have come either. Going from Michigan to Lancaster County not only helped to heal her heart, it helped to heal the heart of Arden and Mimi. Her going to Lancaster helped to heal not only Leah's family but also Mimi and Harley's family. It was easy to forget that this book was set at a different time, the 1970s when Amish schools were only starting to become a thing and Amish children went to public school. When communication was so very much different than it is today, the mention of long distance charges for a phone call are almost ancient history now. However, the similarities between then and now are what lead this book forward. The idea that you can't go 'home' again. you can return to where you came but it has changed and you have changed. What you left has grown as you have grown. And more often than not the Road Home doesn't look anything like you thought it would when you left.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Bethany House. I was not compensated for this review and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. I was not required to write a positive review.

Originally posted at https://fizzypopcollection.com/the-ro....

[Kav · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's something about a Beverly Lewis book that screams hearth and home and family. I'm a content, happy reader for having shared a year in Lena Rose's life. Out of tragedy comes blessings, though it's hard to see them right from the start and my heart ached for the Schwartz siblings as they are divvied up among the community - all except for Lena Rose who is sent east to help cousins she barely knows.

But there's a gentle and open way about Lena that touches everyone she meets. Despite her own sorrows and worry, she's a keen observer of human nature and it isn't long before she has worked some magic among her new friends in Lancaster County. But that doesn't mean her longing for family and the familiar Amish community back in Michigan has grown any less.

With s a beau back home and an interesting fella in Lancaster County, it takes a lot of thought and prayer to figure out which road really leads home.

Book provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications.

[Annette Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes in life, circumstances come about that we don't expect. this was definitely true for Lena Rose, the main character in this novel. when this happens, it's very important that we trust in the Lord's plan for us, taking the next step, and then the next, as He guides us in His perfect path for our lives. It's not always easy and we're often tempted to fret and worry about the next step or about something we desperately desire to happen, but if we would trust in His perfect plan and follow His gentle guidance, He'll make the path straight before us. this is what I got from reading this beautiful and sweet story. I loved it so much, and I'm sure I'll read it again and again!

[Jennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

At the beginning of the book, Lena's parents are killed in a car accident leaving Lena and 9 other children without parents. Lena is the oldest, but the bishop decides she isn't old enough to look after everyone so the family is separated sending the children to different homes. Lena is sent to Pennsylvania to live with relatives and help with sewing. Many letters are exchanged over the time Lena is far from home. All she wants is to be able to go home and be near her brothers and sisters. Happy ending.

[Connie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have read and enjoyed all of Beverly Lewis’s books, but this one I just couldn’t get into. To me, it just didn’t have the same feeling as her previous ones have. I’ll continue to read her books, but this one I didn’t like.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beverly Lewis's Amish novels move along slowly, at about the pace of an Amish courting buggy on a warm, bright, moonlit night. They are not suspenseful, nor are they action packed. Instead, they reveal the growth of characters slowly, like a rosebud opening into a lovely flower.

Lena Rose and her siblings are shocked when they learn of the death of their parents in an accident. Being the oldest, Lena Rose has always been her mother's helper with the children, especially helping to raise the youngest, Chris. But with their parents gone, such a large family must be split up among relatives, since no one family can care for such a large brood. She tries unsuccessfully to find a job and care for her brothers and sisters at home, but nothing is available. So she has to move several states away to live with an uncle and aunt she barely remembers, leaving her siblings behind with various relatives.

Although it takes a while, Lena Rose begins to settle in to her uncle's household and become friends with the local Amish. But she always feels the call of home and can't wait until a job becomes available and she can be back with her family. When she finally gives up and surrenders her future to God, things work out in a way she could never have imagined.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Road Home is Beverly Lewis‘s latest Amish novel. Lena’s story starts off sad and tragic. I could never imagine what she has gone through with so much loss. She has to make so many difficult choices and learn how to live a new way of life. I was rooting for her happiness throughput. The story was slow at times but not enough to put the book down. I just had to know where Lena was going to next.

I liked The Road Home and I give it four stars. I recommend this book for those who love clean, inspiring, Amish books.

I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.

[Marilyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

My heart went out to Lena Rose who was sent to Lancaster County to live with cousins she didn’t know after the lost of her parents. Lena Rose wanted to remain in Michigan to care for her 9 younger siblings. Lena was a caring individual and gave a lot to the people in Leacock Township, PA, just as she had done for her family. Finally after disappointments she was offered a position to be able to return to her home in Centreville, MI. The hero in this story was like a secondary character. I was able to put this book down as it didn’t grab my attention like other books by Lewis.

[Suzanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh, dearest Beverly. I have been a long-time fan of her, but I do feel as though she has declined a little bit in her storytelling in recent years. Kind of as though she is wandering and has lost her way in the stories she wants to tell. So this was overall enjoyable for what it was, but it was somewhat predictable and easy to recognize what the overall story and feel of the book was going to be.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet story of young Amish women who has to move in with relatives after the tragic death of her parents. She is separated from her 9 siblings. Although grieving herself, she touches the lives of others around her in a positive way. The story has faith filled characters that place their trust in God.

[Debra Allender · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Road Home by Beverly Lewis

I highly recommend this book to everyone. Loss and love are two huge parts of the storyline.
Getting to know Lena Rose, her 9 siblings and everyone else her life touched was pure pleasure.
Everyone in the novel trusted their lives to The Lord. It was touching and inspirational.

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was exactly what I needed to read right now. Sweet characters with an uplifting ending. Great read!