Syn siodlarza

The Amish of Bee County #3

by Kelly Irvin, Xenia Wiśniewska (Translator)

Po bestsellerach Syn pszczelarza i Syn biskupa czas na kolejną historię z malowniczej wioski amiszów!

Rebeka Lantz czuje się jak w więzieniu na skutek okoliczności, którym nie jest winna. Tobias jest pogrążony w żalu.

Czy dwoje małych uciekinierów z drugiego krańca świata nauczy ich, jak uzdrawiającą moc ma rodzina?

Rebeka nie jest podobna do siostry, która porzuciła wiarę amiszów, ale czujny wzrok rodziny i małej, zżytej społeczności sprawia, że czuje się oceniana i gorsza. Mężczyźni jej unikają, kobiety szepczą za jej plecami. A ona tylko pragnie takiej samej szansy na zostanie żoną i matką, jaką mają jej przyjaciółki.

Tobias Byler chce uciec przed uczuciem do kobiety, do której nigdy nie powinien był się zbliżyć. Przeniesienie rodziny do odludnego Bee County w stanie Teksas wydaje się najlepszym sposobem na zerwanie z dawnymi błędami. Jednak nawet przeprowadzka na drugi koniec kraju nie potrafi wymazać przeszłości, która towarzyszy każdej jego myśli.

Niespodziewane spotkanie z dwojgiem na wpół zagłodzonych dzieci zmusza Rebekę i Tobiasa do wspólnego działania, aby pomóc siostrze i bratu, którzy pokonali tysiące kilometrów w poszukiwaniu życia w spokoju i radości.

Rebeka i Tobias odkrywają, że klucz do zapomnienia przeszłości to jednocześnie klucz, który otworzy drzwi miłości i przyszłości, jakiej oboje pragną.

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

424 pages, Paperback

First published June 14, 2016

About the author

Best-selling author Kelly Irvin splits her writing time between Amish romances and romantic suspense. Her latest release is Trust Me (2/8/22), a romantic suspense novel set in San Antonio's historic art district. It explores broken trust and whether trust can ever be restored. Publishers Weekly called it a "whirlwind romantic thriller" and "an emotional rollercoaster."

Her latest Amish romance is Love's Dwelling, the first book in the Amish Blessings series, which released in July 2021. The series takes place in Yoder and Haven, Kansas, and looks at adoption among the Amish. The series follows her Amish romance series, Amish of Sky Country includes Mountains of Grace, followed by The Long Bridge Home, and Peace in the Valley. The series explores Amish communities in northwest Montana and how they are impacted by wildfires.

Other romantic suspense novels include Her Every Move, which Publishers Weekly called gripping suspense and said, "loving descriptions of San Antonio’s attractions enhance the well-paced plot."

The publication called Closer Than She Knows a "brisk, smoothly written, thriller."

Kelly's Every Amish Season series includes Upon A Spring Breeze, Beneath the Summer Sun, Through the Autumn Air, and With Winter's First Frost from Zondervan/HarperCollins Christian Publishing. This follows the Amish of Bee County series, The Saddle Maker's Son, released in June 2016. It is an ECPA bestseller. It follows The Bishop's Son, and the critically acclaimed bestseller, The Beekeeper's Son, which earned a starred review from Publishers Weekly. The reviewer called it "a beautifully woven masterpiece." The Beekeeper's Son was a finalist in the romance category of the 2016 ACFW Carol Awards Contest.

Kelly is also the author of the Bliss Creek Amish series and the New Amish Amish series. The first series includes To Love and To Cherish, A Heart Made New, and Love’s Journey Home, published by Harvest House. The New Hope Amish series includes Love Still Stands, followed by Love Redeemed, which was an ACFW Carol Award finalist, and A Plain Love Song.

Kelly has also penned two other romantic suspense novels, A Deadly Wilderness and No Child of Mine..

The Kansas native is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and ACFW's San Antonio local chapter Alamo City Christian Fiction Writers.

A graduate of the University of Kansas William Allen White School of Journalism, Kelly has been writing nonfiction professionally for thirty years. She studied for three semesters at the University of Costa Rica, learning the Spanish language. As a journalist, she worked six years in the border towns of Laredo and El Paso.

She worked in public relations for the San Antonio Parks and Recreation Department for 22 years before retiring earlier this year. Kelly has been married to photographer Tim Irvin for twenty-eight years. They have two young adult children and have three grandchildren. In her spare time, she likes to write short stories, read books by her favorite authors, and looks forward to visits with her grandchildren.

Reviews

[✶Rachelle✶]

EDIT 5/10/17

Putting this one aside for now for various triggers that are not sitting well with me. Yes, it is on my DNF shelf, but I'm not 100% sure I'm going to DNF this yet.

-------------

Switching things up with another Amish romance.

Yes I feel your judgy eyes.

No I really don't care.

<3

[Leah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story was okay. I thought it was slow. The romances were sweet with happy endings, except for David's. I was hoping for a different outcome there. That was the storyline that I was most interested in, but it was only a minor part of the overall story.

[Jeanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Children gives us a hope for the future. They give us responsibility and a stake in what happens in this world. We can never stop fighting for them.

I love when an author of the Amish prose puts English and the Amish together. It brings a tension that is believable and also one a reader can reflect on.

Two Amish families come together in the great state of Texas. Tobias Byler's family has moved from Ohio along with his father and brothers and sisters. A family that has suffered great loss of a mother six years ago. The two eldest, Tobias and his sister Margaret, have taken the responsibility of helping their father raise the other children. The move from Ohio to Texas however, was not because of his mother's death but for a new start for Tobias. Tobias had fallen for an English woman and instead of choosing her, he chose his faith. The Byler's with their skills of horses and saddle making, make the trip for a new start in their business and to heal.

Tobias taking his brothers and sisters to their new community's school meets Rebekah Lantz, a teachers aide who is healing from the hurt of her sister who has gone English to start a church with her husband. A chemistry between Tobias and Rebekah occur but it takes two small children running away from Mexico to find their father to bring healing for all.

I loved how the story of two Amish families come together because of two small children who are illegal immigrants. Running from violence, their grandmother sends them to Texas on their own to find their father. Tobias and Rebekah dealing with other circumstances put their faith in God and his sovereign care when they put down their own walls to help the most vulnerable. It brings to light the plight of the border and the victims of families that we do not hear. It puts a face to a very real crisis and why as Christians we need to be advocates for these children.

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

[Maureen Timerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another great visit in the Amish Bee County, and back with some dear friends, and family. This story brings a new family into the community, and they quickly become active members, especially when some lost little souls come through.
These read brings a few new romances, some you will be surprised by, and others are just so sweet and seem so destined. Add to the mix another romance with an Englisher, the reason why the Byler’s moved her, and then some tragedy.
Will these loving people be able to put away their differences and help two young Columbia alien children, they are running and so afraid, and yet hoping to find their father. We also find one of their own that has left the fold, coming to the aid of these little ones.
I found my heart breaking when Rebecca’s sister stops by with her daughter, I can’t imagine not having my family in my life. This story does allow some healing, but the things that happen here, are going to make this book a page turner, and linger with you a long time after the final page is turned.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Zondervan, and was not required to give a positive review.

[Cheryl Baranski · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Saddle Maker's Son by Kelly Irvin is book three in The Amish of Bee County series. This is book takes you on an emotional roller coaster ride. This is a book that is full of love, faith, devotion, heartache and pain. Be sure to order your copy of The Saddle Maker's Son today. 5 stars. I received a copy of this book for my honest review.

[Lori Oliver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a fun read! Not as many subplots as the second book in the Bee County trilogy, which I’m thankful for lol, and such a good ending — predictable, but so sweet and fun

[Kav · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to say that one of the things I love about this Amish Bee County series is the setting. This drought-stricken Texas community gives a totally different spin to the typical Amish novel. There's something so elemental about the barren countryside and how it dictates the kind of life the Amish live. This little community is struggling to survive and that means they must turn to different occupations in order to provide for their families. Unfortunately that requires more interaction with Englischers which brings its own kind of threat.

Life is a balancing act for Rebekah who finds herself living in the shadow of her sister's transgression. She's smart and tenacious and a bit of a free thinker which can get her in trouble since she's not shy about speaking her mind. Tobias arrives in Texas looking forward to a new start. The last thing he needs in his life is an opinionated woman who doesn't know when to keep her mouth closed. :-) Angst and mayhem ensue -- much to this reader's delight.

Irvin reaches deep to deliver a thought-provoking and inspiring story. I don't want to give specifics because there are elements that a reader should discover as the story unfolds. But I will say that this book challenges the characters and the reader to ask themselves this one question: "What would Jesus have me do?" And then it's just a matter of doing the next right thing and trusting the Lord to see you through. My faith soared with a renewed conviction after reading The Saddle Maker's Son.

And the topical subject matter makes this a great book club selection. There's tons to discuss and celebrate about this novel.

A captivating page-turner that will keep you thinking long after you've closed the book. That's the best kind of read, isn't it? The kind that inspires you to reach higher and draw closer to the Lord.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have enjoyed the entire Amish of Bee County series. The Saddle Maker’s Son is book three, plus there are also a couple of related novellas. Each one has been SO good! If you have not read the other books, I definitely recommend them. But, if you pick up The Saddle Maker’s Son without reading the other books, I think you will still be able to enjoy it as a stand alone. For me, each book has been a wonderful experience of returning to this unique community and seeing what is going on with each family.

This novel covers so many different topics, such as immigration, grief, the woman’s place in the Amish community, forgiveness, and so much more. Sometimes it was hard to see Rebekah struggle with following the leading of the men in the community. However, the author handled it well, as she did with the other topics in the book, too.

I loved the romances that filled this story. Both of the couples were equally enjoyable to read about and it was so good to see love flourish between these characters. I really enjoy stories with epilogues and The Saddle Maker’s Son had a great one that really made me smile. I loved this book from start to finish.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

You can read this review on my blog at:
https://brittreadsfiction.wordpress.c...

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

BACK OF THE BOOK BLURB
Rebekah isn't like her sister who left the Amish faith, but the watchful gaze of her family and small, close knit Amish community makes her feel as if she's been judged and found lacking. The men avoid her and the women whisper behind her back. She simply longs for the same chance to be a wife and mother that her friends have.

Tobias Byler only wants to escape feelings for a woman he knows he should never have allowed to get close to him. Moving with his family to isolated Bee County, Texas, seemed the best way to leave his mistakes behind. But even a move across the country can't erase the past that accompanies his every thought.

A surprise encounter with two half-starved runaway children forces Rebekah and Tobias to turn to each other to help a sister and brother who have traveled thousands of miles in search of lives of unfettered peace and joy.

In doing so, Rebekah and Tobias discover the key to forgetting the past is the one that will open the door to love and the future they both seek.

MY REVIEW
This story is quite different, I think anyway, than most Amish books as it involves lost illegal immigrant children who were sent by their grandmother to find their father. It was a moving book and shows how far the Amish will go to be helpful for 'anyone'. This has been a good series, it is better to read the three books in order, so enjoy!

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Saddle Maker's Son is the third installment from The Amish of Bee County series. I enjoyed this series and this book is no exception. The story is unique and I liked it.
4 stars.

[Paula-O]

The Saddlemaker's son by Kelly Irvin

this is the 3rd book in a series -tales of three daughters,
One daughter left the community with her beau to marry and become Mennonites.
Rebekah comes from a large family and she has many chores when her Mam dies in childbirth and she must step in to help. She is beginning to think , she will never have a beau or get married, there is not enough time in the days.

Tobias Byler is a new man to the community and when he meets Rebekah and sees how hard she works and her work in the community ,he knows she is one to get to know more about.

A brother and sister runaways fill out the story as Tobias and Rebekah help them when they learn they are trying to find their father, sent to this country by their grandmother.

[Katherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have been wanting to try out an Amish book for a while now, and the summary for The Saddle Maker's Son was too intriguing for me to pass up (plus it can easily be read as a standalone even though it is the third in a series). This was the book I wanted to introduce me to the genre of Amish fiction. Unfortunately, after reading, I don't think this is the kind of book for me, and I probably will not be reading any more Amish fiction.

I have only a general knowledge of the Amish community, so this book was an eye opener in terms of how the community actually works on a daily basis. While I enjoyed seeing how the children are taught and how money is made collectively by selling to Englischers , the way the women were treated as completely submissive to the men really grated on me. At one point, after the two children have been discovered and the men have gathered to discuss what will be done with them, one of the newcomers continually expresses surprise at the fact that one of the women- Susan- is so concerned with them, even though she has no children of her own. She's a school teacher! And he says it nearly six times- as if the only reason a woman would show any maternal instinct is because she has kids of her own! I don't want kids at all, but even I would be concerned over a pair of lost children. Also, apparently everyone outside of the Amish community is viewed as a threat, morally and romantically. I wanted to see just a little positivity instead of the constant skepticism, especially with the way Bonnie's character was brought in for drama.

I was hoping the plot would focus mostly on the children and their plight, but there are four romances being stirred at the same time, as well as some drama caused by a sister who left the community in a previous book. I didn't really feel the connection for any of the characters and their romantic partners, and in regards to Susan and Rebekah, I felt the author was trying too hard to show that the women were interested. Constant blushing and being overbearing about the one they like. I wasn't really feeling it. There was no romantic development and everything happened really fast, especially for an Amish couple. It might just be the author's style that had me feeling so disconnected. Her writing structure is a bit rigid for my taste, and there is often more telling using short simple sentences than showing.

The best parts of this book came from Diego and Lupe, as well as the customs of the community. I liked seeing the kids interact together and the language lessons. I also liked seeing how the community worked; every time there was a gathering I found myself feeling more immersed in what was happening. The strength is in the love that flows through the members for each other and for the runaways they find themselves looking after. All in all, this wasn't a bad book. I just didn't feel that in tune with it. It wasn't that exciting.

2.5 stars. I wanted to round up, but I can't.

[Zołza_czyta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Do "Syna siodlarza" zebrałam się bardzo szybko po zakończeniu drugiego tomu. Byłam ciekawa jak na Rebeke wpłynie odejście Leili ze wspólnoty amiszów.

Rebeka Lantz jest trzecią z sióstr, której lost opisuje Kelly Irvin. Po odejściu Leili ze wspólnoty dziewczyna jest na cenzurowanym. Jej rodzina okryta jest hańbą. To może znacznie utrudnić dziewczynie znalezienie męża. Wszyscy będą myśleć, że postąpi jak starsza siostra - nawet matka, która nie chce spuścić córki z oka. Rebeka czuje, że jest w klatce. Tobias z kolei wraz z ojcem i licznym rodzeństwem przenosi się do Teksasu, jednak to nie jest zwykła przeprowadzka. Tobias chce uciec od uczucia, którym darzy kobietę, której nigdy nie powinien obdarzyć niczym więcej jak przelotnym spojrzeniem. Rebeka i Tobias wspólnie postanawiają działać dla dobra dwójki, małych uciekinierów z drugiego końca świata.

Rebeka mierzy się z ostarcyzmem społecznym. Przez to czuje się jak w klarce. Z powodu tego, że amisze często żyją w małych grupach to i tak trudno znaleźć męża, z którym nie jest się spokrewnionym. A sytuacja Rebeki jest jeszcze bardziej skomplikowana. Jej siostra skompromitowała rodzinę i żaden mężczyzna nie patrzy na nią jak na przyszłą fra (żonę). Relacja z Tobiasem też nie jest prosta, bo ten ma tajemnicę, a na dodatek zachowuje się tak, jakby mu nie zależało na Rebece.

Relacja Rebeki i Tobiasa rozwija się w tle, bo na główny plan wychodzi sytuacja dwójka dzieci z Salvadoru: Lupe i jej brata Diego. Rebeka i Tobias bardzo angażują się w opiekę nad dwójką maluchów. Historia Lupe i Diego jest smutna. babcia wysłała ich do Stanów, aby odnaleźli swojego ojca, który wyemigrował z Salwadoru jakiś czas temu i jest w USA nielegalnie. Kobieta chciała zapewnić dzieciom lepszy los, więc wysyła ich samych w niebezpieczną podróż.

"Syn siodlarza" pokazuje po prostu to dobre oblicze chrześcijaństwa. Zarówno Rebeka jak i jej siostra Leila są chrześcijankami, chociaż należą do różnych wspólnot, ale obie chcą pomóc Lupe i Diego. Nie patrzyły na to, że leila opuściła wspólnotę amiszów, a że Rebeka kontaktując się z siostrą łamie zasady.

"W krainie amiszów" to dobra seria. Bardzo ciepła i przyjazna. Pokazuje inne życie i społeczność, a ja bardzo cenię takie powieści, które rozszerzają horyzonty. Niestety, ale dla mnie każdy z tomów był za wolny i to wpływało na moją ocenę.

"Czasami człowiek nie mógł iść wystarczająco szybko, żeby uniknąć pokusy. Atakowała człowieka jak tir, który wymknął się spod kontroli na autostradzie." ~ Kelly Irvin, Syn Siodlarza, s. 195, Warszawa 2020.

[Angie Fehl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Teaching Assistant Rebekah Lantz feels her Amish community is harshly (and wrongly) judging her for the actions of her sister, who chose to leave the Amish faith. The women gossip, the men hesitate to court her.

Meanwhile, Tobias Byler is trying to work off the shame of a failed relationship with an Englisch (non-Amish) woman. He was tempted to drift away from all he knew to be with her but soon realized he didn't want to (could not, even) abandon his Amish roots. Heavy with the guilt of leading his lady love on only to have to break things off, Tobias comes to Bee County to begin anew.

The paths of Tobias and Rebekah connect when both are brought together to help two lost children who stumble into the community of the Bee County Amish. At first glance, these two children seem to have the look of runaways, but the truth quickly comes out. Tobias and Rebekah don't have the smoothest introduction right off. In fact, in pretty much no time flat Rebekah is already fighting feelings of guilt for bringing Tobias into a situation where she has to ask him to lie for her, before they hardly know each other at all.

Spanish turns out to be the native tongue of the lost children. Neither child seems to know more than a word or two of English, but luckily Rebekah knows enough conversational Spanish to gather that the older child, a girl of 12, is named Lupe while her brother is Diego. They say they were sent by their grandmother, on their own, from El Salvador (Central America) to Texas to try to locate their missing father. Lupe and her brother show signs of being a bit malnourished and seem to be wary around grown men -- any adult men, always fearing they might be "the bad men" -- and jumpy at the sound of guns.

The Amish of Bee County -- the children especially -- seem to take to Lupe & Diego quite quickly. Likewise, Lupe & Diego are fascinated with the culture and find they pick up English quickly here. The whole situation also gives Rebekah a break in that the town gossips let up off her a bit, instead showing their support and encouragement for her interest in the children. Many community members agree that any relatives of the children should try to be located, though some fear what it might mean for Bee County legally should word get out that they might be harboring undocumented immigrants. Rebekah herself of course wants to locate any of Lupe and Diego's relatives, but also worries that if none can be found, that these children might fall victim to being shuffled around and lost in the States' foster care system after they've already been through so much. There are also those who air their suspicions that the children might have ties to terrorist plots.

Rebekah, to ensure that the children have the best chance possible at a good life, enlists the help of none other than her sister Leila....the same sister who left the faith and put so much strain on Rebekah's own life. But Leila's husband just happens to work with non-profits that provide assistance to newly immigrated families, work that has him interacting with immigrants and the immigration office pretty much on a daily basis! Rebekah figures if there is anyone who knows their stuff, it'd be him!

Okay, so first off I have to vent and say that I was not impressed with the spoilers author Kelly Irvin left in her Note To Readers at the beginning of the book, regarding the other books in this series. I've seen quite a few reviews where readers have mentioned picking this book up without having read the previous (as I did) but way to kill some of the surprise if and when they might choose to go back to the earlier stories! Not cool!

Alright, that out of my system... on to this book and my thoughts. I do like the themes Irvin works with here. Not only does she illustrate the pain of being shunned (either literally or figuratively) by the people you most love for things you cannot control, but also uses her characters to show that one can work through the forgetting or forgiving of mistakes through the process of helping others worse off. Perfect reminder any time of year but especially nice to read during this holiday season. :-)

Rebekah herself is an admirable character, strong in her sense of self, comfortable with sharing her thoughts and opinions... a trait that gets her the label of "firecracker". Been there, girl. I can relate! {You say firecracker like it's a bad thing, ammirite ;-)} I also enjoyed experiencing the warm and caring sisterhood between Rebekah and Leila. I only have a brother myself, but this is what I imagine having a sister must feel like -- when you're on good terms with them that is!

As far as the slow burning romance between Rebekah and Tobias, it was molasses slow for me! I can appreciate a decent slow burn but with these two I just kept wanting to hit the FF button already. Nope, just too lukewarm and dragged out IMO. I even laughed when at around 200 pages, after pages of started-cute-now-tedious bickering, Rebekah says "maybe we should start over..." What? aww no girl, there's only like 155 pages til final curtain so let's just wrap this forced mess up already, 'kay? Susan and Levi had a better story on that front (at least for me).... and the closing of David and Bobbie's story was pretty touching.

My interest was primarily held simply on the story of the bundle package of cuteness known as Lupe and Diego. I found their journey to the States very much relevant to the times now, given the uncertainty many US citizens have over our newly elected president's statements / stand on immigration issues. This is just one story that illustrates that yes, borders have to be protected, but at the same time there are lives of children, CHILDREN, at stake... a reality that should not be taken lightly or approached with an all or nothing point of view. It's not and won't be a clear cut, black and white issue... there will be plenty of layers of gray for some time to come and at the very least we have to acknowledge that with an empathetic heart.

_________________


Note To Readers: This is the third book in Irvin's Amish of Bee County series. As I mentioned previously, I have not read the first two. While there were some minor points in the story where I felt something was being referenced that I did not quite catch the importance of, feeling like it must have been a nod to the earlier books, I still had no trouble reading this as a standalone piece. You can also find some of Irvin's short stories (set in this community, I believe) in the Amish themed anthologies An Amish Market and An Amish Christmas Gift.


BONUS: Irvin throws in a little something extra for her readers at the back of this book. In a nod to the Salvadoran heritage of her characters Lupe & Diego, Irvin offers a few Salvadoran recipes for you to try out!
____________________

FTC Disclaimer: TNZ Fiction Guild kindly provided me with a complimentary copy of this book with a request that I might check it out and share my thoughts. The opinions above are entirely my own.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

As normal, when I find a new author and a book in a series, I hardly ever start from the beginning! I liked the story, but the language was a little too main stream to make this feel authentic Amish - although enjoyable none-the-less.

The main character, Rebekah is struggling to live her life, but her mother and step-father are hovering, and give her very little freedom - since her sister left the previous year, prior to joining the church and married outside of her faith. She misses her sister and her community is giving her a wide birth - judging her for her sister's actions.

A new family has moved in, a widower with many children. The oldest son, Tobias quickly catches Rebekah's eye, and he finds her irresistible also. They try to stay away from each other, but the small Texas community and they seem to be drawn together.

Rebakah is a teacher's assistant to her step-sister, and as recess one day, she finds two young Spanish speaking children that are scared, alone, dirty and hungry looking. She befriends them, and the 2 families try to help them, as much as they can.

The story definitely tugs on your heart strings!

[Anne Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book, but the story wasn’t as good as the others. Also, the timing was a bit off. In the previous story, One Sweet Kiss, Susan and Levi already had their baby. In this story, we read about their courtship. Levi and his family move to Texas from Ohio. His wife died in childbirth and he is still having a hard time after six years. Susan is the teacher in the district where they meet when Levi pulls up his buggy with his children. They soon get to know one another. It’s wonderful how Susan, never married, will get her chance at love.
This story also focused on the last Lantz sister, Rebekah. Rebekah finds two immigrant children from El Salvador in the shed by the school. The family takes them in and becomes close to them, but the children are afraid of bad men and run away. After they are found, Jesse and Leila help and the children’s father is found in San Antonio, only to be killed before seeing his children. Fortunately, the children will be able to stay with Rebekah and Levi’s oldest son, Tobias, who have fallen in love and will marry.

[Pamela · Rating 5 out of 5]

my 2nd amish book I read and it was a good one also in this book Rebekah has to deal with her older sister Leigh getting married and leaving the Amish faith and now everyone keeps an eye on her thinking she will do the same but she isn't intrested in leaving her faith and just wants to find a man to love and settle down..along comes Tobias Byler and his family from Ohio where Tobias makes the mistake of following in love with an English(meaning non Amish memeber) women named Serena so he and his family move to Bee County ,Texas and in doing so him and Rebekah have issues at first then add in Lupe and Diego 2 children she finds in the school shed..toghether this small community falls in love with this children here illegally from El Salvador looking for their father..what will happen with Bekah and her family and Tobias and his and the 2 children read the book and u will find out

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The conclusion to The Amish of Bee County is filled with characters that will tug at your heart. This story is filled with pain, sorrow, overcoming, compassion, love and faith. A beautiful story showing how individuals can make a difference for others when they reach out in love and compassion. Cultural issues and beliefs can always be bridged with love and caring when no payment is expected in return. I would like to see Kelly Irvin continue the lives of the characters residing in Bee County Texas in another series.

[Joy Kidney · Rating 5 out of 5]

What would you do if you caught two homeless children in your shed? From South America? And you are part of a tight-knit Amish clan in Texas, a faith with many rules? These threads of story are woven in with one character who is still a believer but leaves the clan, another who almost leaves but painfully stayed, how to make a saddle, live without telephones and cars, and finding a suitable mate. After Discussion Questions are recipes for Salvadoran foods which are also part of the story. Just delightful.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this book with a different setting than most Amish books, yet true to the core beliefs. Interesting intertwining of several distinct plots that blend together. Have not read any other books in this series, so it stands alone as a complete book on it's own. Will be looking for more Kelly Irvin books.

[Miłośniczka Książek · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chciałabym zachęcić was to zapoznania się z moją recenzją powieści Kelly Irvin pt. "Syn siodlarza" ^_^ Zatem jeśli znajdziecie chwilę, zajrzyjcie na mój blog ^_^
➡️ https://magicznyswiatksiazki.pl/recen...

[Candy Shepard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story. I enjoyed it during a very stressful time in my life and it gave me peace.
The author did overuse metaphor and similes. Some were appropriate and well used, but many were so stretched they distracted from the story.
Overall, an enjoyable read.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this amazing book in one sitting because of the beautifully crafted storytelling and fascinating characters that carried me away to a Plain community that I so easily pictured in my mind. From the harsh Texas climate to the emotional struggles and turmoil of faithful characters I couldn’t wait to find out what would happen next. I had great empathy for Rebekah who feels the scrutiny and judgement of her family and the community while she longs to be a wife and mother with no prospects. Tobias is haunted by a past romance with an Englischer who almost lured him away from his family and his former life in Ohio. Both characters are haunted by painful memories and try their best to meet the many expectations of their large families. I was especially moved by the plight of Lupe and Diego who are illegal immigrants lost in a foreign world, terrified and alone. However you feel about immigration in our country these characters will challenge your beliefs for the better. I also enjoyed the mature romance between Tobias’s father Levi and Rebekah’s aunt Susan who have waited a long time to reap the rewards of Gott’s plan for them. Emotion filled storytelling, beautifully descriptive writing and engaging characters make this story of faith unforgettable.

[Nattalie Earl · Rating 2 out of 5]

While the story of this was ok, there was just too much patriarchal stuff for me. I assume feminists wouldn't read Amish stories, but even for me there was just too much "women are not allowed to have an opinion." Definitely wouldn't read a second time.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!! I also liked seeing more of Deborah and phineas, and Leila and Jesse. I really like Tobias and his witty nature, and Rebekah and her tough-cookie self. Great epilogue too!!!

[Sylvia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book!! Great story!! Starting to like this author's books!!

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is especially moving now, with the migrant caravan walking through Mexico on its way to the US. The characters are well developed and so real.

[Karla · Rating 5 out of 5]

All of Kelly Irvin's titles are good reads.

[Vikki Vaught · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable read with engaging characters and a unique plot. I loved the two children and the kindness shown to them. Happy reading/listening!

[Sarah Hyatt]

This one was a huge disappointment after the dopamine hit of the previous, super dramatic installment in the series.