Saturday, September 15, 2012

THE BRIDESMAID: Home to Hickory Hollow Series (Beverly Lewis)

 
 
Story Description: 
 
Baker Publishing Group|September 11, 2012|Trade Paperback|ISBN: 978-0-7642-0978-9 
 
The Latest in Chart-Topping Amish Fiction from Beverly Lewis. 
 
Twenty-four-year-old, Joanna Kurtz has made several trips to the altar, but never as a bride.  The single young Amish woman is a closet writer with a longing to be published, something practically unheard of in her Lancaster County community.  Yet Joanna’s stories aren’t her only secret.  She also has a beau who is courting her from afar, unbeknownst to even her sister, Cora, who, though younger, seems to have suitors to spare.  Eben Troyer is a responsible young Amish man who hopes to make Joanna Kurtz his bride – if he can ever leave his parents’ farm in Shipshewana, Indiana.  Yet with his only brother off in the English world, intent on a military career, Eben’s hopes for building a life with his dear Joanna are dimming, and patience is wearing thin.  Will Joanna ever be more than a bridesmaid? 
 
My Review: 
 
Twenty-four-year-old, Joanna Kurtz, has been in many weddings but never her own.  Her seventeen-year-old sister, Cora Jane, had said “Three times a bridesmaid, never a bride” which sent ripples of longing through Joanna’s heart.  Once again poor, Joanna has been asked to be in another wedding, that of her cousin Malinda’s.  However, although Joanna yearns for love and marriage, she has given up on love and detested anyone’s pity. 
 
While sitting in the sand at Virginia Beach where she was attending a family funeral, Joanna meets, Eben Troyer from Indiana.  Joanna was from Pennsylvania.  She was shocked when, Eben sought her out to introduce himself and then asked her to walk with him to the fishing pier.  Joanna politely agreed and Eben offered his hand to help her up out of the sand.  She was only going to be in Virginia Beach for three days and soon their time together ended with the exchange of addresses.  Eben and Joanna communicated but it was her secret as she carefully hid his letters in her hope chest.  She wasn’t quite ready to divulge the fact to anyone, including her family, that she had a boyfriend. 
 
Eben is totally smitten with Joanna and wants to make her his bride but circumstances beyond his control make it impossible to leave his parent’s farm.  Although, Eben and Joanna communicate by letter will Joanna ever become the bride she so desperately wants to be?  And, it’s Eben she wants to marry! 
 
Beverly Lewis’s The Bridesmaid is a beautiful, engaging story of love, hope, faithfulness, and a hard lesson in keeping secrets.  I was so enamoured with this story that I read it in one sitting and I’ll definitely be recommending this book to all my friends, it was such a joy to read. 
 
Book #3 of the ‘Home to Hickory Hollow’ series titled “The Guardian” will be available on April 2, 2013. 
 
"Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.
Available at your favourite bookseller from Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group".  
 


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