THE GUARDIAN (BEVERLY LEWIS) HOME TO HICKORY HOLLOW BOOK #3

Story Description: 

 

Baker Publishing Group|March 26, 2013|Trade Paperback|ISBN: 978-0-7642-0979-6 

 

When schoolteacher Jodi Winfield goes for a morning run, the last thing she expects to find is a disheveled little girl all alone on the side of the Pennsylvania road, clad only in her undergarments, her chubby cheeks streaked with tears.  Jodi takes the preschooler home with her, intending to find out where she belongs.  But Jodi is mystified when no one seems to know of a missing child, and the girl herself is no help, since she can’t speak a word of English.  It’s as if the child appeared out of nowhere. 

 

As the days pass, Jodi becomes increasingly attached to the mysterious girl, yet she is no cloer to learning her identity.  Then an unexpected opportunity brings Jodi to Hickory Hollow – and into the cloistered world of the Lancaster Old Order Amish.  Might the answers lie there? 

 

My Review: 

 

The Esh family had been at a benefit to raise money to help two Mennonite families with children who suffered from fragile X syndrome.  When Maryanna arrived home to her Amish community with her children: 9-year-old twins, Benny and Leda; 7-year-old, Tobias; and 4-year-old, Sarah, she found Sarah to be missing.  Maryanna checked the house first thing thinking perhaps little Sarah had jumped out of the wagon when she entered the driveway and had dashed inside but she wasn’t there.  The other children checked the barn, springhouse, and greenhouse while Maryanna checked next door with her parents, but still no sign of 4-year-old, Sarah.  It dawned on Maryanna that little Sarah had most likely fallen out of the wagon on the ride home.  At that point, the other children said that Sarah had been hanging over the edge.  Maryanna was sick with worry as neighbours and family began a search party and searched throughout the night and into the following day. 

 

The next morning, 27-year-old, Jodi Winfield, an Englischer was out jogging in Hickory Hollow when she stumbled upon a little girl sleeping beneath a tree.  The child had no dress on and was only in her underclothes.  She also had a large bump on her head.  The little girl was crying so Jodi picked her up and held her.  She tried speaking to the little girl but she didn’t speak English, only German and Jodi could not speak German. 

 

Back at her cousin’s home where she was housesitting, Jodi gave the little girl a bubble bath, washed her hair, and had washed and dried her underclothes as they were filthy dirty.  Jodi then made something for the child to eat before setting out for Hickory Hollow.  She had to find where this precious child belonged. 

 

After finding the little girl’s family, Jodi learned her name was, Sarah and that she was only 4-years-old.  Her mother, Maryanna couldn’t thank Jodi enough for finding and bringing her precious daughter home.  Little Sarah thought Jodi was an angel, HER angel, sent by God to find her and she referred to Jodi after that as her angel. 

 

Maryanna and Jodi strike up a friendship that becomes so loving and much more than either of them ever dreamed it would be.  Each thought of the other as a sister.  Little did Maryanna and Jodi know that their ongoing friendship was going to have such far reaching positive changes in both their lives. 

 

The Guardian was a beautiful and sweet story and one that I will recommend to everyone.  Beverly Lewis never disappoints! 

 

"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".