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“Jane of Lantern Hill” by: Lucy Maud Montgomery

Recommended Age:  9+ (very easy to read) 272 pages (in my version) Description :  Her whole life, Jane had believed her father was dead. It was, therefore, quite a shock to receive an invitation to stay with him for the summer on Prince Edward Island. From their very first meeting, Jane falls in love with her charming father and his whimsical cottage on Lantern Hill. A whole summer of fun and adventure, meeting neighbors, and making friends―far away from her grandmother's dreary house in the city. If only she could get her mother to come too. As Jane juggles her love and loyalty for both parents, she dares to dream...a dream that she and her parents could live together without Grandmother directing their lives―of a house where they could all find home. My Rating: 5/5 I have been a fan of Lucy Maud Montgomery since I picked up a copy of  Anne of Green Gables.  I never knew she had other books, but I must say this one did not disappoint! A bit of a simpler read than th...

"Rejoicing in Christ" by: Michael Reeves

Reeves does an amazing job of taking dense theological conversations and adapting it for the average lay person. He calls our attention to what is true about Christ and what we should be reveling in each day. I truly enjoyed reading this one! Notable Quotes: - "For every look at yourself, take ten looks at Christ." (Robert Murray M'Cheyne) - "We do not try to produce fruit in order to join the vine, or to stay in it; we bear fruit when we receive the life of the vine. Our part is to remain there." (page 98) Things to be aware of in "Rejoicing in Christ": Language: - 1 "stupidly" - 1 "da**ation" (in a spiritual sense)      Links to the book:  Amazon or Goodreads .

“The Last Bride” by: Beverly Lewis

This is the 5th book in the  Home to Hickory Hollow  series by Beverly Lewis but  can be read as a standalone . The review of the first book,  The Fiddler,  can be found  here . Recommended Age:  15+ 336 pages Description :  Of her Old Order parents' five daughters, Tessie Miller is the last to marry. She has her heart set on Amishman Marcus King, but Tessie's father opposes the match. Impetuously, Tessie and Marcus elope to the English world, then return to Hickory Hollow to live as singles, trusting they'll convince the Millers to give their love a chance over time. But when the unthinkable happens, Tessie faces the almost-certain censure of the People. Will she find a reason for hope in spite of her desperate plight? My Rating: 4/5 I enjoyed this book and I think Lewis did an excellent job of creating characters who readers just fall in love with! Even if you start out unsure, you will, by the end, be enamored by their development!! While the s...

“The Secret Keeper” by: Beverly Lewis

This is the 4th book in the  Home to Hickory Hollow  series by Beverly Lewis but  can be read as a standalone . The review of the first book,  The Fiddler,  can be found  here . Recommended Age:  14+ 348 pages Description :  Jennifer Burns shocks her family and friends when she bids farewell to her modern life in favor of the Old Order Amish world, settling in with Samuel and Rebecca Lapp. The people of Hickory Hollow are curious about the beautiful young seeker among them--one handsome Amishman in particular--and Jenny faces many challenges in the Proving time the brethren set for her...challenges of the heart, as well as the spirit. My Rating: 3/5 I read a lot of Beverly Lewis books, but this one was not my favorite. I honestly felt like this book just kept dragging on. The storyline felt so slow-moving, but then other times jumped months at a time unnecessarily (in my opinion). I also did not love the relationship dynamic between characters. Ev...

“The Guardian” by: Beverly Lewis

This is the 3rd book in the  Home to Hickory Hollow  series by Beverly Lewis but  can be read as a standalone . The review of the first book,  The Fiddler,  can be found  here . Recommended Age : 13+ 348 pages Description :  When Jodi Winfield comes to Lancaster to house-sit, the last thing she expects to find is a disheveled little girl alone on the side of the road. The young teacher is mystified when she learns there have been no reports of a missing child, and the girl herself is no help, since she can't speak English. It's as if the child appeared out of nowhere. Then Jodi turns her attention to Hickory Hollow--and the cloistered world of the Old Order Amish--in search of answers. My Rating: 4/5 Overall, this was a sweet book! I liked the storyline, but I did feel like it was being dragged on for too long. Due to that, it became a bit monotonous and fairly predictable. ( -1 star )   Notable Quote:    "He who looks up to God cannot l...

“The Shunning” by: Beverly Lewis

This is the 1st book in the Heritage of Lancaster County series by: Beverly Lewis. Recommended Age:  14+ 282 pages Description :  When Katie Lapp, an Amish woman from Hickory Hollow, Pennsylvania, stumbles across a satin infant gown in her parents' attic, it leads to a devastating confession from her parents that completely changes her life. My Rating: 4/5 Oh my word! What a great book! I saw the movie first which ignited my desire to read the book (but also spoiled some things). I am amazed at how closely related the book and movie were (not exact, of course) but still - a rarity. The entire book was so good! I was entertained the ENTIRE time. I also feel very knowledgeable now in the ways of the Amish community. I was wanting more of Katie and Daniel Fisher's interactions from the past. Although she refers to Daniel and their time spent together often, and some is mentioned, it was so good I wanted more! SPOILER!  The ending was so unexpected! I knew what was going to h...