"Annie's People" trilogy by: Beverly Lewis ("The Preacher's Daughter" | "The Englisher" | "The Brethren")

Recommended Age: 16-17+

Book 1: 352 pages

Book 2: 354 pages

Book 3: 354 pages

Description: Author Beverly Lewis Three Book Bundle Of The Annie's People Series The Preacher's Daughter - The Englisher - The Brethren. Annie Zook is forced by her father, the bishop, to choose between her forbidden art and joining the church, the only life she knows. Beverly Lewis is a Christian fiction novelist and adult and children's author of over 80 books. She was born Beverly Marie Jones, and is a former schoolteacher and musician.

My Rating: 3/5

I enjoyed this book, but I do have some things to note:

Annie, the protagonist can be quite whiny at times. (-2 stars) (For no spoilers stop reading here.) First, she is whiny at any mention of Louisa leaving. I understand they’re good friends (almost like sisters), but she has to have a more mature understanding of Louisa’s visit. She certainly can’t expect it to be forever. I guess I’m saying that for a girl Annie’s age, she is acting too childish. Second, towards the second half of the last book, Annie really got on my nerves! She keeps insisting her point (familial relationships) like a whiny child instead of going about this situation like an adult.

Beverly Lewis jumps around a lot. There are multiple peoples’ storylines happening and often she will leave it at a cliffhanger and then not pick it up again for a few chapters. Just keep in mind that it might be harder to track if you’re not reading it in one sitting.

By the middle of the last book, it became fairly predictable. While I was eager for the story to advance faster to get to the resolution, I did (for the most part) enjoy the lead-up. If needed, it definitely could be condensed, though.
 

(SPOILER) Why are Ben’s memories just now coming to him? Has this never happened before? I have a hard time believing that. (END OF SPOILER) 

Things to be aware of in “Annie’s People”

Language:
- 6 “stupid”
- 5 “dumb”
- A mention of cursing under his/her breath.

Violence:
- Themes of parental and spousal strictness and/or violence.
- A daughter is whipped on her bare legs by her father (as a punishment, but out of anger)
- There is a mention of “serial killing”
- A kidnapping is mentioned and discussed.
- Abuse is alluded to within a family (fatherly abuse toward his wife and daughters).
- A man slaps his wife.
- A character claims to be a murderer.
- A character imagines what seems to be describing a kidnapping: “if they weren’t quiet or obedient, they were pushed into the trunk and there they stayed for hours and hours, till they were so cold they couldn’t get warm. . .”

    Side note: I honestly wish this was developed a bit more. I was still left with questions.

Romantic Content:
- A kiss is romanticized as “fervent.”
- At night, a married couple kiss and embrace. Yearning is also mentioned (nothing beyond that).
- There is a mention of a woman marking a calendar in case she gets pregnant (so she would know)
- “A man has certain needs - the Lord God ordained marriage for plenty good reasons, to be sure and for certain.” (The context is speaking of intimacy specifically)
- A woman announces a pregnancy with an unknown father.

Spiritual Content:
- There are wonderful faith elements of: new believers’ fire for the Lord, forgiveness, and conversion!

Additional Notes:
- A mention of a burger being “far too much fat for a bride who must fit into her size two gown.”
- A mention of a girl being “too skinny”
- A woman is described as “plump”
- There is quite a bit of characters doing “rebellious” things against their parents wishes (granted, most are adults who are just still living under their parents’ roofs).
- A woman considers having an abortion.
- Divorce is discussed.
- Lots are cast and discussed. 

Links to the book: Amazon and Goodreads.