The Photograph {Book Review}

The Photograph {Book Review}

 

If you follow my blog, you know we like to read about a variety of topics! And reading the newest Amish fiction book from Beverly Lewis, The Photograph, is certainly no exception. Don’t worry, this particular title isn’t part of a series, so anyone can pick it up without worrying that they’ve missed something!

Eva Esch and her sisters are in a predicament. With the passing of their widowed mother, Eva’s older brother Menno plans to move his growing family into the Eden Valley farmhouse where they all grew up, leaving little room for his three single sisters. Surely, Menno reasons, at least one of them will marry this coming wedding season. Eva does hope to marry, but she isn’t sure she wants to give up her sweet shop for the life of a farmer’s wife, and she has no other prospects.

When younger sister, Lily, disappears in the night, leaving only a brief note, Eva fears she has been wooed away from the People by an outsider. And when Jed Stutzman, a young Amish buggy maker from Ohio, shows up in Lancaster with a photo of a Plain young woman, Eva’s world begins to tilt. She feels powerfully drawn to the quietly charming stranger–but the woman in the forbidden photograph is no stranger at all. . . .

It didn’t take but a few pages to get lost in the story as we start to meet and learn about the characters. I love when I can instantly “get into”  a story like this one and forget for a little while about the busy part of life.

I’ve always had a fondness for reading and learning about the Amish way of life, and I find that by reading Beverly Lewis’ books, she takes me right back into it. One of the television networks has even started airing movies of several of her book titles!

This book was particularly touching because you find yourself feeling sympathy toward the 3 sisters as they try to not only cope with the grief of losing their mother, but their older brother is moving his family into the house and that leaves little room for the young ladies.

Then one sneaks off in the middle of the night, and that tips off a tale of a stranger coming to town, having found a copy of a book with notes from the sister as well as a photograph. Anyone familiar with Amish ways know that it is usually forbidden to have your picture taken, so for him to show up in Eden Valley with not only a picture, but one of an Amish girl, is a shock.

As you can tell, I enjoyed this book, not only for the main plot line but also other smaller stories going on in the background. I think most of the loose ends were tied up by the end of the book, and I  can tell you that you’ll see a few familiar faces in this book if you are a Beverly Lewis fan.

So head to Amazon to pick up a copy of The Photograph by Beverly Lewis today. And if you aren’t already familiar with her Amish/Christian fiction, then why not start with this one?

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned in this article in exchange for my honest opinion.  Some of the links in the article may be “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I may receive a small compensation. Regardless, I will only recommend products or services I use personally or believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”