"The Amish Wanderer"

By Laura V. Hilton
Review with GIVEAWAY!

Description

Desperate for a ticket out, Bethany Weiss is ready to leave town. Tongues haven't stopped clacking in Jamesport, MO, since her daed, the bishop, was admitted to a mental hospital after hurting their small Amish community. But her sharpest wounds Bethany hides from prying eyes, quietly biding her time until she can take a chance at a new life—away from Jamesport and away from God. Searching for a home, Silas Beiler was kicked out of his own family's home. Dogged by a rough childhood and a family who blames him for each new disaster, he begins hitchhiking across the country, sleeping in barns where he can, working for food when possible—headed for Pennsylvania, in the hope of some stability. A memory of lemonade. When Bethany spies a man asleep in the hayloft, she first fears the return of an unwelcome suitor. But when it is Silas who turns and speaks, the memories flood back, a happy summer six years ago full of lemonade, long walks, and budding courtship. Now, however, those months of bliss seem naive and idyllic. Will their old love overcome new pain? Or will hurt and rejection continue to haunt their path? 

Biography

Award winning author, Laura Hilton, her husband, Steve, and their five children make their home in Arkansas. She is a pastor’s wife, a stay-at-home mom and home-schools. Laura is also a breast cancer survivor.
Her publishing credits include three books in the Amish of Seymour series from Whitaker House: Patchwork Dreams, A Harvest of Hearts (winner of the 2012 Clash of the Titles Award in two categories), and Promised to Another. The Amish of Webster County series, Healing Love (finalist for the 2013 Christian Retail Awards). Surrendered Love and Awakened Love followed by her first Christmas novel, A White Christmas in Webster County, as well as the Amish of Jamesport series, The Snow Globe, The Postcard, and The Birdhouse. Other credits include Swept Away from Abingdon Press’ Quilts of Love series. Laura is contracted for another three book Amish series set in the Jamesport area, with the first book, The Amish Firefighter, planned for April 2016.

She has indie published a Christmas novella, Christmas Mittens.

Laura is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and a professional book reviewer.

My thoughts ~

I commend Ms. Hilton for a very well written narrative that portrays social issues that have a profound affect on the reader. Characters are well defined and credible. Two young adults are caught up in their own nightmares and fear for their lives. Their connections to the past play a powerful role in their relationship to one another some years later.

Credibility is a strong point throughout this story of relationships and the circumstances that affect young lives. I found this book to be one that I read more slowly than many, due to the fact that it is a very moving and poignant representation of realistic incidents. 

Ms. Hilton has raised the bar in Amish fiction. This book delivers far more depth than many traditional Amish books I've read. I highly recommend The Amish Wanderer. It's a taste of reality through the traditions of a different culture, and the reactions of the various members of their community. 

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher with no expectations for a positive review. This review reflects only my personal expressed opinions, and no monetary compensation was received for this review.

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