The Secret Keeper By Beverly Lewis Book Review

/ / The Secret Keeper / /

{Review By Madi}

 

Title: The Secret Keeper

Author: Beverly Lewis

Source: Review Book From Bethany House

Number Of Pages: 346

ISBN: 978-0-7642-0980-2

Publisher: Bethany House Publishers

Year Of Publication: 2013

Madi's Rating: 5 Out Of 5 Stars

 

/ / Book Description / /

Readers Eagerly Await the Latest from Beverly Lewis, the #1 Name in Amish Fiction
With her love for all things old-fashioned, Jennifer Burns has often been told she's an "old soul," but no one is prepared for the young woman's decision to set aside her modern life in favor of the Old Order Amish world. Yet Jenny does exactly that, adopting Plain dress and settling in with Samuel and Rebecca Lapp while she works as a mother's helper for the bishop's wife--a far cry from her former job as an x-ray technician.
The people of Hickory Hollow are curious about the beautiful young seeker among them, one handsome Amishman in particular. But he is not the only man vying for Jenny's affections, and Jenny faces many challenges in the Proving time the brethren have set for her...challenges of the heart, as well as the spirit.
Will Jenny's secrets keep her from the peace she longs for? Or will they lead the way home?

 

 

/ / Madi's Book Review / /

Jennifer Burns (also know as Jenny), was raised in a well-to-do family that enjoys the everyday pleasures the modern world has to offer. Always the loner, Jenny enjoyed all things old. Antiques, clothes, books, journals, you name it. She went to Sunday school a couple of times as a kid, but her parents didn't really care about her walk with the Lord. She needed peace. She needed a place to come closer to God and embrace her love for simplicity, and becoming Amish seemed like just the ticket. She knew that it would take her a long time to become an accepted member of the Amish community, but she was up for the fight. She knew going into it that she would have to spend anywhere from six months to two years proving herself earnest, but in Jenny's mind she has nothing but time.

 

When Jenny starts to realize what it truly means to be set apart, she wonders if she has what it takes. The work that is from sun up to sun down, the never ending list of rules, the many social practices to be mastered, the requirements for running a household and separation from her emotionally distant family are all taking their toll on her. How could anyone ever measure up to such high standards? And then there's Andrew.

 

Andrew is the Bishop's nephew, and he helps out occasionally on the Lapp farm (where Jenny is currently residing). He had his heart broken a long time ago, and he's afraid to love again. He wasn't looking for a good girlfriend, he just kind of found her. Jenny is afraid that if she fails, Andrew will be the most devastated of all. When thing's reach their breaking point, will Jenny push through, or hightail it back to her former life?

 

~

 

Beverly Lewis is one of my favorite authors. I have an entire shelf in my bookcase dedicated to her novels. She had such a huge part in making Amish Fiction what it is today, and I'm tickled pink to have the opportunity to read and review The Secret Keeper. If I ever get into a reading rut, I know all I have to do is pick up a Beverly Lewis title and I'll be dead to the world in minutes.

 

The Secret Keeper is a wonderful book, and I wouldn't change a thing about it. I read Amish novels all the time, but I don't think I've read very many about an Englisher (a non-Amish person) trying to convert to this decaying way of life. It was interesting to say the least. I'm quite sure that I personally would have a much harder time adjusting to such an extreme lifestyle. I liked the way Lewis wrote this from an outsiders point of view, it made me feel like I learned a little bit more about why exactly the Amish believe what they do. I would recommend this book to just about any female I could possibly come in contact with. It's clean, refreshing, and easy to comprehend. Well done, Mrs Lewis!

 

~Madi For The Literary Maidens

 

Note: I was provided with a free copy of this book to read and review by Bethany House in exchange for my honest opinion. I was not required to give this book a good review if I found it undeserving, and all thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own and totally unbiased.