I read Ms Lewis' Abram's Daughters series a few years ago and instantly loved Ms Lewis' writing. So when my life has settled down and I picked my books back up again I checked this series from our library and listened to it on CD. The first book was a bit slow and about didn't finish it but was glad I did and glad I had the next two books on hand since they are continuation of the first. You won't regret reading-listening to these books. In in the end it didn't disappoint. You CAN read-listen to these individually without the others in the series as the author does incorporate just enough past that you won't be totally lost, but you will enjoy and love the characters and settings better if you read them in order. Book 3 I think if you read as a 'stand alone' you would be a little lost as although the author does give background if I hadn't listened to the first two books I would have lost the 'background' feeling you grow to love the characters and settings. So I probably wouldn't recommend reading book 3 as a stand alone..but book 1 and 2 you could. And Marguerite Gavin does a good job at changing her tones and voices as she reads this for you. Carrying the emotion as it needs to be. This book #3 she has a tougher time changing voice patterns as there are more female voices but still does a great job.One of the Amish young women found out that she had actually been adopted at birth but didn't find this out until she was 22. With so many questions circling in her mind and the strick Amish way. The Bishop Shunned her from her family and community. And so not wanting to live alone within the community she was raised in and wanting answers for her questions she sets out to find her birth mother. This book Catherine is adjusting to the life she thought she always wanted but is her old life and emotions calling her 'home'? Is there more to what she could be doing with her life than just volunteering at a hospice house? She also finds her way to Jesus through being saved and learns of the sweet way of being able to talk to our Lord and having a relationship with Him instead of just the way she's 'told' to have one. Very nice book but I did have to rate it 3 stars simply because at times there were more descriptions and not moving on with the story for what I like in my books. the story did move but at slow paces at times. But you won't regret taking the time to read this series.
Besides the unbelievable plot developments, the poor writing, the forced and cheesy dialogue, and the fact that this easily could have been one book instead of three, I think the thing that most drove me crazy about this series (particularly this last book) was the author's constant and redundant preaching of her own narrow view of Christianity. I consider myself to be a tolerant person when it comes to religion--I think everyone should find what works for them and stick with it--but I really hate it when people who belong to one religion make judgments about those from another. I don't know much about the Amish (the protagonist was raised Amish), but I do know that they consider themselves to be Christian: they believe in the Bible and in Jesus Christ. But the protagonist, as she "finds" Christianity, and "accepts" Jesus Christ as her "personal Lord and Savior," constantly says things like, "I've never learned about forgiveness or Jesus or grace before--all this is so foreign to me; I don't know what to think." Since she was raised Amish and had been to church at least once every week, of course she "knew Jesus"! Give me a break.Obviously this is a sore spot for me, but I think that if someone (or a group of people) believes in the Bible and in Jesus Christ as the Savior of the world, they fall under the umbrella of Christianity. And just because one brand of Christianity is different than another, it doesn't mean that that person or those people who are "different" aren't Christian. In summary: even if you think Amish culture is interesting, don't read these books.
The final book of the Heritage of Lancaster County series. A good read, very good. Katherine has moved from her Amish home to the home of her birth mother, who died in the hospital at the end of book 2. She is searching for her mother's journal. She is dating a guy, Justin, but her first love, Dan, turns up at the house. Katherine is furious that he pretended to be dead for so long. Can she forgive Dan? Will this change things with Justin? Will Katherine find the Lord??? Will Mary marry the bishop that Katherine was betrothed to and ran out on, on the day of their wedding?? Will Mary get that same bishop to allow her, and others, to correspond with Katherine? And what will happen with Willie, the little boy Katherine is ministering to at the hospice??? This was a great book. One of things lost and found. Love, God, belonging, friends, family, faith, and more.And what to do with the big mansion Katherine inherited from her rich mother??? I had a feeling part way through the book what would happen... but I won't answer the questions for you. You will have to read and find out."'My search is over, Mamma. All the scraps and pieces of my life are a God-ordered design ... like one of your beautiful quilts. I was looking for fancy things and found a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus. I was yearning for my roots and found a portion of heaven on earth' I patted the small white Bible I'd carried under my wedding roses. 'It's all right here, Mamma. I just didn't know it.'" (location 3515)
—Debbie Phillips
As the last book, I knew this would answer all my lingering questions, Beverly Lewis always answers all that end and in this she did not disappoint in The Reckoning. The only thing I didn't like about the book was what felt like a rushed ending. Now as a writer myself I know sometimes you get a in rush, but its unusual for Lewis to do so and I felt cheated because of it. Katherine moves ahead in her relationship with Justin Wirth. She comes face to face with Danial after 5 years of believing him dead and does not take it too well, she sees it as one person lying to her and honestly, who can blame her there. The few thing I wanted to see happen and never did was:An apology from Katherine to her adoptive parents.A moment between Katherine and her adoptive brothers, to let them tell her what her leaving did to the family, to their mom.For Katherine to admit she was wrong for leaving, not leaving the Amish lifestyle, but leaving her poor mother like that and never returning the satin baby dress, which she promised to do. I ended the book still mad at her.
—Brenda
This is Book Three of the Heritage of Lancaster County. "Katie Lapp" is now the new heiress of Mayfield Manor, her biological mom's home. Katie had always dreamed of what an "English" life would be like and now she is living it. However as time passes, Katherine (Katie) misses Hickory Hollow and those childhood roots. She keeps busy by working in Hospice and giving her time and talents to others to honor her birth mother's memory.She is also courted by Justin Wirth and who hopes to make Katherine his wife. Unknown to Katherine (Katie), Daniel Fisher, her true love, is not dead but left Hickory Hollow to become Mennonite and live in the English world He is looking for her to tell her the truth. Will Daniel find his Sweetheart Girl and can the deception and lie be forgiven.
—Janet C.
