A Letter From Lancaster County
I'll be honest: I'm not necessarily a huge fan of Amish fiction. Oftentimes it tends to be idealized, unrealistic, or contrived. However, I decided to check out Kate Lloyd's new book, A Letter From Lancaster County (the first in her new Lancaster Discoveries series) because it seemed so unique. The main characters are not Amish (although one is Mennonite), but many of the supporting cast are Amish and it is set in the heart of Amish country, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The back cover says:
"Two Sisters Get a Second Chance at Life and Love
Angela
Her mother's untimely death, a struggling marriage, a strained relationship with her sister, Rose, and regrets over what might have been haunt her. Despite being a wife and mother, she feels she has little to show for her life.
Rose
Still single, she longs for a husband and children. But Angela has all that and still isn't happy. Rose wants to be closer to her older sister, but she and Angela couldn't be more different. Both strong women, will their sibling rivalry ever end?
* * *
When a letter arrives from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Angela and Rose decide to visit Aunt Silvia, their mother's Mennonite sister, in the heart of Amish country. This vacation could provide the opportunity both sisters need to sort out their issues. And yet instead of finding a new way of connecting with each other, Angela and Rose discover surprising family secrets that add to their strife and threaten Rose's romance with a new beau.
Through it all, the two sisters must find the faith necessary to face their personal problems and allow God to restore hope and healing to their hearts and relationship as only He can."
A Letter From Lancaster County is written in alternating chapters from Angela and Rose's point of view. This book is a real page turner, and it's made all the more interesting by seeing the same situations viewed from two very different perspectives. I loved that the author wasn't afraid to tackle some very real issues - faith (or lack thereof), infidelity, promiscuity, abortion, unfulfillment, and more. They are tackled with a delicate hand and ultimately with a biblical worldview, so no worries about inappropriate content in the book. A Letter From Lancaster County was ultimately a moving and honest portrait of two sisters, both unhappy for different reasons, coming to terms with their lives and making changes for the better while coming to a faith in God. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys Christian fiction.
I received a copy of this book from Litfuse in order to provide an honest and unbiased review. All opinions are my own.
Thank you for your terrific review. I'm thrilled you highly recommended A Letter from Lancaster County! I hope non-Christians will enjoy it too.
ReplyDeleteKate