The Photograph by Beverly Lewis Book Review

 

He studied the picture more closely, finding it curious that the young woman looked so boldly into the camera while wearing a white prayer Kapp shaped like a heart--the characteristic head covering for the Lancaster County Old Order Amish.

Why would a devout girl have her picture taken?

When her sister Lily disappears only months after their widowed mother's passing, Eva Esch fears she has been wooed away from the People. Yet Lily's disappearance isn't Eva's only concern: She and her sisters must relocate once their older brother takes over the family farmhouse. Then Jed Stutzman, an Amish buggy maker from Ohio, shows up in Eden Valley with a photo of a Plain young woman. Eva feels powerfully drawn to the charming stranger--but the woman in the forbidden photograph is no stranger at all.

My Thoughts:

I have always been a fan of Beverly Lewis’s books. So far I haven’t been disappointed in any of her books. Of course some have stood out more or less than others. They just catch my imagination and heart more than others. This is one of those that I just loved. The story was well written along with an interesting plot with lots of intrigue. I didn’t want the story to end when it did.

The characters really drew me in this time. The main character Eva was just a delight. Everything about her personality, faith and struggles with God, and just a well-rounded character. I would love to see more of her in upcoming books. I just couldn’t help but, to want everything to work out for her and her family in the end. Which of course they usually do but, it makes it fun.

Jed was another intriguing character that had a just as big of a heart as Eva did. I was hoping to see more of them together than apart. His determination to find Eva’s sister Lily with lots of prayer and listening to that small still voice when God is trying to get our attention.

I love catching a glimpse of other characters from other stories. Mrs. Lewis always does that in all of her stories in settle ways that gives us enough of information to satisfy fans of her books.

I love the slow pace of the Amish lifestyle it just draws me in. At the same time they still struggle just like we do in our modern world that is non-stop busy with all the distractions of technology.

Thank you for another wonderful story. I am excited for the next book in this series.

Bethany House Publishers has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book. In no way was I asked to give a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.