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  1. Daisies
    Age: 45-54
    Gender: female
    3 Stars Out Of 5
    Interesting storyline, missing important elements
    August 28, 2013
    Daisies
    Age: 45-54
    Gender: female
    Quality: 3
    Value: 3
    Meets Expectations: 3
    I received a complimentary copy of this book for review. The basic premise is, a young woman's life is uprooted when her mother's illness draws her parents back to their Middle Amana Colony for what may be her final days. They had previously left because they did not want to observe the practice of being separated for a year before they could be married. (I thought this part should have been explored a bit more. There wasn't really much at all about this experience or how it affected their lives, leaving their families and everything they had known). Their daughter Jancy must choose between the life she's always known, including teaching at an orphanage and a possible marriage, and an unknown new life if she follows her parents to Middle Amana, either temporarily or permanently.

    I loved Jancy's devotion to her parents and the way she sees that some things are more important than what we want for ourselves. She never wavers in this! She's very loyal, trustworthy and upstanding. I also liked the mystery aspect of the story. Beverly Lewis does this a lot, and I think it is one of the things people love about her books. The mystery and intrigue really bring depth to the story, and the "outsiders" help give opportunities to teach us about the ways of the colonies. Mysteries, as long as they aren't TOO stressful, always bring excitement to a story and give our brains a workout.

    That said, some of the explaining of their rules and ways still seemed a bit clunky and over-explained. I feel like her writing style is similar to Wanda Brunstetter's, which I've finally figured out is just not my personality style. A bit too stiff and overexplain-y for me, but still my second favorite Amish author, after Beverly Lewis, who writes in EXACTLY my style. I like books to read like real people talk to each other, not as if we're being taught something. It's fiction, not non-fiction.

    I was also disappointed that there wasn't a Gospel message in the book, and nothing that helped people see the difference between a works-based religion as we see here, and a true, born again Christianity as the Bible teaches. This is a HUGE problem for me. How can I root for Jancy to stay in the colonies when no one reads or studies the Bible or shows any evidence of following Christ? They don't even have Bibles in the colonies in a language the people can read. I expect, and should expect, a Christian novel to have a clear message about what it means to repent of our sins, follow Christ and live a Godly life!

    A good storyline and interesting characters, although we needed to know more about the parent's past. I enjoyed the book and would read others by her and about this religion, but sharing the gospel and dispelling confusion about what Christianity is, is too important to ignore. I care too much about people and their eternal lives to ignore it.

    "Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit." Acts 2:38
  2. Maria
    3 Stars Out Of 5
    July 26, 2013
    Maria
    A Simple Change by Judith Miller is the second book in the Home to Amana series. It's a well written story, but I found myself bored with the same ole story line the author has been using for her last few Amana books. Why do the main characters always go against the rules and then be all stressed out about it?! The first time I was fine with it, but now I just want something different.... The one redeeming feature is that the author writes really well so even though it is the same basic story she does make it interesting. :-)

    Jancey Rhoder is a volunteer teacher at an orphanage. She loves her job and can't imagine not teaching, but when her father tells her that they have requested to move back to the Amana colonies Jancey is shocked. She quickly decides to give up everything she has ever known so that she can still be with her sick mother. Her boyfriend, Nathan Woodward, isn't so pleased about her leaving. Jancey isn't sure that she loves him and thinks time away would prove beneficial for them both.

    Once at the Amana Colonies, Jancey settles in and tries to remember all the rules in her new life. She misses teaching but tutoring her neighbor's daughter helps her adjust especially since Ritt Hetrig sits in on the lessons. Jancey is attracted to Ritt, but he is worried she won't want to stay in Middle Amana permanently.

    If you like Amish books you will probably like this series. :-)

    I was given this book free from Bethany House in exchange for an honest review.
Displaying items 16-17 of 17
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