"The Thorn" by Beverly Lewis

Oh, what an excellent book, I can hardly wait for the next one....due out in 2011! Oh, that's okay, 2011 starts in a few hours, right??!??

"The Thorn" is the first book in the Rose Trilogy, and what a way to start. As usual, Beverly Lewis, winds a story and characters like no one else, I was captivated almost immediately. This story surrounds Rose, the younger sister, who is being pursued by two suitors, one Amish and one not-so-Amish. Her sister, nicknamed Hen, left the Amish community several years earlier and married the Englischer, Brandon, a cardinal sin. After having her own daugher, Hen reconsiders the lifestyle she wishes for her daughter and begins coming back around, missing her Amish roots. Hen's husband, Brandon, is not pleased with that decision and throws multiple obstacles in the way.

Rose, of course, had to bear the gossip and frustration that surrounded her older sister leaving, along with all of the other problems of daily living just running an Amish household, after Rose's mamm is wheelchair bound following a very unfortunate accident. Warning: As usual, Ms. Lewis leaves us anxiously awaiting the next installment at the conclusion of this book.......

"An Amish Christmas" by Cynthia Keller

I just finished this book and it is amazing, awesome....completely unpredictable, and I loved it! You have to understand that I love reading anything Amish. This book starts with a family that is about as dysfunctional as a family can be, while appearing normal to all of their friends nearby. The family includes a workaholic dad who lost his job but failed to share that tidbit with his wife, who is a stay-at-home mom of their 2 out-of-control teenagers and one very insecure little guy. Dad hid his little secret for months until the family is about to lose everything. Finally, in a drunken state, he confesses his sins to his wife, who pulls the family together by the bootstraps, makes all of the necessary arrangements to close up the house, and the family (with their 2 rebellious teens and one insecure younger child), head to join the "family" business of mom's parents, a very estranged relationship.

Enroute, the family's car nearly runs over an Amish man in his buggy, destroys their vintage vehicle, and they have to wait until repairs are done.....so they do what anyone would do, they move in with the Amish family. What begins as a dredded adventure turns out to be a family-saving and literally lifesaving adventure. Awesome book, very highly recommended!!