The Rose Legacy: The Judgement by Beverly Lewis ~ Review

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingThe JudgmentBethany House (April 5, 2011)byBeverly LewisABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Not until her own children were well into middle school did Bev seek to publish her work, first in magazines such as Highlights for Children, Dolphin Log, and Guideposts for Kids. Her first book followed in 1993—Mountain Bikes and Garbanzo Beans—presently retitled Big Bad Beans (book #22 in the popular CUL-DE-SAC KIDS series of chapter books—see list of Bev's children's books).






Beverly's first venture into adult fiction is the best-selling trilogy, THE HERITAGE OF LANCASTER COUNTY, including The Shunning, a suspenseful saga of Katie Lapp, a young Amish woman drawn to the modern world by secrets from her past. The book is loosely based on the author's maternal grandmother, Ada Ranck Buchwalter, who left her Old Order Mennonite upbringing to marry a Bible College student. One Amish-country newspaper claimed Beverly's work to be "a primer on Lancaster County folklore" and offers "an insider's view of Amish life."






Booksellers across the country, and around the world, have spread the word of Bev's tender tales of Plain country life. A clerk in a Virginia bookstore wrote, "Beverly's books have a compelling freshness and spark. You just don't run across writing like that every day. I hope she'll keep writing stories about the Plain people for a long, long time."






A member of the National League of American Pen Women, as well as a Distinguished Alumnus of Evangel University, Lewis has written over 80 books for children, youth, and adults, many of them award-winning. She and her husband, David, make their home in Colorado, where they enjoy hiking, biking, and playing with their three grandchildren. They are also avid musicians and fiction "book worms."


ABOUT THE BOOK

Rose Kauffman is engaged to Silas Good, a well-liked Amish fellow, so why does she still pine for Nick Franco, the former foster son of the bishop? Especially now that Nick has left the Amish community under a cloud of suspicion after the death of the bishop's biological son? Will Rose marry Silas, even while struggling with romantic feelings for Nick? Meanwhile, Rose's older sister, Hen, has returned to live at her parents' farm with her young daughter. Hen and her modern husband, Brandon, are separated by mutual agreement, although he is threatening to sue for custody of their daughter if Hen does not return soon. Will the judge rule in Brandon's favor? Is there any way Hen can reestablish her place among the People without sacrificing her marriage?






If you would like to read the first chapter of The Judgment, go HERE

Watch the book trailer:


My Review:

One of the things I love about Beverly Lewis’s books are the characters. “The Judgment” is no surprise either. They are wonderfully crafted and stand from the page in full three dimension. I feel I could step into the story and pick right up with the characters, as well as I know them after reading these two books.

In the second book of The Rose Legacy, the reader picks up again with the characters and situations established in book one. I would recommend you read these books in order, you will have greater appreciation for the story as a whole.

There was a twist about two-thirds of the way through the story I never saw coming. I became invested in the emotions and circumstances of the characters and how they would tackle each challenge. Several of the story threads still need to be closed and I’m anxious to see the decisions made in the characters.

The plot can seem to meander, but Lewis has built a strong story and I know I will always be satisfied with where the story is headed. The story is building to a head and I am looking forward to finding out what happens in the third and final book out this fall.

This review is my honest opinion. Thanks to the publishers for my copy to review through CFBA.