Plain Peace

Plain Peace
I have enjoyed the "Daughters of the Promise" series so much, and will miss these characters! I have rejoiced with some of them, teared up with some - and have become frustated with a couple of them - all illustrating great character development! I appreciate how Wiseman places Amish characters in situations that we all face, such as caring for a loved one who has changed and is difficult after suffering a stroke, such as Lucy does in this one. Lucy is no angel; she has made mistakes, but she is now trying to make amends with her life. She is rebuilding her life after her child's father dies, and she needs a good female friendship, with "give and take" caring; however, she knows that her new friendship with a recent resident may be short-lived when others in the community inevitably reveal her secret. She does not believe that the family she hurt will ever forgive her.How can they,whenshe is unable to forgive herself? Lucy will receive no help from the non-approachable Bishop, who is so ultra-legalistic that his own wife has to keep secrets from him, just to stay healthy. He will not allow her to visit her doctor of choice for her diabetes, because of the doctor's past shunning. The bishop is not swayed by the fact that the doctor has been devoting his practice to serving the Amish instead of accumulating a lot of patients and money at another practice! His granddaughter, Anna,  also suffers repercussions from his overprotective strictness, too - when he refuses to be reasonable or to show any grace at all to the man she wants to court - whom the Bishop is blaming for something out of the young man's control, a family medical emergency. Will Anna and her sweet grandmother convince her daedi (Grandfather) / the Bishop to allow her to date the fine young man she loves, or will the elderly man's heart soften? Will the Bishop relax his restrictions? Will Lucy ever be forgiven and learn to show grace to herself? Read this wonderful book to find out that and much more.  I do recommend reading them chronologically if possble; however, these books can also be read and enjoyed as stand-alones, in any order! However and whenever you decide to read them, just read them! You will be glad that you did. Side note: If anyone from Hallmark ever reads these reviews, I think you would do well to consider doing a movie series on the "Daughters of the Promise!"

I throughly enjoyed the book. In fact this was the second time I have read it. Love reading Amish stories anyway. Good job!!