Summary from Goodreads: In the bestselling tradition of Beverly Lewis and Jan Karon, Hubbard presents a beautifully drawn new series, which follows the charming residents of Willow Ridge and the conflicts involving the old Amish ways in a modern world, and the temptations of leaving this plain heritage behind.
Summer of Secrets by Charlotte Hubbard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I have not read a lot of Amish fiction, but every time I do, I can just about guarantee that it will be good. And this new book did not disappoint. It was what one would expect from an Amish fiction story with a couple little twists that may not be expected.
Since it was Amish, it had the elements one would expect: strong family, good morals, and solid faith. These are central to the story. Also, of course, no profanity. These elements make this book quite refreshing. It is also quite nice to see the characters relying on God and his guidance throughout the book. The Christian message does not slap you in the face nor feel contrived. It is integral to the story, and it is woven masterfully into the story.
What distinguishes this from a lot of Amish fiction (I think) is that there are some very strong women in this book. When I think of the Amish people, I think about women that do not stand up for themselves and are almost “doormat” submissive to the men. I was pleasantly surprised to see this book filled with strong women who were either widowed or not married yet. They stood up to the male leaders in the community when needed, and I always appreciate that in books. More so in an Amish book. In fact, I was glad to see the people questioning and challenging some of the beliefs that were held dear in Amish communities. I don’t want to give away the story, so I’ll let you read it for yourself. It was also interesting to see one of the male leaders acting with hypocrisy. I wouldn’t have expected that, and I was glad to see people stand up to him.
The only reason I did not give this five stars is that I found some of the parts of the book a little slow at times. I was intrigued with the story–there are quite some plot twists at times. I could not complain about the style of writing–it was fantastic. But I sometimes found my interest wane. This was mainly in the first third of the book. Once I got past that portion, I found myself more and more interested in the characters and the story. I definitely would love to read the sequel to this when it is out later this year!
One other portion I really enjoyed were the recipes at the back of the book! I may just have to try some of those!
I was sent a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I was not financially compensated in any way, and all opinions are 100 percent mine.
