Tuesday, March 26, 2013

The Guardian by Beverly M Lewis

The Guardian (Home to Hickory Hollow #3) 4 stars

This is my first book that I have read in Home to Hickory Hollow. I can see how the other books would fit in but I thought the story was good at standing on its own.

I really enjoyed reading the Guardian. Though I have to admit to shedding a few tears reading it.Their were parts in it that I laughed and smiled too. Especially the pied piper when the two women realized they were following too. Both books I have read today brought tears.

A mother's worst nightmare she can't find her little girl. After searching all around their house and property they figured she must have fallen out of the buggy and the other children were a sleep and did not see. The community right away start searching for the little girl they search and pray all night long.

Jodi Winfield is house sitting for her cousin while they are on a vacation and taking care of their cat. Jodi is having a hard time getting over her sister Karen's death. She has stopped praying since it did not save her sister. She does not want to have children. Her fiance does want them and loves God. He is going to teach abroad for a year teaching english in Japan.

Jodi is preparing to run in a marathon so she goes running and in the middle of nowhere finds a little girl a sleep on the side of the road in her underwear. She has a bump on the head and some other cuts & road rash. The little girl wakes us and cries for her mama.

Jodi finds no amber alert for a lost child. She does not understand the little girl. Jodi does pick her up and take her back to her cousin's house. She gives her first aid, a bath and some food. The little girl just clings to her. As Jodi is trying to get through to the police she gets a call from her boss telling her that she is being let go. Only a month before the new school year.

Her cousin's husband she is housesitting for is a cop and suggests when he hears she speaks no english where the Bishop of the Amish lives and he might know where she belongs. Explains that they don't turn to police they stay seperate.

The Amish men search all night. Then take turns searching while others feed animals and return. So far they have found her dress and hair pins. The men are split on calling the English police or not.

When Jodi finds the Amish school house Sarah recongizes where she is and points and Jodi going slow finds Sarah's house.

Maryanna is a widow raising four children on her own. She is so grateful to have her daughter back home safe. She invites Jodi into her home for lunch. Sarah and the children call Jodi Sarah's Angel. Sarah does not want Jodi to leave. All the children are drawn to Jodi.

It is a good story and blends both the Amish and English together. How they help each other in many ways. They are the answer to others prayers. Their is a lot of grieving talked about how each is different but some the same. Maryanna over loosing her husband.and a few other widows and widowers in their Amish district. Jodi getting over her sister's death. Just by sharing can make a difference in peoples lives.
I would read Beverly's books in the future based on how much I liked the Guardian.
I was given this ebook to read and asked to give honest review of it in return by Netgalley.
April 2013 by Bethany House Publishers 352 pages ISBN:0764209795

Description below taken off of Goodreads.com

Must-Have Amish Fiction from #1 Bestselling Author Beverly Lewis
When schoolteacher Jodi Winfield goes for a morning run, the last thing she expects is to find a disheveled little girl all alone on the side of the Pennsylvania road, clad only in her undergarments, her chubby cheeks streaked with tears. Jodi takes the preschooler home with her, intending to find out where she belongs. But Jodi is mystified when no one seems to know of a missing child, and the girl herself is no help, since she can't speak a word of English. It's as if the child appeared out of nowhere.
As the days pass, Jodi becomes increasingly attached to the mysterious girl, yet she is no closer to learning her identity. Then an unexpected opportunity brings Jodi to Hickory Hollow--and into the cloistered world of the Lancaster Old Order Amish. Might the answers lie there

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